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MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.31

Buhari: Cambridge denies offering Hausa in 1961 – PDP Ï 0 ƈéE ƕ ƗƆ ƗƆ ƆƏƒƆ ƏƆ ƍ Ɔè ƕ ^

Nigerians, joined by others, calling world attention to the Boko Haram menace in a massive rally, held at the Nigeria House in London... on Sunday.

Life&

TIMES Monday, January 26, 2015

I don’t have role models -llami Whyte

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L4

P

Toyin Aimahku’s wedding hits the rocks? PL2

Rihanna

wins lawsuit against Topshop PL7

APC asks Jonathan to caution ex-militants

PHOTO: Ngozi Okafor

Boko Haram kills 100, razes minister’s house Ï ƐƈéƐƆƏƏ Ə Ə ƋƋƕ ƋƗ ƈ G Ɨ

Ex-Eaglets coach, Musa Abdullahi dies

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INSIDE XT Exclusive

QUADRI

Poster!

EXTENDS GERMAN KITS CONTRACT

ANDY MURRAY

X4,5

X7

Monday, January 26, 2015

ENAL ARSUG H TO

SLIMANI TO MISS SENEGAL CLASH X3

THRO FA CUP 5TH ROUND X2

X7

IMPROVE OR GET DROPPED,

RODGERS

TELLS

X8

BALOTELLI

Interview

INSIDE

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CRISTIANO HAILS ANCELOTTI’S INFLUENCE X6

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Politics Page Three

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s

Editorial

Stop political violence now

T

he spate of political violence now taking place in the country is becoming very worrisome. It should therefore be condemned by all right thinking Nigerians. This is coming less than two weeks after the two main political parties through their presidential candidates signed a no-violence pact in Abuja to conduct their campaigns with civilised decorum.

Unfortunately, that is not the case.

We are being daily assaulted by scenes of arsons and mayhem allegedly perpetrated by supporters of both the ruling and opposition parties. The number of such incidents continue to rise by the day.

Two weeks ago, it was reported that hundreds of youths barricaded major roads leading to the campaign venue of governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP),Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. A week later, a campaign bus belonging to PDP and bearing posters of President Goodluck Jonathan was set ablaze in Jos, Plateau State.

Also, the President was ambushed at the palace of Emir of Katsina by some irate youths while his motorcade was pelted with missiles. In the heat of all these, the governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose placed political advertorials in some newspapers predicting that the presidential candidate of All Progressive Party(APC),Gen. Muhammadu Buhari may not survive his tenure if elected president.

Only last Saturday, unknown gunmen stormed and bombed the venue of

a planned APC rally in Okrika, Rivers State. Moreso, the PDP campaign office in Gombe was burnt in mysterious circumstance. We are scandalised that in spite of all pious statements and posturing by politicians, the polity continues to be overheated through campaigns of calumny.

It would be recalled that such invidious acts by politicians were responsible for the deaths of more than 1,000 people in post-poll protests in 2011.

Nigerians and the international community are becoming worried of the likely outcome of the February polls if the current insecurity surrounding political campaigns are not nipped in bud.

Even the United States top diplomat, John Kerry visited the Nigeria yesterday to show concern of his country over the spiraling political violence.

Only last November, the International Crisis Group(ICG) noted that an “increasingly violent” political climate in the country and rhetoric from parties must be checked to avoid widespread unrest. Even at that, all registered political parties had in 2013 met under the auspices of the Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC) to canvass the ‘Political Parties’ code of conduct.

One of the provision is that no political party or its candidate shall during campaign resort to the use of inflammatory language,provocative actions,images, or manifestation that incite violence,hatred,contempt or intimidation against another party or candidate on grounds of ethnicity,gender or for any other reasons.

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Calling off state governors’ bluff Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎOne thing that has pro-

longed the ongoing strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is the refusal of state governors to allow funds meant for the judiciary in their domains to get to them directly from the National Judicial Council. Simply put, governors loathe financial independence for the Judiciary.

The governors, intransigent as always, insist that the funds must pass through them via their state Accountants-General

and ostensibly for oversight purposes. And they are ready to ensure that the wheel of justice is ground to a halt indefinitely to ensure they have their way.

This is the same argument that the governors have given in maintaining joint account with local governments in their domains with regard to funds accruing to the latter from the Federation Account.

But as everyone conversant with how state governors have behaved since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, that argument is only a smokescreen. The fact is that the governors want to continue having unfettered access to funds accruing to their states, in-

Words On Marble :

cluding the judiciary and using same in ways they deem fit.

This intransigence, this bluff by state governors, cannot continue. First is that the refusal is driven by fear that if they allow financial independence for the judiciary, the governors will be in a weaker position to influence the workings of the judiciary. Second is that the governors’ bluff is driven by greed.

So, all well-meaning Nigerians must rise to call off their bluff. It is time these governors know that they cannot appropriate their states’ resources to themselves. They are not and cannot be the state. The people are!

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Deputy Editors

Sports Editor

Head, Sales & Marketing

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head of Operations

Head ICT (Shared Services)

Noel Anosike

Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Managing Editor

Bisi Abidoye

Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects Tunji Okegbola

Andrew Ekejiuba Innocent Nwankwo

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Segun Adio Okay Osuji

Adetayo Adelaja Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Moses Ebong

Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

Deputy Head Graphics Afeez Odeseye

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

Nnamdi Azikiwe No matter how old an individual may be, no matter if he is young or old, if he thinks in accordance with the times he is immortal.

Wole Soyinka

Dora Akunyili

Don’t take shadows too seriously.

Reality is your only safety.

Continue to reject illusion.

The cabal wants to continue with their usual statement of ‘the President said and you must comply’.They want to continue dishing out instructions even when the President did not say so , They sneaked him into this country in the night .

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Ritualists axe two teenagers to death in Ondo ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏTwo

pre-teen girls allegedly kidnapped on Saturday by suspected ritualists at Iju/Itaogbolu, in Akure North Local Government area of Ondo State, have been found dead in a bush farm near the locality.

The two deceased, Oyinkansola Owoeye and Folasade Bello, were said to have left home for the farm on Saturday but didn’t return.

Several neighbours who spoke to Daily Times correspondent on Sunday said the absence of the two girl’s in the house till the late hour of the evening, sent panic to parents, relatives and neighbours in the community who quickly put on a search team.

“We waited for several hours and noticed that they didn’t return. Immediately we put up a search team and embarked to the farm where we thoroughly found their lifeless body in the road path of the bush farm” the source said.

Our correspondent gathered that the two deceased, who were of the same age

Adamawa PDM candidates complain of betrayal by PDP ÏÏÏA line-up of

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) welcoming the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry to the State House, Marina in Lagos...on Sunday

of 12-year-old, were axe to death with their blood drained by their assailants.

The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force Spokesperson, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident and exclusively told Daily Times that unknown persons in the town assassinated the

teenagers.

Ogodo disclosed that the residents of the community reported the gory incident at the police station adding that the command had already swung into action with a view to bringing the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law.

“The two young girls, Oyinkansola and Folasade went to the bush to fetch fire wood but didn’t not return until a search team found their dead bodies in the bush with their blood drained.

“Our detectives have visited the scene of the crime and taken photographs of

the corpses and their remains had been removed and deposited at the mortuary” he said.

He added that no arrest has been made but urged residents to furnish the police with useful information that can quickly lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Jonathan Eze

Pita Chikwem, Minna

ture. He should be judged by what he did as a former head of state,” he said.

According to Obanikoro, the assaults committed by Buhari and his regime cannot be swept under the carpet.

“His assault on Pa Awolowo, Late Bola Ige, former governor Lateef Jakande among others cannot be forgotten.

“The worst crime was his stopping of the Lagos Metro line which would have put Lagos state on a pedestal of sorts” he said.

On the Buhari certificate saga, the ex-Minister said that the saga cannot be patched up saying that the APC wanted to patch up the issue but must not be al-

ÏÏÏThe

Jonathan lowed.

On why Nigerians should vote for Jonathan, Obanikoro said that the President is serving Nigeria without discrimination and has helped Nigeria’s democracy to grow by guaranteeing freedom of speech for all.

political candidates under the platform of Peoples Democratic Movement PDM, in Adamawa State have said that they have paid a huge amount into the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) coffers for democracy to be rooted in the nation.

The PDM candidates who are aggrieved members of the ruling (PDP), in Adamawa State but defected to PDM, after the party controversial primaries last year, have vowed not to retrace their steps back to the PDP for whatever reasons.

Boko Haram has exposed Nigeria’s weakness – Chidoka Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

We’re committed to peaceful election – Niger APC

past Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on Sunday said that Goodluck/Sambo ticket, is the only way forward for Nigeria, adding that Gen Muhammadu Buhari should be judged by his past and not what his party presents him to be in 2015.

Addressing a rally of over 5,000 supporters in Badagry under the aegis of the Goodluck /Sambo Independent Campaign Group in Lagos, a project instituted by him, Obanikoro said that Buhari was not electable.

“We cannot continue to judge Buhari based on what we think he will do in fu-

Briefs

Wale Akintunde, Yola

Jonathan, Sambo are your best bet – Obanikoro to Badagry people ÏÏÏImmediate

5 News

All Progressives Congress (APC) Niger State, on Sunday dismissed the statement made by state government that they (APC) would be held responsible for any violence in the forthcoming election, even as it insisted that the Party is committed to peaceful elections and has always advocated for unity, and peaceful coexistence of people in the state.

The state government has exposed themselves for their violent disposition towards the next general election adding that they are product of despair from a failed government.

In a press statement signed

by Jonathan Vatsa, spokes-

man of the party, it stated that it was coated with lies, stress, frustration and theatric realization that the Government House has been turned to the secretariat of the People Democratic Party.

“They use all kind of tactics in reacting to issues which should be done by the party; their mission is simply to save their face from the fact that their mission to rig the forthcoming election is being uncovered” Vatsa said.

In his words: “We are not surprised because it is apparent that the PDP is gradually dying in the state, people have realized that the party cannot and has never serve their best interest and anything undemocratic is a crime to the party.

ÏÏÏAviation Minister, Ostia

Chidoka, has declared that the Boko Haram has exposed the weakness in the foundations of the country and challenged its capacity.

Speaking in Nsukka, Enugu State, Chidoka remarked that a side effect of the country’s adaptability in the face of difficult issues has been the absence of rigour in institution-building and policing capacity.

Describing insurgency as an existential unlike any other before destroying many underlying assumptions about Nigerians adding that before Boko Haram, Nigerians were unanimous that suicide bombing was alien to their culture and the way of life.

According to Chidoka, the insurgency has gone far as using women and children as suicide bombers and kidnapping and attacking civilian population.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Buhari: Cambridge denies offering Hausa in 1961, says PDP Ï &ƗƑƅ Ɛƈ ƈ Ɛ Ƈ ƑƋƐ ƅ Ƌ ƅƆƏƐƈƇƈƅ ƐƆ Ƈ ^ ô ƍƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛƈ Ƌ ƅ ƗƈƗ ƐƆ Ï `ƑƋƈ ƍ ƏƐƕ ƍ éƍ ô ƅƋ ƈƌ Ɛ Ɛ 1Ƒ Ƒ ƐƐƆ ƗƆƗ ƅ Ƌ ƓƈƐ Ƒ Əƈ Ï 0 ƈéE ƕ ƗƆ Ɨ Ɔ Ɛ ƗƆ ƆƏƒƆ ƏƆ ƍ Ɔè ƕ 1 ƏƄ d Ɔ Ƒ Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

controversy surrounding the School certificate of the former Head of State and presidential candidate of the All Progressive candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari has continued unabated.

The University of Cambridge has said that Hausa Language, which is one of the subjects listed in the certificate of General Buhari, was not offered in its examinations in 1961.

The disclosure, according to a statement yester-

day by the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, PDPPCO, was contained in an e-mail dated Thursday, January 22, 2015 from the institution’s Archives Delivery Service Officer, Jacky Emerson, to one Sodiq Alabi, who requested for confirmation if the examination body offered Hausa Language in the 1961 West African Certificate Examination it organised.

However, the spokesman of the APC’s presidential campaign, Alhaji Garba Shehu, told Daily Times on Sunday night that there

was no reason to offer any response to Fani-Kayode’s claims.

He said: “We said it last week, that Fani-Kayode does not deserve any further response from us.”

The PDPPCO, in the statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi FaniKayode, said, “Emerson, in his one-sentence reply, said: According to the Regulations for 1961, African Language papers, including those for Hausa, were not included for West African School Certificate.”

“This development may

have further cast doubts on the certificate which is purported to be General Buhari’s”, Fani-Kayode said.

General Buhari is yet to react to the assertion by the PDP that the published certificate was forged and illegally procured.

The Campaign Organisation had, through Fani-Kayode, pointed out a number of alleged inconsistencies in the document at a press conference last Thursday in Abuja.

Fani-Kayode had, among other things, pointed out the alteration on Mathematics, which he said

APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (right), with U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, during A Meeting in Lagos …yesterday

Ɗ 6 Ə ƌ ƊƈƋƋ ơƠƠè Ə ƖƆ ƌƈ ƈ ƐƆƏô Ƒ Ɔ Wale Akintunde, Yola and Ngozi Okafor, London

ÏÏÏOver 100 persons were

reportedly slaughtered on Saturday night by the Boko Haram sect in six villages of Michika Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

The group also razed the residence of the Minister of Youth, Chief Boni

Haruna, at Kuwpur Chicu, in Michika.

In London, the United Kingdom, a group of Nigerians on Sunday held a massive rally against the sect.

A 24-hour curfew was on Sunday imposed in Maiduguri, Borno State, as fighting between the military and the sect raged.

Investigation by Daily

Times revealed that the insurgents struck at about 6:00 pm in their hundreds mostly on motor bikes and a few vehicles.

One of the villagers who escaped from Garta village, Vandu Kainu, told journalists on phone in Yola, that the insurgents took them by suprise raiding homes and shops.

He said, “They burnt

most of the houses after looting them, and most people had to climb the nearby mountains to escape.

“For now, I can’t say the number of casualties as we are still in the bush, but they slaughtered many people like rams. They may not be less than 100 persons.”

Continued on page 7

General Buhari must have failed, adding that since that was the case, the former Head of State should not have been enlisted in the military as a commissioned officer, having failed to satisfy the requirement of pass at credit level in Mathematics.

He said at best, Buhari should have been enlisted as a non-commissioned officer.

Fani-Kayode also questioned the recent passport photograph of Buhari on the statement of result (which is not a certified true copy) purportedly issued by the Ministry of Education, Katsina State; the “1961” date at the top of the document which conflicted with the “2015” date signed by the Principal of Government College (Pilot) Katsina, whose name was not stated in the document.

Similarly, a research report by an educationist and Professor of Educational Foundations in the University of Ilorin, A. A. Adeyinka, has punched holes in the claims of Gen. Buhari that he sat for and got credit pass in Hausa Language from the Provincial College (now Government College, Katsina), in 1961.

Adeyinka, in the report titled: “Major Trends in Curriculum Development in Nigeria”, said no school in Nigeria offered subjects in local languages at the time.

Adeyinka’s research report, according to a statement by the PDP presidential campaign organisation, had further “chipped away the credibility of the Statement of Result released by the college to support General Buhari’s claims that he sat for the secondary school certificate examination”.

According to the research, available at www. unilorin.edu, prior to the emergence of a centralised government by the regime of General Yakubu Gowon from 1966 to 1975, all regions in Nigeria had different academic curriculums.

He added that it was only the Western Region that offered a local language as a subject in both their curric-

ulum and school certificate examinations.

The university don said it was after a central government was formed and a universal educational curriculum was developed and adopted that other local languages were included in schools curriculums in 1974.

He listed subjects in the academic curriculum to include English Language, Biology, Commerce, Principles of Accounts, Health Science, Literature in English, Bible Knowledge, History, Geography, Yoruba, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

According to Adeyinka, Yoruba entered the academic curriculum following the recommendations of a Commission set up to review the academic curriculum for schools in the then Western Region.

He wrote: “In the former Western Region, for example, both the Banjo Report (1961) and the Taiwo Report (1968) recommended the revision of the school syllabuses and the introduction of a new structure of education.

“The Banjo Report specifically recommended a new model for secondary education, comprising junior and senior secondary schools. The curriculum of the former should be comprehensive.

“This was partly the origin of the Aiyetoro Comprehensive School experiment started in 1963. The Taiwo Committee recommended that the primaryschool curriculum should be overhauled and new syllabuses prepared in such subjects as Mathematics and Social Studies. Similar recommendations were made in the East (Dike 1959, Ivan Ikoku, 1964).”

General Buhari has raised so much dusts over the delay in the release of his school certificate to support claims he made in the forms he filled with the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of requirements to contest the 2015 presidential elections on February 14.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

7 News

Boko Haram kills 100, razes minister’s house CONTINUED FROM PG 6

L-R: Social Democratic candtdate for Ogun Central Senatorial district, Senator Gbenga Obadara; counterparts in People Democratic Party, Dr. Mrs. Abisola Sodipo-Clark, and All Progressive Congress standard bearer, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso, at the 2015 Ogun NUJ Political Debate, held at Iwe-Iroyin Hall, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta…on Friday Photo: DAVID IDOWU

AD condemns attack on Jonathan Sunday Isuwa

ÏÏÏThe presidential candidate

of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Rafiu Salau, has condemned attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy in Katsina and Bauchi states, describing the act as unfortunate.

He said politicians should go about their campaigns without Violence.

“I hereby condemn the attacks against the president’s convoys in Katsina and Bauchi. All candidates are Nigerians. They have the right to move around the na-

tion to campaign for the votes of the people,” Salau said.

“Voters have the right to vote for the candidate they are satisfied with his or her manifesto.

The people are the owners of democracy. That is why all candidates will have to go and campaign for their supports. This is to appeal to Nigerians to see all candidates as their servants asking for their mandate,” Salau added.

The presidential candidate, who is also seeking to occupy Aso Rock Villa, on May 29, 2015, said: “There is no need attacking

candidates, while they are campaigning. The decision of the voters should not be by violence, but by casting their votes, which will show who has their mandate to govern the nation.”

“This is to also appeal to the youths that they should not allow anybody to use them for violence because they are the leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, they should support peaceful elections in order to have a great nation to rule in the future. Depend on your votes to give your mandate, but not to involve in violence,” Salau said.

ASAP West Africa holds symposium on political campaign funding, poverty ÏÏÏThe

Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) West Africa chapter, a non-profit making organisation, will hold its maiden one-day symposium on campaign funding and poverty in Nigeria at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka, on Wednesday. Issues to be discussed include effects of political corruption, with emphasis on political campaign funding, on democracy, with particular emphasis on how it impacts on development in Nigeria.

The keynote speaker is Akin Oyebode, a professor of Law and

Jurisprudence at the University of Lagos. Other notable speakers include: Professor Thomas Pogge of the University of Yale and Mr. Innocent Chukwuma of the Ford Foundation; Dr Hussein Abdu of the Action Aid; Mr. Femi Falana; Dr Femi Aribisala; Mr Femi Fani-Kayode; Alhaji Lai Mohammed of the All People’s Congress (APC) and Mr Olisa Metu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to Ismail Ibraheem and Adepoju Tejumaiye, the coChairs of ASAP West Africa, the organisation focuses on the unimaginable poverty plaguing

Africa, particularly in the midst of abundant resources on the continent.

They also abducted many trapped residents, mostly youths and women,’’ he added.

Confirming the attacks, member representing Michika in the state House of Assembly, Adamu Kamale, said ‘’The militant Boko Haram have attacked our villages killing people. They slaughtered many like rams and burnt houses.

“They kidnapped many youths and women. ‘’They attacked Mbororo, Shahu, Liddle, Garta, Kamale and Ghumci. The attack has been on since last Friday and there is no presence of security operatives in the affected areas. ‘’We are calling on government to come to our rescue; some of the fleeing residents are now trapped on mountains,’’ he said.

Spokesman of the local vigilance group in the state, Mr. Young Maurice, commenting on the development said it is true that the Boko Haram insurgents have launched attacks on some villages in Michika. “ When they were mobilising in Garta town, about 300 of them, my men on the mountains reported to me and I informed the military --- urging them to attack them with fighter Jets.”

Over 10,000 Higgi people of Michika are now living as refugees in Yola, the state capital and its environs, while Michika and other towns in the neighbouring Madagali, the home towns of the state governor, Bala James Ngillari; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and the former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmad Ali Gulak, are still under Boko Haram control.

Nigerians and other well wishers, including activists and

Rigging: Omisore warns INEC Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe

Falana

friends of the country, held a solidarity rally opposite the Nigerian Embassy near Trafalgar Square on Sunday, to condemn the recent killings of over 2000 people in Baga, by Boko Haram.

Akinola Davies, the main organiser of the event, disclosed that he and other Nigerians in the diaspora decided to put it together, after seeing the atrocities of the terror group posted on social media.

Protesters numbering about 100 lined the open space opposite the Embassy, chanting various solidarity songs from 11am to 2pm. They chanted: “What do we want?” Peace! “When do we want it?” Now! Others chanted: “Up, up, Niger,” as others in the crowd responded with “down, down, terror. “ There were also chants and chorusing of “Nigerian lives matter, African lives matter. We’re with you, Baga.”

Chants of:” Bring back our girls, bring back our girls,” and “ Nigerian lives matter,” African lives matter. We’re with you, Baga. Up, up, Niger, down, down, terror,” were also echoed by the passionate crowd.

Davies later spoke with the Daily Times, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to be “more decisive ,” in clipping the wings of the terror organisation Asked why they organised the event, Davies said it was “to mourn the loss of lives,” in Nigeria and to also “show that Nigerians in the diaspora can do something about what affects Nigerians back home.”

One of the highlights of the rally was the address of the leader of the Stop the War Coalition , who wondered why world leaders :” did not stand with Nigeria when the country lost over 2000 people, but stood shoulder to shoulder with the French people”

former governorship candidate of the Proples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid rigging in the forth-coming February election. While speaking on the postponed judgement in an election petition case between him and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Omisore appealed to INEC to ensure proper monitoring during

the general election.

He explained that the outcome of the August 9, 2014 election in the state showed that Nigeria was in crisis, stating that that should not repeat itself.

He said: “It is for Nigeria to learn that INEC has a great work to do on February 14. If, at the state level, they can rig, that means in Nigeria, we are in a serious crisis.

“I want to appeal to INEC to be more vigilant. It should be honest to itself and not to compromise any political.”

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Provocative statements: APC calls Jonathan, PDP to caution ex-militants ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to call to order Niger Delta ex-militants who have threatened to wage war against the country in the event their ‘son’ loses the February 14 presidential election.

The organisation said in a statement by Garba Shehu, director of Media

& Publicity of the campaign, that the irresponsible ultimatum by the ex-militants is not only a barbaric threat on the sovereignty of our republic, but goes against the spirit and letter of the non-violence pact to which President Jonathan is a signatory.

Shehu observed that the declaration of war against the state is causing panic and concern among Nigerians, who are already embattled by so

many challenges, particularly of insecurity, which has been begging for attention.

The APCPCO reminded President Jonathan that as commander-in-chief it is his primary responsibility to ensure the protection of the citizens and their properties, and that such open declaration of war by the ex-militants and several other acts of violence need to be denounced by him in the interest of the democracy,

unity and stability of Nigeria.

According to Shehu, these drumbeats of war, by elements associated with President Jonathan, need to change to peace beats so that the citizens, especially the youth, are encouraged that the sustenance of the country’s democracy is better achieved through the ballot and not the bullet.

The APC organisation called on the president to make good on his declara-

Okun Kwara backs Akanle for NASS

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Ogun State, Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (middle) Mr. Tunde Makanjuola (left) and former finance commissioner in Ogun State, Mr. Kehinde Sogunle during the unveiling of Makanjuola as running mate to PDP governorship candidate in Abeokuta… on Sunday Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

People of Okun, in Kwara State, have risen in unison to endorse retired State Security Services (SSS) national director, Toyin Akanle, of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to represent Kogi West senatorial district in the National Assembly.

They have, therefore, urged their people to vote massively for the retired security personnel in the next month’s general elections.

Kogi West senatorial district has seven local government areas in the present Kogi State. The local government areas are KotonKarfe, Lokoja, Kabba/Bunnu, Ijumu, Mapo-Amoro, Yagba East and Yagba West.

The Okuns at a stakeholders meeting at the weekend in Ilorin, opposed the plan by Senator Smart Adeyemi to return to the Senate for the third term.

Senator Adeyemi’s eight years of two terms ends in June this year.

One of the speakers at the meeting and a former lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Prof Albert Anjorin, said the agreement of rotating the slot between the three federal constituencies in the district must be strictly adhered to.

tion that his “re-election is not worth the blood of any Nigerian,” by calling these war mongers in his domain to order.

The campaign noted that the latest threat is not an isolated act, as the threat on General Muhammadu Buhari by Governor Fayose and the attacks on the party’s offices and rally in Rivers are pointers of coordinated insurrection against the APC ahead of next month’s general elections.

Rivers PDP absolves self from Okrika bombing

Laz Okoroafor Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ

Chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Felix Obuah, has absolved members of the party of any complicity in the bombing, on Saturday, of the venue of a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okrika, Okrika Local Government area of Rivers State.

His APC counterpart, Dr Davies Ikanya, had, in a statement issued following the attack, blamed the bombing on PDP, and called off its governorship cam-

Amaechi paign, scheduled to take place at the National School field, Okrika, last Saturday.

“Rivers APC unreservedly condemns the continuing resort to violence by a desperate PDP which, having seen the handwriting

on the wall, is bent on making Rivers State ungovernable.

“As a law-abiding party that does not believe in violence, we have chosen to put off today’s rally (Saturday) at great cost to ourselves and to our governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside, a man of peace who abhors violence of any sort.

“Rivers APC is pained that this dastardly attack is coming barely days after our Okrika Secretariat was bombed by yet-to-be-identified persons.

“While we are reluctant to link the Nigerian First Lady with our ordeal, as

some people have done, we must, however, express worry that she has failed to call those behind these attacks to order as they believe that they are doing this to protect her interests, the interest of her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan, and their drowning party, PDP,” Ikanya said.

However, Obuah denied the allegation, saying it had been the stock-in-trade for APC to speak from both sides of the mouth, adding that “accusations against the PDP, therefore, is not only baseless but also laughable.

Group condemns political thuggery Joe Ogbodu Warri

ÏÏÏ

A human rights group, Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP) have condemned the spate of political thuggery in the Nigerian polity, ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Barr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, the group said the situation portends potential danger to the nation’s fledgling democracy.

“We are not oblivious of the fact that within the space of three weeks the office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, and that of her governorship candidate in Bauchi State were blown with dynamites, or razed down by unknown political thugs.

“Furthermore, President Goodluck Jonathan and his campaign team were stoned both in Katsina and Bauchi states recently by hoodlums, while billboards and posters were destroyed in the process by suspected thugs.

Lawmaker empowers constituents, presents scorecard Okey Chris Awka

ÏÏÏ

The Deputy Chairman, Federal House of Representatives House Committee on Steel Development, Chriscato Ameke, yesterday empowered over 200 youths of his constituency, Anambra East and West, with items worth over N100 million.

Among the items donated were 50 grinding machines, 20 vulcanizing machines, 120 power generating sets, 12 wheel chairs, 20 car wash machines, 24 sewing machines, 36 motorcycles, 15 tricycles trucks, 20 tricycles, over 130 bags of rice, and cash donations.

~

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

9 News

Fake teachers earn N30m monthly in Kogi, says govt

Edo Gov drops two commissioners, appoints four

Ibrahim Momohjimoh

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has dropped two of his Commissioners. Those dropped are Hon. Orobosa OmoOjo, former Commissioner for Transport and Hon. Donald Osikhena-Boih, former Commissioner for Lands and Survey.

The governor has however nominated four new commissioners. The new Commissioners-designate are: Hon. Joseph Ayegbeni Ugheoke, Mr. Kenneth Edebiri, Mr. Saturday Idehen Uwulekhue and Mr Prestly Ediagboya.

Also, the Governor has appointed two Deputy Chiefs of Staff. They are Hon Frank Okiye, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor (Administration) and Mr. Kenneth Ehesikhien, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor (Political Matters).

Lokoja

ÏÏÏKogi State Government has

said that the recent verification exercises carried out reveal that it pays N30million monthly to holders of fake teachers certificates obtained from an institution (names withheld) in the State.

Kogi state governor, Capt Idris Wada made this disclosure at the Interdenominational Church Service held at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity, Sunday, in Lokoja, to mark the 3rd Anniversary of the administration.

The Governor who was rep-

resented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said following a number of verification conducted by government, the exercise revealed that a number of people disguising as teachers are either not working in any school or they operate with fake certificates.

The governor also cleared the air on the payment of school certificate examination fees,(WAEC), for students in the state, noting that the policy has not been cancelled as is been alleged, rather he disclosed that henceforth government will only make refunds to parents who can show genuine evidence of the

payment of these fees. The governor lamented the exponential rise and total demand of N515million in 2015 as money needed to pay the exam fees of students in the state from the initial N300million the administration inherited in 2012.

While describing the increase as suspicious, and a fraudulent practice by a cabal which he said was unacceptable to government, hence the need to review the policy. Capt Wada explained that the present administration has been misunderstood on several issues because there is no adequate exchange of information, saying

that government was aware of its responsibilities and the expectations of the people.

He said on a sad note, resources to the state has been on a sharp decline, thus creating a huge gap between government plans and the capacity to implement them.

The governor further disclosed that the present administration at inception inherited a number of personnel related problems, among which he disclosed are unpaid teachers’ salaries, salary arrears in the local government services, incidence of ghost workers and unqualified persons using fake certificates.

Mimiko to conduct LG polls with N800m ÏÏÏThe Governor of Ondo State,

Mimiko

ÏÏÏGovernor

Enugu APC calls for removal of REC

‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure.

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has said his government was ready to conduct an election into the 18 Local Government Areas of the state this year. The readiness is coming six years after his administration assumes office in the sunshine state.

It would be recalled that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, upon assumption of office had gone to an Akure High Court to declare the seats of the 18 Local Government Areas Chairmen vacant and dissolved. He said he dissolved the councils’ bosses’ position because the former administration of late Governor Olusegun Agagu was restrained from conducting the council election on December 15, 2007.

The court which was presided over by Justice Nelson Adeyanju, said the election that brought the councils bosses into office was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

Titus Akhigbe, Benin

Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏEnugu State Chapter of

L-R: Archbishop Samson Mustapha Benjamin; Chairman, Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Capt. Tunji Shelle; PDP deputy gubernatorial candidate, Lagos State, Alhaja Safurat Abdul Kareem and gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, during the PDP public rally at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos…on Saturday Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Ekweremadu urges Nigerians to unite against electoral violence Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏAhead

of the forthcoming general election in the country, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has harped on the need for Nigerians to unite against electoral violence.

Ekweremadu made the call at the weekend during the conferment of a honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree on him at the 44th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.

The Deputy Senate President similarly called on the nation’s higher institutions of learning

to rise up to the task of restoring the dignity of man through quality researches that would address the nation’s security and development challenges.

Ekweremadu, in a press statement Sunday in Abuja issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, stressed the need for rigorous advocacy to keep the youth away from electoral violence, which is currently a serious problem in the country.

He passionately appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians to rise up in defence of the national interest and in condemnation of acts of electoral violence irrespective of political, ethnic, and

religious leanings.

According to him, “election is not a do-or-die affair. We are worried about the attacks on some political actors by people in parts of the country other than their own.

Let us stand together and call the political elites to order.

“We must admit that elections will come and go but that this country will remain. Therefore, we must play politics with every sense of responsibility, ensuring that everybody is accorded his due respect.

“We must also bear in mind that events and utterances that incubate electoral violence start well ahead of elections.

All Progressive Congress, APC has called on National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Atahiru Jega, for the redeployment of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Eze Onukaogu from the state.

The party said, “in an ideal society, the Enugu REC, Professor Onukaogu, ought not to be part of any electoral process, because of his terrible antecedents during the Anambra state governorship election in 2013”.

Speaking weekend during the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu state Correspondents, Chapel “FORUM” the state chairman of APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye, said the opposition party has serious reservations about the REC. Nwoye, who is also the 2015 Enugu East Senatorial candidate of APC said “it is on record that Professor Onukaogu, is synonymous with electoral manipulation as demonstrated in Anambra in 2013, where he conducted the worst election in modern political history. He insisted that Onukaogu’s removal should be urgent by the national leadership of INEC before the general polls, so as not to allow a repeat of what happened in Anambra under his watch.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Call for election shift: Iwuayanwu on his own –LP

Kwara State Governor, and gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left) and Kwara Central Senatorial candidate of APC, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki during the Campaign rally of the party at Ilorin East LGA… on Saturday.

Photo: BABA JOHN

Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏ

Jonathan’ll bring ‘Goodluck’ to Kwara – Ajibola Ola Yekeen Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

PDP Governorship flag bearer in Kwara State, Senator Simeon Ajibola has assured the people of the state that President Goodluck Jonathan would make life more abundant for the people if re-elected.

Ajibola gave the assurance on Sunday in his message to the people of the state ahead of Jonathan’s visit to Kwara on Monday, Jan 26. He, therefore, appealed to the people to turn out in

their thousands to receive the President and vote for PDP during the general election.

“As the President’s name, Goodluck, implies, he will surely bring ‘good luck’ to the people of the state”, the Senator said, adding that Jonathan had done much for the people of Nigeria to deserve a second term as President.

He also said that the President had approved N23 billion for dry season farming in the country, adding that

this would go a long way to boost food production.

Ajibola added that the reactivation of the train transportation across the country was a big plus for Jonathan’s administration as it had improved movement of goods and passengers and reduced road crashes.

He, therefore, assured the people that adequate security measure would be put in place by security agencies to ensure a hitchfree rally.

Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏPresident Goodluck

Jonathan has said that he is determined to foil the alleged plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to form an alternative government in the country, should it fail to win the forthcoming presidential election.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State had, once, threatened that the main opposition party would go ahead to form an alternative government

should the presidential election be rigged in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, the president, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, said such plan would remain a dream while he accused APC of planning to instigate the electorate and foment trouble if across the country if he was re-elected in February.

Kuku, who is also the chairman, presidential amnesty, said this while ad-

dressing the leadership of some youth organisations, drawn from the Niger Delta area, at an ethnic nationality summit, held in Port Harcourt, on Saturday.

According to him, the presidency had resolved to ensure that the February elections would be free and fair, in spite of the threat

by APC leadership to form an alternative government “if it loses the presidential election in February”.

Kuku said APC should not resort to threats if it was sure of winning the

Okey Chris Awka

ÏÏÏ

Tinubu

We”ll foil APC’s plan to form alternative govt – Jonathan Laz Okoroafor

The Labour Party (LP) has said that the call for the extension of the forthcoming February general election by its hairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Dan Iwuanyawu, is his ‘personal opinion’ and not a true representation and position of the party’s executives.

Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdusalam, National Chairman of the Labour Party, disclosed this while speaking in Akure, the Ondo State, on the position of the party over calls for the postponement of the general election.

He said that Iwuanyawu, a former National Chairman of the party and now the

An international organisation known as Nwannedinamba Switzerland, which comprises Nigerians from various communities in the South East of Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to helping the less privileged.

The association, on Sunday, visited an orphanage, the Holy Family Sisters of the Needy at Okwurata in Owerri, Imo State and presented items including cash, food items, toiletries and fruit juice drinks.

Receiving the team, matron of St Joseph Orphan-

Utomi backs el-Rufai for Kaduna gov Sunday Isuwa

ÏÏÏ

Jonathan presidential election, adding that Nigeria was too big for any group or individuals to contemplate forming an alternative government when there was a legitimate administration voted into office by Nigerians in power.

Mallam Nasir elRufai is a leader that can implement good policies and secure premium return on investment in Kaduna, Professor Pat Utomi has said.

Speaking during the el-Rufai Support Group interactive dinner held in Kaduna at the weekend, Utomi said with el-rufai as governor, there would be good policy choices, strength of institutions, human capital, entrepre-

BoT chair, was ‘on his own’ for such statement adding that the party had already distanced itself from such talk.

“It was his own personal opinion, he did not represent the position of our party.

Dan Iwuanyawu didn’t have the right to speak for the party on the postponement of the election. “Such sensitive and quality statement should only emanate from the office of the National Chairman”, he said.

Last Tuesday in Abuja, Chief Dan Iwuanyawu had advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the February general election to enable eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).

Group gives succour to less privileged age, Rev. Sr. Jacinta Oluoma disclosed that the homeless survive on people’s generosity, irrespective of the fact that the Church plays a vital role in overseeing their welfare.

While disclosing that God shower testimonies, including children to those who assist them, she thanked the team for the visit and donations, noting that the items would go a long way in alleviating their problems. neurship and culture.

“Culture includes the values that shape human progress. Good leaders like El-Rufai shape cultures and Kaduna people must not afford to lose him,” Utomi said.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai while thanking the organisers and participants said the project of making Kaduna great again was for all. “Kaduna is the second most indebted state in the country, with a huge wage bill and very low level of internally generated revenue. Despite the state’s reliance on federal allocations and the poor level of governance the state has suffered, we will do our utmost best to bring change if voted into power”.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

11 News

Chime begs Enugu churches for forgiveness Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏ

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has asked churches in Enugu State for forgiveness, if he has offended them since the past seven years, while he was in office.

He made the appeal on Sunday, in Nsukka, during a church service, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Cathedral Nsukka.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye, said he appreciated the prayers and support given to his administration by churches and asked for forgiveness from them.

“I appreciate the prayers and support of the churches to my administration in the past seven years and urged them to keep it up.

“If there was any way, in which I have offended any

church, in the course of discharging my official duties, I hereby ask for your forgiveness.

“The state needs more prayers to enable residents vote wisely for the governor, who will consolidate on achievements so far made, as well as take the state to the next level, “he said.

He said if Nsukka people have been praying for him five times, they should increase it to ten times now

that one of their sons from one of the political parties would occupy ‘Enugu Lion Building’ come May 29.

‘I urge you to ensure you collect you Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to enable you to vote for a candidate of your choice, who will take this state to the next level, ‘he said Nwoye said two groups were commissioned by Chime to go to all churches in the state to say thank

you to all churches for their prayers and support.

Before the Deputy-Governor was allowed to address the congregation, Rev. Fr. Uche Obodoechina, the officiating priest and Cathedral Administrator of St. Theresa’s cathedral, Nsukka, told Nwoye and his crew that the Catholic Church is non-partisan and does not allow any of the church apparatus to be used for political campaign.

Bankole’s supporters may defect to LP in Ogun Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏ

Gyang

Plateau PDP guber candidate booed at rally Chijioke Kingsley

ÏÏÏ

The Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Gyang Pwajok, and his campaign team at the weekendwere booed during a campaign rally in two local government areas of the southern senatorial district of the state.

Eyewitnesses at the Pwajok campaign rally said the governorship candidate was booed in Shendam, which is the home town of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, while a mild drama occurred in Langtang South when two House of Assembly candidates of the party and their supporters clashed.

Angry youths were said to have chased after Sen. Pwajok’s campaign vehicles in Shendam shouting ‘we don’t want PDP, we want APC.’ In Langtang south, Prince Vincent Venman who had won the party primaries for the area was substituted with Lokfa Bako by the PDP.

The supporters of the former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, have concluded plans to move to the Labour Party in Ogun State.

The indication emerged following a closed-door meeting that Bankole’s father, Chief Alani Suarau Bankole, held with the leaders of the Labour Party in the state at his Onikolobo residence, in Abeokuta.

Present at the meeting were the state Chairman of the party, Olabode Simeon , the state Secretary, Sunday Oginni, the governorship candidate of the party, Abolaji Sunmola, his campaign Director-General, Abayomi Arabambi, and other top

Gov Bala insists on poll shift in Adamawa Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏAdamawa

State Governor Bala Ngillari is still insisting on his call for the suspension of 2015 general election, despite passionate debates by the opposition party in the state.

Ngilari maintained his stand of view on Saturday that he was unrepentant

leaders of the party in the state.

It was learnt that, the former Bankole, who was denied the governorship ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has resolved to join either the Labour Party or the Social Democratic Party.

Daily Times was reliably informed, the former Speaker’s father threw his weight behind the governorship candidate of the Labour Party and promised to collapse his son’s political structure into the Labour Party structure ahead of the election.

It was further gathered that, Bankole’s father had ordered the supporters of his son, under the auspices of Dimeji Bankole Movement, across the state to over his recent comment that INEC should suspend the next month’s elections in the state.

Daily Times gathered that the opinion aired by the governor is still drawing a lot criticisms from even some members of the ruling party and some prominent people from Adamawa in the state.

The governor, who was reacting at the Adamawa PDP Town Hall meeting organised by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, in Yola, insisted that the next month’s elections, particularly in the state, was not the most important to the citizens.

work for the Labour Party.

He was quoted to have given his blessings to the Labour Party governorship candidate, whom he was reported to have described as his son.

Oginni, said, the meeting with Bankole’s father

was part of the consultation with notable leaders in the state, adding that the endorsement of the party governorship candidate was a boost to the party and that it would ensure it did not disappoint Bankole’s supporters.

Niger PDP refutes alleged defections from party Pita Chikwem Minna

ÏÏÏ

The Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Tanko Beji, Sunday described rumours about more defections from members of the ruling party to the All Progressive Congress (APC) as spurious and mere propaganda by the opposition to confuse the electorates.

He said that he had no plans to leave the ruling party and no serving commissioner in the state executive council had any intention to leave PDP. Beji also said that those alleged to have decamped received the information with shock when a national daily published their alleged decamping, adding that it’s desperate attempt by the opposition to deceive electorates.

NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA INVITATION TO PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER A CLARIFICATION Further to our advertisement published in the Daily Trust and Daily Times of 23rd January 2015, we wish to make the following clarifications.

1.

Our Advertisement reads that closing date for submission of prequalification bid documents takes place two weeks from the date of publication but erroneously, Monday February 2, 2015 was inserted.

This error is regretted.

2.

The closing date for submission of the prequalification bid documents is February 6, 2015 and NOT February 2, 2015 as earlier advertised.

3.

All bidders should please take note of this slight clarification.

4.

The University regrets any inconvenience this may cause prospective bidders.

Barr. C.C. Okeke Registrar

International 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Lawyers challenge Uganda over General’s retirement ÏÏÏA team of lawyers is prepar-

Narendra Modi broke protocol to meet President Obama personally at the airport in Delhi, on Sunday

US, Indian leaders meet, discuss security cooperation ÏÏÏUnited

States President Barack Obama said he agrees with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a “new vision” for the Asia Pacific region.

In a joint news conference in New Delhi hours after arriving in India, the U.S. leader also said he and Modi have “agreed to deepen” their defense and security cooperation.

Modi said the relationship between the U.S. and India “stands at a new level.”

Obama arrived in India on Sunday for a three-day visit during which he will become the

first American leader to attend the country’s Republic Day ceremony.

Indian Prime Minister Modi demonstrated the importance of the visit by breaking protocol to receive Obama at the airport with a big hug.

Their talks will primarily focus on trade, but also take in security, nuclear power and climate change.

After his arrival, the U.S. president travelled to the presidential palace for an official welcoming ceremony with his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee.

Obama placed a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial ahead of talks with Modi and later, a state dinner.

On Monday, in addition to attending India’s Republic Day celebration, the U.S. president will speak at a CEO forum bringing together American and Indian business leaders.

Obama canceled a planned trip to the Taj Mahal to travel to Saudi Arabia on January 27, and will cap his New Delhi visit with a speech earlier Tuesday laying out his vision for the future of U.S.-India relations.

Malawi Muslims split over proposed holiday ÏÏÏMalawi’s

minority Muslim population has been pushing the government to declare the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday a public holiday, but the threeyear campaign has been plagued by disagreement among Islamic scholars.

Kondwani Nankhumwa, information minister for the southeast African country, told VOA “the government will act accordingly once the issue is discussed at Cabinet level.”

Right now, the only Islamic holiday publicly observed in Malawi is Eid al-fitr, a celebration that marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

In 2003, Muslims in Malawi started observing Ziyala, as it’s known among the country’s Muslims. It is celebrated on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, the

third month in the Islamic calendar. This year, the Ziyala parade marking the prophet’s birthday took place January 4.

In calling for a public holiday, Faizal Aboo said Malawi’s government should follow the lead of at least 50 other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

“Malawi should be no different,” said Aboo, media coordinator for the Al-Traq Qadeia Sunni Association, a local charity assisting Muslims in Malawi.

The country has nearly 17 million people. Aboo said that, with at least 5 million Muslims among them, officials should give “serious thought” to designating the holiday.

Sheikh Imran Sheriff, who chairs the Supreme Council of Ulemas, said: “We don’t celebrate

because, according to the Islamic knowledge, Prophet Muhammad was born on 12th Rabi’ al-awwal and also died on the same day, same date and same time. And therefore, we feel that it is not advisable to celebrate while the same person is dead.”

Mutharika

A peace deal signed in September in the Belarusian capital of Minsk envisaged a cease-fire and a pullout of heavy weapons from a division line in eastern Ukraine.

It has been repeatedly violated by both sides, and heavy artillery and rocket barrages have increased the civilian death toll in the last few weeks.

The foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agreed Wednesday to revive that division line, but fighting has continued unabated.

35 militants killed in Pakistani air strikes ÏÏÏThe

Pakistan military says it has bombed suspected militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal territory, killing at least 35 militants.

The army said the air strikes Sunday focused on the Datta Khail area near the Afghan border. Foreign fighters are said to be among those killed.

Pakistan’s military has launched a major counter-terrorism offensive in the Waziristan region since June. Officials said the attacks have killed around 2,000 suspected militants. The military said it has lost more than 200 soldiers in the fighting.

U.S. officials have said the Waziristan district was where al-Qaida and its allied Haqqani Network have established bases.

ing to legally challenge the Ugandan government’s refusal to approve a retirement request from renegade army General David Sejusa.

David Mushabe, a leading member of the legal team, said the army used double standards and the discretion of President Yoweri Museveni — the commander in chief — to retire senior army officers.

Sejusa applied to be retired from the army on December 30, 2014. By law, the army has 90 days to let Sejusa know whether his application has been approved.

“It’s not up to 60 days or 90 days yet, but we are ready to keep watching the clock and the calendar. Once it hits 90 days, then we need to ask the government why they are not retiring my client,” said Mushabe. “The retirement process is subject to the discretion of the powers that be. It depends on whether or not you are being viewed as a threat.

“You realize that not everybody can be retired or not everybody would be allowed to retire. … For us as lawyers, we are saying we could take legal action demanding to apply the same standards like that which has been applied to others who have retired.”

Mushabe’s comments came after army spokesman Paddy Ankunda said Sejusa would be contacted within the next 90 days.

CAR militias kidnap sport minister ÏÏÏThe

wife of a minister in Central African Republic’s transitional government says her husband has been kidnapped by armed men believed to belong to the Christian anti-Balaka militia group.

Nicaise Danielle Sayo said her husband, Armel Mingatoloum Sayo, minister of youth and sports, was taken from his car while the couple was returning from church on Sunday morning.

She said the assailants sped off in an unmarked taxi.

Central African Republic was hit by unprecedented sectarian violence about a year ago when the anti-Balaka militia was formed to combat a Muslim rebel coalition that had taken control of the country.

Last week, anti-Balaka fighters kidnapped and later released a Kurdish female UN staffer as well as a French aid worker and her Central African colleague.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

DELTA REBIRTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

WALLY WALTERS FOUNDATION. This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part c of the Companies and allied matters act no. 1 Of 1990 TRUSTEES: 1) Hamed Adewale Ishola 2) Kehinde Ijilade 3) Adeyemi Sanni

PUBLIC NOTICE

t

This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990

Objectives: To promote, foster, increase and advance the health, welfare and economic status of underprivileged poverty stricken person. E.g: orphanages and widows.

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

The Aims And Objectives 1. To give good policies and strategizing how to move the state forward.

2. To promote economic and National development 3. To promote god governances at all level.

WINDING UP ZGZC CONSTURUCTION (NIGERIA) CO. LIMITED RC: 1060404 12, Association Close, Off CMD Road, Ikosi Lagos Plot 1, Raith Avenue, Pharco Estate, Isolo, Lagos State

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 COMMANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPCECIAL RESOLUTION OF ZGZC CONSTRUCTION (NIGERIA) CO. LIMITED RC: 1060404 At the Extra Ordinary General Meeting of the above named company duly Convened and held at its registered office on the 12th day of September, 2014, the following resolutions were proposed and duly passed as follows: “That the company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to S.457 of CAMA, 2014.

That MR. OLUFEMI SALAMI of OLUFEMI SALAMI & CO., 4/6 Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja Lagos who is our statutory auditor be appointed as our liquidator for the purpose of winding up the company”.

Dated this 12th day of September, 2014.

PUBLIC NOTICE RAINBOW SALVATION ORGANIZATION

Emmanuel Duku Francis Ibhadon Johnson Orum Barr. Anthony Ofogba Austin Chris Bulou Kosin

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

JOY COMETH MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990

Aim and Objective: To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed : SECRETARY

Signed: JEMIMA ANIGBORO

PUBLIC NOTICE TABITHA INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMME This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part c of the Companies and allied matters act no. 1 Of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mrs. Bola Thompson 3. Pastor Bukki Gbenro 5. Chief (Mrs.) Grace Oluwatoye 7. Dr. Opeoluwa Thompson

2.

4.

6.

8.

Olamilekan Adelana Pastor Marcus Williams Evangelic Debo Olayode Mrs. Theresa Adetayo-Dada

The Aims and Objectives 1. To equip women with essential skills and knowledge needed to live a total life.

2. To empower women in the area of information, communication and technology necessary for their career development 3. To develop and encourage women on entrepreneurship 4. Develop the potentials of the Nigerian women through creating the enabling environment for their development.

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

Signed: OLATONA OLABODE 08054463177

PUBLIC NOTICE ZION WILL OF GOD MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part c of the Companies and allied matters act no. 1 Of 1990 The Trustees Are: 1. Pastor John Friday Ekanem 2. Pastor Dominic John Friday 3. Pastor Amos Tobby 4. Pastor Sampson Edet Okpo 5. Elder Friday Joseph Abraham 6. Mr Ezekiel John Friday 7. Deaconess Grace Akpan Aims and Objectives: 1. To preach the gospel of Christ 2. To win souls for Christ and to teach the word of God as contained in the bible.

3. To demonstrate the power of God through evangelism and missionary outreach.

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Signed: Pastor John Friday Ekanem General Overseer

PUBLIC NOTICE

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DAKOTA FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part c of the Companies and allied matters act no. 1 Of 1990

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part c of the Companies and allied matters act no. 1 Of 1990

The Trustees Are: 1. Barr. Chijioke Nzekwe 2. Mr. Egoalowes Jimanze 3. Sunday Omoragbon,, Esq.

TRUSTEES. 1. PRINCESS OLUFEMI AKINLUDE (PRESIDENT).

2. ABIBIMBO ATOLANI. - (SEC).

3. HON. OLUWAFEMI AYODELE - (PRO) 4. AKINBIYI AKINLUDE(OLAYEMI ALATISHE.). - (FIN SEC).

The Aim and Objectives are: 1. To create leadership Skills among members of the Organization 2. To promote Capacity building in areas of good leadership and social wellbeing

Aim and objective: To foster unity among the member of Dakota foundation.

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

SIGNED: H. U. Okoronkwo (Solicitor)

PUBLIC NOTICE

t

Trustees 1. Aromolaran Olaitan - President 2. Oluyemi Agnes Aromolaran - Secretary 3. Wilson Idemudia - Treasurer 4. Olujimi Samuel Olanrewaju

The Trustees Are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Signed ; Kehinde Ijilade. Esq Litigation & Corporate Commercial Law Department Temple Stone & Graeys LP, Central Business District.

F.C.T, Abuja.

13

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ATATA YOUTH FORUM This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part c of the Companies and allied matters act no. 1of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Stephen Atata 2. Mr. Samuel Aniforo Orime 3. Mr. Gift Eziwhuo Nsitem 4. Mr. Goddey Wilson 5. Mr. Chimenum Ayo Atata

-

Chairman Secretary

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PUBLIC NOTICE KINGDOM CHRISTIANS PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVE This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part c of the Companies and allied matters act no. 1 Of 1990 Trustees 1.Dr. Cletus Bassey - Chairman 2. Mrs. Angela Ashong 3. Rev. Victor Brian 4. Mr. victor Charles 5. Barr. utto essien - Secretary.

Aim 1. To promote the overall development of the Nigerian society 2. To promote cultural, religious, political and economic cooperation and synergy between persons of different religious affinities.

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

Signed; Sunday Oghayei. (Esq) 08032167288.

Kayode $ Co

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Miss Mary Oluwakemi Oyeleke now wishes to be addressed as Mrs. Mary Oluwakemi Idahosa General Public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME I, Odiatu Chiedu Obi wish to correct my name erroneously stated as Chinedu Obi in our company Cobiex Integrated Services Ltd documents to Chiedu Obi. And that any other company documents bearing Chinedu Obi stands corrected to Chiedu Obi

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Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Buhari: From pillar to post

W

Chika Onuora

ith initial momentum on his side, promoters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, touted him as the man who will emerge all-out winner in next month’s presidential election. His well-trumpeted moral high-ground was enough to drive his aspiration against any other candidate. Not even the impressive list of positive development indices from President Goodluck Jonathan could match the solid pillar of integrity that Buhari flaunted.

Then the controversies started tumbling in. Week after week, the Buhari candidacy has faced one scandal after another, leading to the certificate saga that has brought a once-promising campaign to a near stop. The well-oiled opposition campaign machinery, which once churned out issues and facts that were to define the campaign, has since been bogged down in firefights.

In trying to extricate their candidate from one self-inflicted scandal after another, chips keep falling from the pillar of integrity on which his candidacy is built.

It all started with Buhari’s health condition and his fitness to with-

stand the rigours of the office of President. Against the background that the last President of Northern extraction, Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua, died without completing the first of his possible two terms in office, the concern among Northern leaders over the reported collapse of Buhari on the second day of his nationwide campaign in Calabar, was understandable.

Buhari’s shoddy handling of the finances of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund during the regime of Gen. Sani Abacha is another scandal his party is still trying to dismiss as inconsequential. Over the years, the former military strongman has been hard-put explaining the humongous amounts of money frittered away in the PTF under his watch, the discrepancies associated with the award of its contracts and the lopsided nature of location of its projects.

It has still not been possible to sweep it aside, which is why Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who has since become more APC than the party leaders, rushed to his rescue. Penultimate week, in an apparent effort to clear Buhari, the former President who instituted the probe which revealed unwholesome dealings and phoney expenditures in the PTF amounting to over N25 billion, declared, rather curiously, that Buhari is innocent of the various financial scandals that were unearthed

because he determined that Buhari did not personally benefit from the sleaze. It was Obasanjo at his duplicitous best.

The question to ask is, must he be a personal beneficiary before he is held accountable for profligate spending of public money? The PTF cover up will, however, pale into insignificance when the certificate scandal involving Buhari, is considered. The simple personal duty of submitting his nomination form along with his personal details has turned into the most confounding political rigmarole of all time. For a man who has over the years been sold up as upright and painstakingly meticulous, the hazy submissions about his certificates have turned out a scandal of gargantuan proportions. It all started when he submitted his nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); but instead of attaching his West African School Certificate (WASC) as required by law, he referred the electoral body to the Secretary of the military board for them.

The Board has since come out to deny it was holding his certificate and all manner of rigmarole have followed. In explaining the gaping deficit in integrity, his campaign office has carried a bloody nose for weeks; if their lawyer is not rationalising how the military rank of

general equals a school certificate, we are being inundated with phoney and funny diplomas from military institutions from across the world.

When all of them refused to stick, the Provisional Secondary School ,Katsina, which is now known as Government College, Katsina, now remembers that it can issue him, in 2015, a statement of result for exams taken in 1961. Incredible!

It is a school certificate that the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has expressed doubt over, but which the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation insists, brings the scandal to a close. For the APC, that can only be wishful thinking, considering that Buhari`s academic qualification is at the heart of his eligibility to contest the presidency in February 14. It cannot be swept away so easily.

Buhari’s press conference on 21st of January where he attempted to explain the series of controversies surrounding his academic qualifications, especially the Secondary School Certificate, ended up with more questions than providing a conclusive proof that he possesses this minimum qualification. It is indeed unfortunate that on such a simple personal duty, Buhari has been running from pillar to post, and dragging his party men down that dark alley of falsehood and uncertainty.

observe that barely four years after securing the strategic consensus to conceive a doctrine of necessity with which to uphold constitutional provisions and retrieve our nationhood from naked nepotism, here we are again faced with the same uncompromising threats from dominant ethnic groups intent on imposing a supremacist stranglehold on an incumbent minority President.

In analysing the current crisis of leadership which has overwhelmed the routine of general election, we cannot shy away from the regrettable reality of an unholy alliance between the core-north (again!) and the south-west to wrest the settled entitlement of two-term presidency from the incumbent south-south minority President with such reckless abandon. The ulterior motives of the so-called opposition parties are glaringly paraded in the opportunistic gathering of strange bedfellows and allied incompatibles united in a rabid scramble for power at all costs.

It does not augur well for democracy or nationhood that the

inherent weaknesses of a marginalised minority in the long-standing lop-sided competition for power are seized upon by the hawkish heroes of majority rule to victimise and demonise the very first Nigerian President from the south-south to the extremist extent of portraying the providential emergence of an Ijaw President as abomination of treasonable proportions. Even the unprecedented undeniable landmark achievements of a humble and comparatively hard-working President are buried under the barrage of blanket condemnation orchestrated with the deceptive cruelty of the Goebbels.

Without dwelling too much on the unfairness and overzealousness of those currently campaigning so viciously against the merited and settled right of President Goodluck Jonathan to a second term of four years, suffice it to emphasise that, as far as the fanning of ethnic embers for political leverage is concerned, there will be no end to it even if the core-Hausa/ Yoruba tribal champions hoodwink their way to power in 2015.

Doctrine of domination

C

Erahodu Oseghale

onsidering the current crisis situation plaguing the political climate as we head towards the 2015 general election, it is necessary to recall certain significant episodes in the past, which almost miraculously diffused tension and provided a systematic solution, in place of the debacle of deadlocked diatribes that threatened our unity and stability.

There can be no denying that the supposedly democratic contest for the Presidency of Nigeria in 2015 has instigated a despotic desperation to literally confiscate the tenure of the incumbent among those who never genuinely recognised his right, nor that of a “minority” for that matter, to rule. Yet, even the most virulent vector of “Jonathanian” jaundice cannot justifiably declare that any Nigerian should be hounded out of an entitlement, purely on the basis of his tribe and tongue.

Our nationhood has always been tethered on the doctrine of

unity in diversity and the notion of the nation belonging to us all. If these principles had been dutifully upheld as they should have, our country would have been the more strengthened to prevent and withstand the ethno-religious quakes that have instead remained permanent perils on the path to our collective development and progress. Arguably, the initial emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as acting President exposed the sinister underbelly of the patriotic posturing of our political leadership elite, in spite of the oaths they swear . In fact even the established statutes of the Nigerian Constitution which unambiguously stipulated the order of succession in a vacated Presidency had to be vigorously backed up with a hurriedly harnessed consensus on “doctrine of necessity”!

All these issues highlight the vulnerability of our nationhood when confronted by the recurring reticence of the political leadership elite who have no qualms about putting their selfish/clannish interests above all else. It is a pity to

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

15 Opinion

Fayose and the poisonous advert

G

Oludayo Tade

overnor Ayodele Fayose is a character that appears to defy social norms. Defying social norms is not a problem because it encourages debate and promotes engagement with issues as they develop. There is no rule that says somebody is right because you align with public opinion or with the views of the majority. When people defy social norms, they go against what the ‘majority’ sees as right or wrong.

This is perception which may be jaundiced. Hence, a deviant is one who does something or engages in a habit condemned by the majority as unwholesome. It is against this background that the likes of Fayose can facilitate social change (violent or peaceful) through their utterances and symbolic representations such as what has been called ‘death-wish advert’ against the All Progressive Congress(APC) Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammad Buhari.

Fayose did not do anything

That Fayose chose to go to the press with overt pictorial evidence of the perceived political enemy that ‘should die’ is callous unusual from what most of us do. In Nigeria, there is spiritual explanation for people’s failures.

Usually, we go to Alfas, Imams, and pastors who give the notion that the source of our problems is tied to somebody. Hence, when we gather in churches and even as expressed in several church programme themes (“breaking the backbone of enemies”; “possess your possession”; “the key to your breakthroughs”), we pray that our enemies should ‘die by fire’ so that we may fulfill our destinies on earth. This is the prayer that gets

more voices in the church with the whole space filled with ‘prayer noise’ aimed at killing our enemies. Against this background, Fayose’s advert is only a reflection of what we all do in our religious spaces. The subtle difference in Fayose’s advert is that whereas we pray for the death of our enemies in churches, the enemies are anonymous and mostly unmentioned. That Fayose chose to go to the press with overt pictorial evidence of the perceived political enemy that ‘should die’ is callous, wicked and totally insensitive.

And as typical of ‘politrickcians’, he wrongly interpreted Deuteronomy 30 vs. 19.

Rather than base my interpretation on the quoted verse, I read the whole chapter with a view to knowing what led to that conclusion. The message in the chapter was predicated on the covenant reviewed by Moses after leading the children of Israel out of Egypt.

They (Isrealites) were asked to obey the covenant to serve the Lord and not worship idols.

Deviation from this covenant was to bring on them and their generations ruin due to the anger God would visit on them. This

was why he asked them to choose between life and death. Verse 15 of the Chapter says “Now Listen!

Today I am giving you a choice between prosperity and disaster, between life and death”. However, God still urged them to keep his commands, laws and regulations by walking in his ways. In verse 16, the promise is that whoever follows the covenant will live, and the Lord will bless their land. For me, the most important part of the message here is for Nigerians to choose a good leader who would give them better quality of life. If this will come by change, February is the opportunity God is given us again to make our choices.

Whatever person (s) we elect will eventually determine whether Nigeria as presently constituted will be blessed and progress or cursed and retrogress. Now if Fayose is not sufficiently knowledgeable to appreciate the sensitivity of his message at this time in the history of Nigeria when issues of religion, ethnicity, sectionalism and power become hotly debated, what about his advisers? He who walks with the wise grows wise but a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20).

That CNN report on Nigerian army

I

Aloy Ejimakor

watched the recent CNN segment on the Boko Haram terror vis-a-vis the state of the Nigerian armed forces; and I was appalled at CNN, appalled at the misguided ‘soldiers’ that granted them the interview; and thus concluded that CNN has, in relation to Nigeria, changed its name to ‘Celebrating Negative News’. I wager that my outrage represents the inert feelings of vast majorities of Nigerians that are still possessed of any sense of pride in the fine exploits of our armed forces.

Pray, how can anybody believe that Nigerian soldiers now sow or buy their own uniforms or buy their army-issue boots and other essential military gears? Lies, lies, but when told so many times, especially about Africa, they begin to ring true. Every army, everywhere in the world, including CNN’s own America, runs a military-gear shop where any soldier can optionally buy any extra non-essential gear he desires.

Are we even sure that the interviewees are bonafide Nigerian soldiers, and not some bitter

mutineer, saboteur; or even a Boko Haram member or sympathiser in fake rag-tag military uniform? Yes, it’s Boko Haram that wears fake rag-tag army uniforms, not authentic Nigerian soldiers I see on the streets resplendent and proud in their quality uniforms. Coming to the so-called disgruntled widows, how can anyone be so sure that Nic Robertson, the interviewer, was not suckered in by his local guide, who might have been motivated by some vile objectives?

The highly objectionable airing played into the deep-rooted, age-old stereotype that nothing works in Africa, even when something is working. I dare say that if Nigeria’s military expedition against Boko Haram is that lousy, the terrorists would have overrun the entire country by now. Who stopped the Boko Haram where they are now?

Who paid with their blood to keep them at bay? Why these callous attacks on Nigerian military, especially its leadership? Do we want them to go on suicide missions? Or just get plain frustrated?

The setbacks in the Nigerian military’s gallant strides against Boko Haram are overhyped; and I dare say, for some sinister purposes.

Traducers and non-patriots alike have ignored the main problem, and that is: the complex internal religious, tribal and political contradictions that have plagued the federal security apparatus and our polity in recent times and thus affected the morale of loyal forces and made this very insurgency the greatest military dilemma for any President, any army, anywhere.

Everybody knows that’s the main problem, yet anyone who dares raise it, is drowned out, is ridiculed, like the President was when he ventured that Boko Haram has infiltrated state structures.

To be sure, this sort of biased, highly inflammatory foreign broadcast sits well with the closet civil Boko Haram sympathisers, some of whom are now probably amongst those campaigning to rule Nigeria.

Is it possible for any of our Nigerian TV stations or even the same CNN to be sneaking around Syria and Iraq, suborning subversive stories from disgruntled American troops? You won’t dare because it’s simply not allowed, and if you succeed and you proceed to air it, it shall be considered severe breach of national security laws

and therefore prosecutable. Ask Snowden and Assange; now hunted by several western governments for airing what’s not supposed to be aired, and no combat environment was even involved.

Even as it is evident that the military is not resting on its oars, some rank partisans, with a political axe to grind, have seized the opportunity of this CNN ‘scoop’ to escalate their torment of the good people of Nigeria, believing that they are tormenting the Nigerian armed forces as presently commanded.

They forget that no nation succeeds in subduing terrorism by exhibiting this shameful level of disunity and near-subversion of the security forces, notwithstanding that it is the only institution that is so far standing between us and the worst terror any African country has witnessed since time.

You defeat terror by supporting and complimenting our men and women in uniform. Criticisms are welcome but they better be reasonable and driven by a high sense of patriotism; not this orchestrated taunts that a certain set people are playing-up as if it’s funny.Shame on CNN.

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Politics

s

DARAMOLA

We did not lose Ekiti Polls

Abimbola Daramola

Board of Trustees Member and former Interim National Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, in this interview with AUGUSTINE AMINU says the time has come for a change in the national leadership of Nigeria.

The polity is heated up.

How can we ensure that the electoral process is violence free?

Our party had stated at the beginning that our campaign would be issues-based and not on mudslinging. I have never imbibed that attitude of political mudslinging. Talk about what the other party is doing wrong and what you can do to make the country better. If we continue with political mudslinging and abuses, we will be heating up the polity and we know what happened in 2011.

With the insurgency that is increasing, we cannot afford to heat up the polity. I am happy that the office of the NSA and that of the Presidential Adviser on Inter Party Relations organised an election sensitization workshop on non-violence in Abuja recently where all the 2015 Presidential candidates signed a pact on non violence now called the Abuja Accord.

There was also an inter-party dialogue, I think it was last year, which I attended and General Buhari being the statesman that he is was present there as well. All the parties spoke and

17

A member of the House of Representatives for Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, Abimbola Oluwafemi Olayinka Daramola in this interview with TAI OGUNTAYO has scored the National Assembly low saying that it is failing in its responsibilities to the electorate.

He was born in 1967 to the family of a teacher-turned politician, Chief Francis Adebayo Daramola, Chairman of Oye Local Government Area of the

old Ondo State between 1991 and 1993 having retired as a school principal. He attended Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti where he grew up from 1978 to 1983 after leaving Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Ado Ekiti in 1970 where his late mother, Mrs Joan Taiwo Daramola was also a teacher. He attended the Ondo State University (OSUA) now Ekiti State University (EKSU) in 1984 where he graduated in 1989 with a degree in Geology.

He was in the team that pro-

duced the epic documentary of the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo titled; “From Prison to Presidency”. Becoming a member of House of Representatives was not a smooth ride as in 2006 when he won the primary election; he was prevailed upon by party leaders to step down for another person before luck smiled on him in 2011 when he was elected. The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker spoke on CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

IKEAZOR

Nigerians are yearning for change what came out of that dialogue was the need for parties to understand we are all Nigerians and must work for the unity of Nigeria and not be divisive in our political campaigns. Like I always say, we are opponents, not enemies. We all belong to one country, we are all fighting for the same country and the same goal. Whoever wins should know that it should not be a winner-takes-all affair any more. It is the winner-takesall attitude that is destroying politics in Nigeria. So far, the campaigns have been going on well, we haven’t had any bad incident apart from the one we had in Port-Harcourt when we had our flag-off rally and some of our members were shot on their way to Port-Harcourt for the rally. We all condemned it.

This is not what we want in Nigeria. General Buhari took time off his campaign to visit the victims at the hospital.

Has your party kept to the promise that the exercise

Ikeazor

will be violence-free?

Yes, we have kept to it. We flagged off with rallies to cover the 36 states, these are mobilization rallies where we introduce our candidates and present them with our party flags with our huge crowd supporters in attendance. But, you know, at rallies where everyone comes out you really do not have time to go over all the issues with the singing and chanting but we do try to get our message out as much as possible. Most of our campaigns will be done through the town hall meeting system whereby we get people together from different communities and they sit down with the candidate and they will be able ask them questions and we also get feedback on what the people want. This has been a huge success. General Buhari had one with the youths in Lagos and they asked him some very hard questions. I must emphasise that the press do CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Adamawa monarch: Govt has denied us of development for 52 years Wale Akintunde-Yola The Hamma of Bachama Kingdom, in Adamawa State, Col. Honest Irimiya Stephen

(Rtd) has said that his people have been robbed of developmental projects in the last 52 years.

The Royal father said that

various governments in Adamawa State have neglected Bachama kingdom in the area of developmental projects.

He lamented that even king-

doms which emerged after his kingdom are receiving patronage from various governments that came on board saying his kingdom has been neglected

completely.

His words: “Before Nigeria’s Independence, Bachama CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

‘The last has not been heard on Ekiti polls’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

a range of issues from his home State, Ekiti to the national economy, security, politics and corruption which is ravaging all sectors of Nigeria. Excerpts: You were the Director-General of the John Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation in the June 23rd 2014 governorship election Ekiti won by Governor Ayo Fayose in the entire 16 local government areas of Ekiti State making the second time he would be defeating incumbent governors in Ekiti. What would you say went wrong with your strategy?

At the risk of sounding immodest, I will be surprised if anyone can point to any electioneering campaign better organised, more issue-based and people better mobilised than what we had at the JKF campaign bureau during the last gubernatorial election in Ekiti. We got everything well organised and this was made easy because our principal, Dr Kayode Fayemi performed as a governor. My candidate was above everybody in the contest.

I don’t think Ekiti people voted in that manner. We had things to tell Ekiti people, it doesn’t vitiate the fear that Kayode’s administration moved Ekiti beyond here he met it. As the month goes to an end, 20,000 senior citizens can not have anything at all. Yes, we had relationship problem, but I do not believe we lost the election on the platform of tokenism or stomach infrastructure or what have you!

Three days to the election Professor Jega told us that the ballot paper would be colour-coded according to each of the 16 local government areas. Fayose was there, I was there, State deputy chairman of our party, APC and many others were there. I had it on tape and took pictures but when we got to the field there was nothing like that. The second day, I called Senator Ojudu and he also said he didn’t see anything too. The ballot papers, not the ballot boxes are the heart of any election. So, If one loses the heart, what is left

for him? You can imagine now the ballot papers we are counting now have colour code.

At the time Fayemi was contesting, he had a State cabinet comprising of commissioners and special advisers who are political leaders in their various communities, special assistants, board chairmen and members, 16 local government care-taker chairmen, 16 local government secretaries, 177 executive assistants to the governor at the local government areas, supervisors, 3 senators, 6 representative members, 25 house of assembly members. All these coupled with Governor Fayemi’s performances attested to by everybody in the state, no matter how disgruntled people are, no one can convince me that he lost in all the 16 local government areas including his local government which is the same with mine, Oye local government area.

With all the evidences you had including the colour-code which INEC showed you which was not eventually used during the election, the tribunal threw away your petition in its entirety. What’s your take on this?

Let us look at it from two ways: Tribunal is supposed to investigate issues arising from elections but they are saying they were not involved in pre-election issues.

The fact is we are yet to hear the end of the matter because no matter what, we shall truly see to the end no matter how late. It is a matter of time. What happened in Ekiti on June 23rd was surely not the true picture of how Ekiti people voted. Some people say it is photochromic, some say it

The ballot papers, not the ballot boxes are the heart of any election. So, If one loses the heart, what is left for him?

Daramola

“If we continue with political mudslinging and abuses, we will be heating up the polity and we know what happened in 2011”

is stomach infrastructure while some are mentioning one thing or the other. All I know is that it goes beyond the ordinary and the truth will surface one day. When?

Where? What? Who? Which and how long it will take I may not know but what is certain to me is that the mystery surrounding the governorship election in Ekiti will be revealed one day. The Bible says: ‘Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free’. It is not the truth you know but the application. The truth you know will set you free but are we really applying it appropriately in order for it to set us free? At the appropriate time, we will account for whatever we do here on earth.

As an indigene of Ekiti who walks round the street of

Ado and drives on the roads within, what would you say of Fayose’s government? Any change from his past when he first came as a governor?

The administration is just three months old. It may not be fair enough to start assessing Fayose. But like I said, the truth will emerge soon whether Fayemi performed or not. Just few days ago, the President came here to say that he had done what Ekiti wanted in paying back the money Ekiti was owed, but the government is denying it. Though I didn’t watch it, but there were witnesses and of course there are tape recordings as you know that we are now in a global village. I am not going to bother myself about whether someone has done well or not.

Let the teachers, the artisans, the civil servants and the teachers he claimed voted for him assess him. They are in the best position to tell us if this is what they bargained for or not.

Let the teachers who were asked to join the Okada riders to line up at Agric Olope in Ado Ekiti to collect Christmas chicken talk if that

It may not be fair enough to start assessing Fayose.

But like I said, the truth will emerge soon”

was what they bargained for. Let the civil servants who were yet to be paid their August and September salaries be asked to tell us if that is what they bargained for if truly they voted for Fayose.

Let the over 20,000 senior citizens who Fayemi paid N10,000 monthly for four years assess Fayose who threw Peace corps out of jobs or the Ekiti Road Traffic Agency officers sacked tell us their experiences. There is something you cannot deny whether the president has settled Ekiti or not, the true will come out one day.

As an elected representative of Ekiti, there is a logjam in the Ekiti House of Assembly.

What is the position of the law concerning the function of the House of Representatives when one the houses of assembly in any of the 36 states of the federation is in crisis?

You are right, crisis in any of the state houses of assembly are part of the functions of the national assembly to look into; but does anyone need to say that seven people in an assembly of 26 people cannot take charge? Why is it that we don’t behave sane for once in Nigeria? This culture of impunity; how can seven people be majority over 19 people? The speaker, the deputy speaker, majority leader of the house, the minority leader, chief whip and minority chief whip all are appointed or selected or elected, house committee chairmen and members all appointed from among the seven members currently working in Ekiti and up till today, the president is yet to utter a word.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

19 Politics

Ikeazor: Only APC can save Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

not help matters. We must have investigative journalism. You don’t put a headline and put a story without investigating the fact to know the truth. At that meeting, they asked him hard questions like whether he is a religious bigot, the issue of the suit cases, the issue of the N2.8 billion at the NNPC and he answered the questions with candour and presented them with the facts. He told them the truth; he won over most of these children because most of them were not born when he was in power, their impression of him was what the gentlemen of the press put out there. So, I ask the gentlemen of the press to please have a one-on-one with General Buhari and get to know him better. No one can speak for him or speak about him more than himself and the impression I came out with from that meeting was, after seeing him, you will know that we create a myth about our leaders but when you sit down face-to-face with him, one-on-one and he talks to you, you will see a totally different person. He has such a good sense of humour he had these children laughing.

How will you assess the

PDP’s campaign so far?

The PDP has been the one throwing the mud for a long time. You have heard them calling APC members hooligans.

These are not the words we expect from our leaders. You have been in power for 16 years, you make promises which you failed to keep. I will take one promise from my zone, which is the South East: The second Niger Bridge. For how many years have they been promising us that they were going to build the bridge? How many times have they awarded the contract? Have they kept their promise? We have to educate the electorate to hold politicians accountable for election promises. What promise have politicians made to you and how many of them have they kept? Election is a contract between those who want to come into office and those who are voting them in. So, there should be a contract with the people of Nigeria: this is what I am going to do for you; come four years, if I don’t do what I promise within four years, you have the power to vote me out. That is where that issue about votecounting comes in. Our vote must count and, believe me, this is 2015. I am sure you must have

sensed the mood of the people, everybody wants change. The change we are talking about is not about one person. It is about Nigeria. Nigeria must change.

We cannot continue in the same situation. Our schools are not functioning well, our teachers are not being paid, healthcare is zero; power, the same thing. Insecurity, unemployment, the list is endless. You heard about the NIPP project during Obasanjo’s tenure. GE was brought in, signed a contract with Nigeria to supply gas turbines for power plants to be built. They had a timeframe. What happened? By now, Nigeria should not be talking about power failure. It is not Rocket Science. We have to do things right.

There are yet unanswered questions about General Buhari’s qualification to contest for the office in view of his failure to submit the basic requirement of a secondary school leaving certificate.

To me, it is a non-issue. He has run for election three times. This is his fourth time.

Why don’t you journalists go to INEC where all candidates submit their documents to find out if there are certificates or CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Buhari

‘I promise to bring the dividends of democracy to Bachama people’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Kingdom has been the pride of North East in the area of development, but the reverse has been the situation after we got our independence. Over the last 55 years, we have been marginalised”.

The traditional ruler made the declaration while receiving in his Numan palace, the entourage of Dr Ahmed Moddibo, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) in next month’s polls.

He charged any gubernatorial candidate that emerges winner at the polls to change chain of events by exploring economic potential of the area.

“Numan used to be a lively community in terms of business men who came from all walks of life to the area to trade but right now, the reverse is the case” The royal father observed.

He however commended Dr Moddibo for picking one of his subjects, Engineer Anthony Madwatte as his running mate.

According to him: “You have picked a good team, most of the candidates of your party from my zone are experienced politicians. With this calibre of politicians behind you, I feel you have gotten our people, I wish you the best in your aspiration” the royal father said.

Hamma Bachama added that his palace is open to all politi-

“Numan used to be a lively community in terms of business men who came from all walks of life to the area to trade but right now, the reverse is the case”

cians irrespective of their political affiliation as he is ready to bless any candidate who asked for his blessings.

Earlier, the standard bearer of PDM, Dr Ahmed Moddibo said that he was in the palace of the royal father with his entourage to receive his blessing, saying: “You are the only first class chief in the state who has been giving me advise as a father”.

Moddibo said that Bachama kingdom is strong hold of PDM adding that he will not disappoint the area if elected governor of the state.

His words: “I know the plight of Bachama people, I promise to bring the dividends of democracy to their doorstep,”

Moddibo

Politics 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Time for change is now, says Ikeazor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

not? How could he have got to the highest military schools in the world without certification?

If you Google it, you will see it there. So, to me, it is a non-issue.

The PDP is just clutching onto straws over the issue of the certificate. If you see General Buhari’s CV, the names of the colleges, the war colleges he attended, are all there. You are free to write to them and ask if he was a student there or not.

People are writing and they are getting replies, positive replies, that, ‘Yes, he was our student.

This is what we awarded to him.’

Is he not supposed to provide these certificates upon request, according to the Electoral Act? Not that the public should go around making enquiries about his qualification. Don’t you think so?

Has INEC said they have disqualified him because of lack of certificates? The PDP is just clutching onto straws. If you do not have original copies, certified true copies are acceptable by law.

So, why has he not applied for certified true copies?

I tell you again that there are more serious issues to talk about than General Buhari’s certificate. We have insecurity in the country. We have many other problems in the country.

So, the certificate is not an issue. That is why I will not dwell on it. He could not have become the Head of State of the country, he couldn’t have passed through the war colleges without having the certificate or graduating from these schools. He is educated. Let’s go to more serious issues than the issue of General Buhari’s certificate. This is the fourth time he is contesting an election, so it is not an issue.

It is not something we should overplay in the press, it should not worry anyone. He is qualified to run for office. If he wasn’t qualified, INEC would have dis-

Lagos ex- first lady, Doja Otedola warns against election violence

qualified him three times, and this time they still haven’t disqualified him. So, why is it an issue? There are more serious issues bedevilling us in Nigeria than the issue of the certificate.

If he eventually wins, what is Buhari likely to do differently from what we have seen in the last 16 years?

He will be accountable and transparent and responsible.

This is what we lack today in this government. You must have seen a copy of our manifesto. The APC has a roadmap, we took time after a survey; we commissioned people to research on what is wrong with Nigeria and what Nigerians want. We got professionals and technocrats to put it together.

APC is prepared for governance.

Unemployment, corruption and insecurity are our major problems. What is bedevilling us in Nigeria is bad governance, our institutions are failing. We will strengthen our institutions. So, definitely, APC will do things differently. We are not called progressives just for the sake of it. You will see that we will definitely do things differently from the PDP. Our roadmap speaks for us and with our credible Presidential candidate we will have a new Nigeria.

“Now, we have a bigger war facing us than election violence and most people have realized this. The Boko Haram insurgency is worse than electoral violence”

How can we ensure that the February election is free of

violence?

We have to have free and fair transparent elections for there to be no violence. Now, we have a bigger war facing us than election violence and most people have realized this.

The Boko Haram insurgency is worse than electoral violence.

From the way we have been engaging with international donor agencies at training and sensitization workshops, even with electoral authorities and political stakeholders, we will all work together to prevent and minimise violence. Most political parties have been made to get their youth to realise that we cannot continue to have election violence.

The elections must be free and fair and also transparent. That

way, we can ensure a violencefree election. Why the violence comes up is that many are not well-informed. That’s why the press needs to help us on this.

Misinformation is what fuels election violence. So, for next month’s election, I don’t have that fear because I have gone round with General Buhari for most of the campaigns and what I have seen is the eagerness on the part of the electorate. The zeal and passion they have for change is infectious, this cuts across tribe and religion, and the hope with which they are kind of looking up at the APC sometimes frightens me that we have no choice but to deliver when we get in there. So, I do not think there will be election violence this time around once elections are transparent so who ever loses graciously concedes. We have been educating our youth that it’s an election and not war. Gen Buhari has been emphasising non-violence

of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade.

Declaring support for Olulade’s second term of office, Madam Otedola, who was the first lady in the State between 1991 and 1992 when her late husband, Sir Michael Otedola was Governor of the state, disclosed that the Lagos lawmaker was her son.

“He is my son, he has been enjoying my support even when my husband was alive. He has been doing his best for the people of Epe Division”, she said.

“Commenting on the need to have peaceful elections, Otedola cautioned politicians saying: “Politics is not a do or die affair. If you win today, that is how God wants

it, if you lose, you will have another opportunity next time. There should be peace, we must be careful in Nigeria,” she stated.

The lawmaker promised to develop the youths of the area if given another chance, stressing that the youths must be empowered economically and kept busy to reduce crime in the society.

Jonathan

When your party talks about being progressive and you campaign on a platform of change, does it not worry you that you are having in your fold the very people you claim to have been responsible for the underdevelopment of the country?

This issue has come up at different occasions, and I say that the merger that we had was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

We had tried it before in the First Republic and the Second but it never worked. For once in our life time, it has worked.

We the CPC, ANPP and ACN agreed and merged to form the APC. We call them the legacy parties. The merger committee came together to draft our guiding documents: the mani-

festo and constitution. We took different parts of all our constitutions and all our manifestoes, put them together and improved on them. So, those coming in from the PDP are not coming with any part of their party’s agenda. They abide by the laws and regulations of the APC. They have to abide by our constitution. You may have noticed that some of them that came in could not meet up with the standard we had set in APC and they went back to the PDP. So, the issue of people coming in and going out is not a problem. Everyone is welcome into the APC, but they must abide by our rules and regulations.

Lagos State first lady in the aborted third republic and mother of billionaire oil magnate, Femi Otedola, Mrs. Doja Otedola has warned against violence during the next month’s general election.

Mrs Otedola gave this warning at Epe during a health walk programme heralding the campaign for the re-election bid of a member

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 26, 2015

21

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

D’banj performs at world economic forum It was colourful thrill at the on-going World Economic Forum (WEF) as Koko music master, D’banj perfomed to an elite audience at the event taking place in Davos, Switzerland last week.

The DB Records boss performed at a special cocktail event hosted by the Tony Elumelu‘s company, Heirs Holdings to celebrate Africa at the ongoing summit with the theme: ‘The New Global Context.’ The event was part of activities in a special PanAfrican forum to make sure Africa is engaging more strategically and proactively than ever before at WEF and D’banj travelled to Switzerland in the company of his hype-man, Jimmie and producer, Deevee. NET investigations reveal he would soon be back to Lagos to begin preparations for his 10th anniversary tour which kicks off in Lagos on January 31.

D’banj

War against blindness goes into moviedom Moses Kadiri Many are ignorant of what causes blindness, some point to witches, and wizard, others claim it is hereditary, but a new Nollywood movie titled, Avoidable Blunder has come to remove such ignorance, and educate, inform on ways to avoid blindness.

The movie which was shot in Lagos recently focuses on certain major causes of avoidable blindness and visual impairments such as Cataract, Glaucoma, Childhood Blindness, Trachoma, Onchocerchiasis and refractive errors.

Produced by Chibuzo Patrick, and directed by Okechukwu Ben Ifeanyi, who has directed over 50 movies, the flick parades some of the regular faces in Nollywood.

The movie will be released in few weeks to coincide with this

year’s World Glaucoma Day or World Sight Day. “Avoidable Blunder” tells a story of the travails of a young Ophthalmologist, who is passionate about prevention of blindness as she handles the myriads of challenges that face professionals like her in sub-Sahara Africa.

Mrs. Oyefunmike Ani, an Ophthalmologist, who is on the movie driving seat is also the founder of a Non-Governmental Organization, Mission To Save Sight Africa Foundation (MTSSAF), who has carried out several outreach programme across Nigeria and beyond in the last 14-years, said she has been able to confirm that there is need for several innovations if the nation can win the battle against preventable blindness. “That is why Avoidable Blunder is a must watch, because its corrective measures would be what all African families are

Ani

searching for.”

Traversing such communities as Ngwo, Etiti Ngwo, in Enugu State, Eha Alumona, Nokwa, Nimbo/Igalamela, Nnono in Abia State, Ajegunle, Ebute Metta, and Ojo areas of Lagos State, Bong County locations in Liberia, and getting closely in contact with regular day-to-day rural/ inner city, Africans battling against blindness and eye health challenges, Mrs. Ani saw the urgent need to address the ailment which is prevalent in the society today.

“This movie would entertain us, but lodged in it are life-size lessons. We meet several patients visiting the proper and improper eye care givers, the movie teaches on what we should do to achieve the best outcome for our eye health,” she said. “Another issue addressed is the reality that whatsoever governments have been doing in the area of health care is

like a drop in the ocean of disorders, and that communities could be empowered to contribute to eye care. The sad effect of poverty, which works in the vicious cycle of poverty –ignorance – disease, is clearly brought to the front burner by this movie.”

Mrs. Ani who is not new in the terrain of eye business inform that apart from the lesson the movie bring to the fore, eye surgeries are safe, and should not elicit fear in any individual.

“Each ophthalmologist is a normal human being, facing same challenges everyone else faces.

We get to know that people are not unwilling to do the right things; the problem is lack of infrastructures that enables the common man to participate as a citizen in all spheres of life, including eye health,” she echoed.

Though there are educative

Continued on page 24

Timaya lands in Australia ahead of 2015 Dancehall star, Timaya has landed in Australia ahead of his 2015 tour. The singer flew into the country recently. According to arrangements, Timaya will

kick off his 2015 tour of Australia on January 23, 2015 with a live concert at Perth. He will follow up with stops at Sydney, Melbourne and other cities in Australia before returning to

Nigeria in the first week of February 2015. Timaya’s tour of Australia is part of plans to promote his 6th studio album, Epiphany which dropped in September 2014. With the coun-

try currently hosting the 2015 edition of the Asian Cup, the self-styled Egbeeri Papa of Bayelsa is expected to have a swell time with crowded concert venues for the tour.

Timaya

22

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Features

Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr It seems harmless enough: “a person shall not remove tissue, blood or blood product from the body of another living person for any purpose …”

Then the clincher: the above provision may be waived “for medical investigations and treatment in emergency cases.”

The above are among the provisions of the National Health Bill signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on December 14, 2015.

Shorn of legalese, the law allows medical practitioners to remove body parts with – and most scandalously, according to lawyers – without the consent of people under the umbrella of “medical investigations.

Even, the choice of waiving consent for treatment in emergency cases ought not be legalised, lawyers say, adding that the law is made worse by the apparent blanket permission to remove body parts from human beings – whether the patient grants approval or not – for medical “investigations.”

Sonnie Edwuowusi of the Project for Human Development (PHD) and constitutional lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) believe the newly signed law has unwittingly legalised trading in human body parts.

Concerned lawyers have kicked against the provision while the bill was being considered. They attended public hearings and vigorously canvassed against it.

Somehow, it was passed by the National Assembly and signed

by President Jonathan. Today, it is legal: Doctors can remove body

Uproar over new health law parts from people without their consent, for medical investigations.

Section 48 (1) of the law states: Subject to the provision of section 53, a person shall not remove tissue, blood, or blood product from the body of another living person for any purpose except; (a) With the informed consent of the person whom the tissue, blood, or blood product is

removed granted in prescribed manner; (b) That the consent clause may be waived for medical investigations and treatment in emergency cases Section 49 of the Act prescribes punishment for the violators of the law while section 52 names those who may exercise as registered medical practitioners and dentists.

In an interview with the Daily Times, Ekwuowusi, expressed objected to the law. He said: “My humble view is that Section 48(1) of the Act, which permits the removal of the tissue, blood or blood product from another living person “without his informed consent” for “medical investigations” and “treatment in emergency cases” is a very dangerous piece of legislation

which not only infringes on the fundamental human rights of the citizens, but also capable of encouraging the already thriving “business” in human and organ trafficking in Nigeria.”

He added: “Strangely enough, the interpretations of the phrases “medical investigation” and “treatment in emergency cases” are not provided in the Act. This means that anybody under pretext of carrying out “medical investigations” or “treatment in emergency cases” could get hold of any non-consenting living person and remove his or her tissue or blood or blood product. This obviously could lead to a willful bodily injury or murder of a human being in its true sense.”

Section 48(2) of the Act states: “A person shall not remove tissue CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

‘For a woman to love and marry me is proof that God is great’ The strength of the woman as a burden bearer comes to the fore again in this courageous 28 years old, who defied her parents and married a blind man. Today, she is nursing her second baby of the marriage. GOD’S COVENANT SNR spent time with the couple at their home and reports.

Obanor and wife

A look at Philip Obanor will tell you that fate is no respecter of good looks. Fair and handsome, Philip would fit admirably into any role in Nollywood, but he fell victim to grave physical and spiritual circumstances in a series of tragedies that caused his night to come in his early youth, when his strength was yet unexpended.

The first of eight children born to Pa Obanor, a retiree of former

National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) in Ondo State, Philip was faced with no resources to climb the ladder of education after his secondary school, but determined not to end up poor like his father, the young man launched himself into buying and selling of building materials with intent to raise money to further his education, but that ladder collapsed when his world suddenly sank into darkness at

the age of 24.

“I started well and saved enough for seven years. I was pursuing my admission in 1977; but while I was reading for my exams, I started having problems with my left sight, so I went to see a doctor. After close examination he told me I was suffering from glaucoma and cataract. The worst part was that he could not operate on the glaucoma; that I have to wait for the cataract to grow before it can be operated.”

Philip whose parents had migrated from Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State to Ondo State where

he was born, conceded it was the most painful waiting period of his young life. In his one bedroom apartment at the dead end of Oriyomi Ipaiye Street, otherwise known as Sunshine Street, Paiko, Orisunbare in Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State, Philip relieved the experience and the tragedy that followed his first attempt to operate the growth in his eye.

“I waited for five years before I was cleared for the operation; but while waiting for my turn at the theatre the following week, my father suddenly fell sick and died CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

23 Features

Lawyers kick against ‘legalising’ trade in human parts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

which is not replaceable by natural process from a person younger than 18 years.”

In simple terms, according to Ekwuowusi, the law allows medical practitioners to remove tissue from a person who is above 18 years.

“The section has no consent clause, meaning that anyone under the guise of medical investigation can remove the tissue of any living person who is above 18 years,” he said.

He said further: “Section 51 is even more scandalous. It permits the removal of a tissue or organ of a living person for transplantation in another living person WITHOUT ANY CONSENT CLAUSE. The only thing it says is that the removal should be carried out “at a hospital authorised for that purpose” or with “the written authority of a medical practitioner in charge of the clinical services…”

Giving a legal opinion on the provision, Ekwuowusi said: “The cardinal rule of interpretation of statutes in Nigeria is that where the meaning of the language used in the statutes is clear and simple; the court must give effect to that meaning without inferring any other construction to that meaning. This was the decision of the Nigerian courts in *IBWA LTD V IMANO LIMITED* (1988)3 NWLR Page 633 at 660l *SAVANNAH BANK LTD & ORS V AJILO & ORS* (1987) 2 NWLR at 421. Therefore, the meaning of the language of sections 48 and 51 of the National Health Act is clear and unambiguous.”

Coming from the highest law making body in the country,

“The proponents of the law are likely to refer to section 48 which provides for “informed consent”

Jonathan Ekwuowusi considered the health bill a scandal, especially because stakeholders had protested the inclusion of those clauses at the public hearing. He said:“I participated in the public hearing and some of the meetings culminating in the making of the National Health Act. In those fora, the stakeholders specifically raised objections to sections 48, 51 and 52 of the Act. “It is a big scandal that in a country where uncountable Nigerians are dying owing to inaccessibility to basic primary health care, some legislators sponsored a bill to legalise the exploitation and trafficking in human tissues and human organs.

Activist lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN)also disagreed with the law. In a written reaction made available to Daily Times,he reviewed the bill alongside constitutional provisions.

Falana “Since medical doctors have been empowered to decide when to remove organs from living persons, Section 51 of the Act therefore constitutes an infringement of the rights of citizens to life, dignity of their persons as well as the rights to privacy and freedom of thought, conscience and religion guaranteed by Section 33, 34, 37 and 38 of the Constitution,” according to Falana.

He declared: “In Medical and Dental Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal v Okonkwo (2001) WRN 1, the Supreme Court held that a patient has the constitutional right to reject a life-saving treatment on religious ground.

“In the leading judgment of the apex court, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola held inter alia: “The patient’s constitutional right to object to medical treatment or, particularly as in this

case, to blood transfusion on religious grounds is founded on fundamental rights protected by the 1979 Constitution. The right to privacy implies a right to protect one’s thought conscience of religious belief and practice from coercive and unjustified intrusion, and one’s body from unauthorised invasion.

“The right to freedom of thought, conscience or religion, implies a right not to be prevented, without lawful justification, from choosing the course of one’s life, fashioned on what one believes in, and right not to be coerced into acting contrary to religious belief. The limits of these freedoms, as in all cases, are where they impinge on the rights of others or where they put the welfare of society or public health in jeopardy.”

It is pertinent to point out that

it is the donor, and not the medical doctor or manager of a hospital who has the power to authorise that an organ be removed from a living Nigerian citizen.

The definition of “organ” in the law includes kidney, liver, heart, lens, ovarian eggs and sperm. The proponents of the law are likely to refer to section 48 which provides for “informed consent”, but such consent “may be waived for medical investigations and treatment in emergency cases”.

Falana said: “As far as the fundamental right of a Nigerian to dignity is concerned, there can be no waiver of consent under any medical condition. Even where a patient is unconscious or incapable to give informed consent, the power is transferred to a next of kin or parent in the case of children.

“Since the consent clause may be waived for “medical investigation and treatment in emergency cases,” it does appear that medical practitioners and hospitals have been licensed to remove tissues and organs of living Nigerian citizens as any medical condition may be considered an emergency. By denying patients the right to give consent or authorise the removal of vital organs from their bodies, the National Assembly has empowered doctors to subject Nigerians to degrading and inhuman treatment.

“In other words, Section 51 of the Act constitutes an egregious assault on the humanity of Nigerians. The provision of the law cannot be allowed to be implemented in any civilized society.

Therefore, the National Assembly should expunge it from the law without any delay.”

‘All band members were physically challenged’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

“ prayed earnestly for God to give me a woman who will love and care for me just the way I am”

within a few days. I was shocked and confused.”

According to Bini custom, it is forbidding for a native to be buried outside his village, so the family was faced with a dilemma. The money Philip had saved for his school which he was ready to put into the operation to recover his sight had to be used to transport his father’s corpse to Agenebode and meet other expenses.

“After the burial, my mother could not manage the feeding of the large family and it became a big challenge to me especially because I am the eldest and there

was nobody to help me.”

As though all that was not enough, another problem stalked him for seven long years.

“In 2009, my right eye ball began to pain so much that I had to go to Ikeja General Hospital and begged the doctor there to help me remove the eye ball completely since I am not seeing with it in the first place, and the pain was tormenting me every day, but the doctor said the eye was already spoiled, anyway.

“He also warned me not to bother with the cataract and glaucoma operation in my left eye because both had gone beyond any medical solution. I was

devastated.”

But help came knocking as a reverend sister in the neighborhood offered to sponsor Philip to the Nigerian Handcraft School, air force base, Ikeja, where things began to take shape even for a blind man.

“I acquired skills in craft works. I learnt to weave baskets, make belts and shoes and even polythene bags. I also joined the music group and learnt to play the drum sets and talking drums; I then discovered I am good at composing and arranging songs so before I graduated, I organised a band of eight persons. All in the band with me were physically

challenged but we play well.”

After graduation, Philip became an active member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and named his band the Triumphant Gospel Voices.

“I compose, arrange and sing all our songs and I sing in English, Yoruba and my native language Edo and we do get bookings to perform occasionally.”

Relieving his eager search for a wife, Philip said the thought has been with him while at the special school. “I was aware that it will be very difficult to manage life on my own after I leave school so I prayed earnestly for God to give me a woman who will love and

Our heritage 24 0ƑƐƑƏƆ ^Ə ƉƆƅƐè Genevieve, others Ƌ Ƒ ƅ ƅ ƌƍ ƈ Moses Kadiri Nollywood star actress, and ONE Campaign ambassador Genevieve Nnaji was among other guests when The Future Project (TFP) led other non-governmental organisations in Nigeria to launch the Action/2015 initiative in Abuja.

Other notable personalities present at the event were Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, coach Samson Siasia, musicians Nikki Laoye and Timi Dakolo amongst others.

During the event, the Executive Director of TFP Mfon Ekpo said year 2015 is significant as the year when the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will expire.

Mfon

Kanayo seeks unified laws in hospitality industry Chairman, Board of Directors, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Chief Kanayo O. Kanayo, has advised the Federal and state governments to have unified laws guiding operation of hospitality businesses in Nigeria.

Kanayo made this known when he addressed Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders Summit with the theme; “Training the Manpower of the Future”, in Abuja recently. He said the unified laws in the area of taxes and other statutory fees became necessary to guard against hostility between the various governments and operators of the industry.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 26, 2015

Minister tours smoking hills golf course and resort ÏÏÏ^ƋƆƗ Ɔ Ɛ support private investors Moses Kadiri The Federal Government has thrown its weight to support private investors in the tourism sector. Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said during the visit to the 18hole Smoking Hills Golf Course and Resort in Ilara Mokin, Ondo State.

Owned by the chairman of Elizade Nigeria, Chief Michael Ade Ojo, the Minister however applauded Chief Ojo for promoting education with the Elizade University, tourism and culture and acknowledged his support for the production of Kunle Afolayan’s latest movie “October 1” shot on location in Ilara Mokin. “The environment, the undulating hills, the smoking hills and indeed the experience is completely overwhelming. I think this is a programme and a project, which not only the Federal Government of Nigeria will provide the support in terms of infrastructure, working with the state government, but we will do our utmost to ensure that, that is possible,” he promised. Adding, “When I see the opportunities here for tourism, hospitality and cultural development, I see the synergy not only of this golf course but also a synergy and a circuit that can be built around most of the tourist sites in Ondo State and neigbouring states like the Ik-

Duke ogosi Warm Spring which is not too far away from here. And I see the various towns and communities around here providing the source for the development of local cuisine and the service industry that will bring value.”

The Minister emphasized that the university will provide opportunity for young people to grow into golf and the potential of having an inter university

Eliminating blindness through movie Continued from page 21 movies in movie shelf, but she noted that Avoidable Blunder is a movie that will remain evergreen. “This is not a typical home video, but one that educates as it entertains. It is our strategy to enable the common man arise and take responsibility for themselves so that they won’t go blind needlessly; and that is why it will go viral as every Nigerian/African would want to learn what

they should do to ensure preservation of their sight. The movie simulates real life affairs that the viewer would find herself/himself as part of the story.

We decided to do this because we know that government can’t do it all, in fact eye business is everyone’s business according to the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) which is a founding partner of WHO on the Vision 2020: The Right to Sight Initiative.

circuit. “I see a great opportunity in this resort, not only to grow championship golf tournament and golfers but also an opportunity for professional retreats by organizations that will like to develop strategy sessions and then go out to play a game of golf and enrich their own experiences.”

Continuing he said. “I see the opportunity of the Mare Festi-

val growing into a one week festival, where after being a part of the festival, you can come to the golf resort and even drive to the Ikogosi Warm Spring and enjoy some of the other offerings around Ondo state.”

Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Akin Adejuwon, and other personalities were also on the tour train.

6 ƋƋƕƓ Ɨ Ɛ Ə ƅ ƌƌƆ Ɨ CƆƐ ƌ Ɛ on Ƌ ƅƊ M ƒƆƌƄƆƏ Just as his recently release movie Black November is reaping commendations from viewers and critics popular Nollywood filmmaker Jeta Amata has been commended by Hollywood for the new movie Black November.

A release from Hollywood states that “Black November is the first film that represents a successful blend of the Nollywood and Hollywood Film Industries.

If you haven’t seen this film and you are an African living in North America, then you are definitely missing out as this is a must-watch flic,’’ Hollywood states in release.

The long-awaited movie by Amata is now showing in LA and NY Theaters, iTunes, Amazon, and is currently being seen via Video On-Demand (VOD) on all TV cables and Satellite all over the US.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Today in History

25

s

Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

1966: New regime goes tough, Ojukwu issues decrees ÏÏÏFollowing

up measures already taken by the Federal Military Government to repair the damages done to Nigeria by ‘gangster politicians’, Lt-Col. C. Odumegwu Ojukwu, Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, promulgated a number of decrees which came to effect throughout Eastern Nigeria immediately. They include: Public Service

Commission will no longer handle senior appointment and promotion Provincial assemblies abolished Post of AgentGeneral abolished Photographs of ex-President, prime Minister and Premier to disappear No careless talks and scholarship boards suspended.

1788: First Australian penal 1918: U.S. Olympic Committee votes against Moscow games colony established ÏÏÏThe first 736 convicts

banished from England to Australia land in Botany Bay were transported from Great Britain to the “land down under,” in one of the strangest episodes in criminal-justice history.

The accepted wisdom of the upper and ruling classes in 18th century England was that criminals were inherently defective. Thus, they could not be rehabilitated and simply required separation from the genetically pure and law-abiding citizens. Accordingly, law breakers had to be either killed or exiled, since prisons were too expensive.

With the American victory in the Revolutionary War, transgressors could no longer be shipped off across the Atlantic, and the English looked for a colony in the other direction.

Captain Arthur Phillip, a

tough but fair career naval officer, was charged with setting up the first penal colony in Australia. The convicts were chained beneath the deck during the entire hellish six-month voyage. The first voyage claimed the lives of nearly 10 percent of the prisoners, which remarkably proved to be a rather good rate. On later trips, up to a third of the unwilling passengers died on the way.

These were not hardened criminals by any measure; only a small minority were transported for violent offenses. Among the first group was a 70-year-old woman who had stolen cheese to eat.

Although not confined behind bars, most convicts in Australia had an extremely tough life. The guards who volunteered for duty in Australia seemed

to be driven by exceptional sadism. Even small violations of the rules could result in a punishment of 100 lashes by the cat o’nine tails. It was said that blood was usually drawn after five lashes and convicts ended up walking home in boots filled with their own blood--that is, if they were able to walk at all.

Convicts who attempted to escape were sent to tiny Norfolk Island, 600 miles east of Australia, where the conditions were even more inhumane. The only hope of escape from the horror of Norfolk Island was a “game” in which groups of three prisoners drew straws. The short straw was killed as painlessly as possible and a judge was then shipped in to put the other two on trial, one playing the role of killer, the other as witness.

ÏÏÏSoon

after the Bolsheviks seized control in immense, troubled Russia in November 1917 and moved towards negotiating peace with the Central Powers, the former Russian state of Ukraine declared its total independence.

One of pre-war Russia’s most prosperous areas, the vast, flat Ukraine (the name can be translated as at the border or borderland) was one of the major wheat-producing regions of Europe as well as rich with mineral resources, including vast deposits of iron and coal.

The majority of Ukraine was incorporated into the Russian empire after the second partition of Poland in 1793, while the remaining section—the principality of Galicia-remained part of the

Austro-Hungarian empire and was a key battleground on World War I’s Eastern Front.

Immediately following the overthrow of the czar in February 1917, Ukraine set up a provisional government and proclaimed itself a republic within the structure of a federated Russia. After Vladimir Lenin and his radical Bolsheviks rose to power in November, Ukraine—like its fellow former Russian property, Finland—took one step further, declaring its complete independence in January 1918.

But Ukraine’s Rada government, formed after the secession, had serious difficulty imposing its rule on the people in the face of Bolshevik opposition and counterrevolutionary activity

within the country. Seeing Ukraine as an ideal and much-needed source of food for their hungerplagued people, Germany and Austria brought in troops to preserve order, forcing the Russian troops occupying the country to leave under the terms of the treaty at Brest-Litovsk, signed in March 1918, and virtually annexing the region, while supposedly recognizing Ukrainian independence. In the words of Wilhelm Groener, a German army commander in Kiev, The [Ukrainian] administrative structure is in total disorder, completely incompetent and in no way ready for quick results. It would be in our interests to treat the Ukrainian government as a cover’ and for us to do the rest ourselves.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Money

s

Discussing African growth

SHORT NEWS Nigeria-Australia trade volume hits $2bn

The Nigerian Stock Exchange CEO, Mr. Oscar Onyema, (left), Rwandan president, Mr. Paul Kagame, (centre) and South African president, Jacob Zuma (right) discussing African growth at the World Economic Forum, Davos 2015.

Lagos guber aspirants promise OPS improved business environment Charles Okonji The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Friday hosted the duo of Akinwumi Ambode and Jimi Agbaje, both Lagos State gubernatorial aspirants on the platforms of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively, to a debate and meeting with the members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

Both aspirants promised that if elected into power in 2015

they would increase the stakes and profitability of businesses in the state.

Ambode promised to develop the informal sector which he said was responsible for 90 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We can double the GDP of Lagos State if we improve on the informal sector; it will raise our economic contribution in terms of goods and services. We want to improve on the business environment for every entrepreneur and businessman to thrive

in Lagos.”

He said his administration will push for sales tax and also through the National Assembly seek an expansion in the content of the derivation principle in the constitution.

“Beyond that, we still want to say that sales tax belongs to the state and that Value Added Tax (VAT) is also supposed to be a state tax, before it was taken to the federal level by the military government that was in place in 1985.”

In noting that Lagos State

generates about 70 per cent of the total sales tax in the country, Ambode stressed that his administration will pursue more sources of revenue in order to deliver more jobs to the citizens of the state.

On double taxation Ambode said: “What is multiple taxation? When two different governments are taxing you on the same item, so what we are going to do, is to harmonise taxes between the three arms of government.”

FG still subsidising petrol – PPPRA Augustine Aminu

Reginald Stanley, Exec Sec, PPPRA

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on Friday said that Federal Government was still subsidising the current pump price of petrol at N87 per litre.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by PPPRA spokesman, Mr. Lanre Oladele.

The statement said that the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Mr Farouk Ahmed, gave

the clarification.

According to the statement, Ahmed said that the price of crude oil dropped to a point where the open market price of petrol also fell to a level where the government acted accordingly.

He explained that the government felt that it was appropriate to relieve some of the burden imposed on Nigerians by the knock-on effect of the dwindling price of crude oil on the econo-

my. ‘’The price of crude oil averaged 62 dollars per barrel in December, 2014, and dropped to an average of 50 dollars per barrel for the first half of January, 2015,’’ he said.

Ahmed said that government reduced the pump price of gasoline, commensurate with the amount announced, after a consistent and diligent monitoring of the trend.

The Australian High Commissioner, Mr. Jonathan Richardson, says the trade volume between Nigeria and Australian stands at about 2 billion dollars.

Richardson, who made the disclosure at the celebration of Australia Day in Abuja at the weekend said that Australia currently imported about 2 billion dollars’ worth of oil from Nigeria.

The high commissioner said that Nigeria’s export to Australia had reduced recently, while Australia’s export to Nigeria had increased significantly.

“The total volume of trade between Australia and Nigeria now is around 2 billion dollars.

“I think the level of petroleum export from Nigeria has dropped a bit.

Environment Quotes from Davos 2015

Tackling climate, development and growth “We do need a pricing for carbon. If you don’t price what you value, you don’t get people to react.”

- Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever, United Kingdom

Polman

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

27 Aviation

Aviation security officers make case for new equipment Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Efforts to contain threats to civil aviation at airports nationwide may be stalled unless government provides the necessary operational equipment to aviation security personnel.

But, failure to address sore points including inadequate personnel, obsolete technology, and recurrent training may expose the underbelly of security at some airports Worried over this trend, aviation security personnel at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, have called on the Federal Government to equip them with operational equipment to tackle new threats to civil aviation at airports nationwide.

They stated this at a lecture organised by Aviation Security Department of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos recently.

The personnel listed the operational equipment to include state-of-the-art screening facilities, latest scanners, operational vehicles, communication gadgets as well as the installation of close circuit television cameras at both land and air sides at airports nationwide.

The personnel said the latest threats to civil aviation require

SAHCOL boss bags award The Chairman of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Barrister (Dr.) Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi, has been awarded with the ‘Sun Business Man of the year award 2014’.

The award was presented to him at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the Sun Board of Editors, Afolabi was picked for the award in recognition of his exceptional performance as one of the pillars on which the nation’s maritime sector stands, and his

AirAsia planes

Indonesia unwilling to make QZ8501 preliminary report public

Chidoka, Aviation minister state-of-the-art equipment to enable them respond adequately.

They spoke through the director of Aviation Security, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Wendel Ogunedo.

Ogunedo said aviation security personnel who belong to FAAN will continue to discharge

their duties of securing the airport from unlawful interference by unauthorised persons.

This task, he said, could best be carried out if government recruits at least 1,500 additional security personnel to complement the existing number.

significant contributions to the Aviation and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

The Sun Board of Editors further noted that, “having worked for some years to gain the requisite experience, Afolabi’s robust entrepreneurship skills propelled him to quit his job and establish his own company, Sifax Nigeria Limited, from next to nothing.

Speaking further about his achievements, the Sun Board of Editors noted: “The journey was not particularly smooth, but you weathered the storm, trod on converting daunting challenges into stepping stones. Interest-

ingly, your entrepreneurship resilience paid off as Sifax, which morphed from a small company in 1988, has grown into a conglomerate of companies with interests in maritime, aviation, oil and gas, hospitality, and logistics.”

Afolabi

Indonesia says it will not publicly release the results of a preliminary investigation into the December 28, 2014 crash of an Indonesian AirAsia Airbus A320 aircraft.

A preliminary report will be produced by late January, 30 days after the crash, but widespread media reports cite Tatang Kurniadi, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), as saying that it “will not be exposed to the public”.

“This is for the consumption of those countries that are involved,” Kurniadi stated.

His comments also indicate that the report will not contain any analysis about the crash of flight QZ8501, which claimed the lives of 162 passengers and crew.

It was not possible to reach Kurniadi for clarification on the matter, and the possible schedule for the release of data to the public.

In separate statement on the NTSC’s web site, Kurniadi said the investigation into the incident is being conducted by a 34-person team under the obser-

vation of French and Australian monitors.

Kurniadi also vowed that the investigation will be neutral, with investigators not to be swayed by other parties, such as the police or prosecutors.

The announcement that the preliminary report won’t be made available to the public comes few days after Indonesian Transport minister, Ignasius Jonan, told the country’s parliament that the aircraft climbed at 6,000ft/min and then descended 7,900ft in the space of 45s before contact was lost.

The aircraft’s crew had requested a climb to 38,000ft from its assigned altitude of 32,000ft, while in the vicinity of poor weather, during the service to Singapore on 28 December 2014.

The reasons behind the rapid climb are unclear.

Indonesian authorities have said publicly that cockpit recordings derived from the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder suggest that terrorism was probably not a factor in the aircraft’s crash into the Java Sea after several rounds of delays.

Air travellers embrace aviation passengers service Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Barely a month since the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, launched the new Aviation Passengers Service (APS) portal and the Aviation Helpline, air travellers have embraced the one-stop platform that provides a single platform where the flying public can access real time information about airlines operations and

services at any of the airports in Nigeria.

From statistics, Nigerians believe the aviation portal will transform the aviation sector into a customer-centric industry.

An online poll indicated a 65 per cent of respondents affirmed the relevance of the new platform to the industry’s growth while in another poll 48 per cent of travellers believe it will help them in their journey.

Energy 28

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

New fuel pump price: Lagos filling stations maintain partial compliance

…as marketers lament low profit margin The directive from the Federal Government to all petrol stations in the country to revert to the new pump price of N87 a litre has not been fully complied with in Lagos State as most filling stations are still selling even above the original pump price.

Some fuel attendants at the filling stations visited around Lagos State, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the directive as too sudden for them to recoup what their employers have invested in the purchase of petrol.

“Unless they adjust the pump for us, there is nothing we can do than to sell and render account as shown in the pump head,” an attendant said.

A customer who identified himself as Ade told our correspondent that he will not be surprised if the pump price is not adjusted upward after the election.

Meanwhile, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria and Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association have declared as unacceptable the decrease in the pump price as the

current profit margin on petrol accruable to marketers and dealers was not sufficient.

Representatives of both associations lamented that the Federal Government still owed them subsidy arrears on petrol amounting to N250 billion for 2014 that has accumulated interests from banks.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Mr. Femi Olawore, on behalf of both associations, said the interest added up to N95 billion while N155 billion was the real subsidy arrears owed marketers.

He said the news of the N87 reviewed pump price of petrol was shocking to the operators, as no details were given by the Federal Government before and after the reversal took effect.

Olawore explained that the current oil dealers and marketers’ margin of N4.60 per litre was not adequate, and that they are poised to seeking an upwards review of the margin that was done last in July 2007.

He revealed that government was looking into the margin review, adding that “the Minister of Petroleum Resources has directed that a committee be set up to look into current margins.

It is the right of the Minister of Petroleum Resources to announce a decrease or increase in pump price of petrol according to the Petroleum Act. We don’t object to the N87 price, though it came to us as a surprise.

“So we had to meet with the government last Monday. We had a meeting with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPRA). We do not object to the N87 and we will comply.

UN launches African energy leaders group Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4ALL) Friday launched the African Energy Leaders Group (AELG) in Davos Switzerland, at the 2015 World Economic Forum (WEF), bringing together political and economic leaders at the highest level to drive the reforms and investment needed to end energy poverty and sustainably fuel the continent’s economic future.

Launched during the 2015 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the AELG will foster deep energy sector reforms, encourage innovative public-private partnerships, promote renewable energy, support technological innovation and seek ways to boost economic gains through the value chain.

It will also work to create integrated and commercially viable regional power pools by scaling up investment under existing regional plans.

“The AELG will seek to ensure that the energy sector becomes the driving force for economic transformation for long-term development,” said Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the UN SecretaryGeneral and chief executive of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

Some 625 million people across sub-Saharan Africa – more than two thirds of the total population – have no access to electricity, and many more rely on inefficient, hazardous fuels such as wood or charcoal to cook or heat their homes. Exist-

General Electric’s quarterly earnings surge General Electric (GE) rose 20 cents to $24.48 Friday after posting better-than-expected earnings and saying there are growth opportunities moving forward.

GE posted net earnings of $5.15 billion, or 51 cents a share, up 61 per cent from $3.2 billion, or 32 cents, in the year -ago quarter.

Revenue rose four per cent to $42 billion from $40.3 billion.

The company’s industrial unit accounted for $31.8 billion of the quarter’s revenue, up six per cent from the year-ago quarter, on ris-

ing orders for power and water equipment.

GE had placed a major bet on oil and gas, but with crude oil prices down, the unit’s revenue was flat and orders dropped 10 per cent.

“GE ended the year with strong fourth-quarter industrial earnings and margin growth,’’ said CEO Jeff Immelt.” The environment remains volatile, but we continue to see infrastructure growth opportunities.”

Jeff Immelt

Eluwelu, chairman, Heirs Holidays ing power supplies are often inadequate and unreliable, handicapping business and squeezing economic growth.

Underscoring the AELG’s commitment to uniting the public and private sector in a common goal, the media launch was attended by the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, Daniel Kablan Duncan, leading businessman Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, and the President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka.

“This is a very good initiative,” Elumelu told the news conference. “Right here we have investors, we have policy makers and we also have financiers.

The combination of these three stakeholders will make this work very well.”

All the speakers highlighted the need for policy reform to stimulate the necessary investment in energy.

“If you want the private sector to be the engine, you need to change the framework,” Kablan Duncan said. “We need to change the framework so they will be interested in investing,” he added.

African Bank Development Bank president, Donald Kaberuka said it was not enough just to generate energy, but to provide access to those who currently have none.

Lesotho Electricity Company applies for 18% tariff hike The Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) has applied for an 18 per cent hike in power tariffs for the 2015/16 financial year to cushion the utility against rising import costs.

The Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA) said this in a recent notice that the main drivers of the proposed tariff hike included continued increases of the cost of power imports from Eskom of South Africa and EDM of Mozambique.

It was gathered that Eskom and

EDM have increased their 201516 tariffs by 12 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, but the regulator said “the Company is seeking a tariff increase of 18.32 per cent increase on both energy and maximum demand charges for the financial year 2015/16.”

LEC however maintains that the proposed tariff hike was necessary to enable it to undertake the refurbishment and maintenance of its ageing infrastructure.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Global South is deficient in data – WEF

“Basic data like births and deaths, the size of the labour force, and the number of children in school are fundamental to governments’ ability to serve their countries to the fullest.

And good data that are reliable and publicly available are a catalyst for democratic accountability. Data allow citizens to hold governments to their commitments. They allow governments and donors to allocate their resources in a way that maximizes the impact on people’s lives. And they allow us

all to see the results.”

According to the report, one of the main challenges the poor face is being “under known”.

“They are often not referenced in databases that are generated from interactions with official organisations, as their interactions are infrequent. They may not even exist in government voter or birth registries, let alone in credit registries or other data sources. This “administrative invisibility” prevents them from gaining access to government services to which they

are entitled and often prevents them from being offered life-enhancing services (e.g. credit) by the private sector as well.”

It also identified dimensions of the “gaps” that contribute to the data deficit. “The first is a “data gap”, which refers to data needed by the development community but that simply does not exist yet. The second is an “access gap”, which includes data that exist but that development actors and other stakeholders cannot access due to a lack of capacity, finances or agreements.

NOKIA drops Lumia as Microsoft signs Lumia 535 Tony Nwakaegho

Microsoft lumia

Ajayi advocates early release of Spectrum for Broadband Deployment Tony Nwakaegho

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya The World Economic Forum (WEF) have noted in broad terms that the Global North is experiencing a “data deluge”, which provides many positive opportunities for socioeconomic change, while in the Global South, however, there is a relative “data deficit”.

The WEF explained that while the governance, access and quality of this data remain problematic (despite impressive technological advances), in the Global North, constraints on the amount of available data are not a concern.

Generally, definitions of the Global North include North America, Western Europe and developed parts of East Asia.

The Global South is made up of Africa, Latin America, and developing Asia including the Middle East.

“In the Global South, however, there is a relative “data deficit” because of significant constraints on the creation, collection and use of data,” WEF said in a report written by the WEF Global Agenda Council on DataDriven Development, to address the challenges of sustainable development.

The report noted that accurate, timely, disaggregated and accessible data were essential for governments to deliver services efficiently, fairly and transparently.

29 ICT

Customers of mobile phone may not see Nokia Lumia anywhere in the mobile market again due to the phase out which began April last year when Microsoft completely took over the ailing Nokia mobile devices arm.

Microsoft had deliberately allowed the name roll undisturbed, but now it seems the software giant feels time is ripe for Nokia to go.

Since it made that acquisition,

Microsoft has decided to sign its name for the first time on a mobile phone again, actually beginning with its latest release, the Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual Sim 3G Smartphone.

The industry could give up the hope of seeing Nokia Lumia series and get ready for more Microsoft series as it appears the software company is set to get every mistake of the past corrected on its own brand of the Lumia devices.

The new Microsoft mobile device offers five great integrated

Microsoft experiences, a wideangle 5 megapixel front facing camera, and a spacious 5 inch display protected with Gorilla Glass 3.

With the device, one can now make memorable Skype video calls likewise seamlessly switch between voice and video with built-in Skype integration; access, edit and share word, Excel and PowerPoint documents and OneNote notebooks wherever one is, with the pre-installed Office suite.

President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr.

Lanre Ajayi, has advocated for the early release of spectrum especially on the InfraCos and 2.6GHz auctions by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for broadband deployment.

Ajayi decried a situation where lot of small and indigenous telecommunications operators collapsed or became inactive in 2014 because of unfavourable operating environment and insisted that that “government has a responsibility of creating the right enabling environment for businesses to thrive including telecoms operators. For the telecom industry, it involves eliminating multiple taxation, removal of obstacles to Right of Ways (RoW) approvals and releasing spectrum for service deployment.”

He said if the fall in the value of the naira continues, it may likely force telecom operators to increase tariff, adding that “Telecoms services deployment requires the use of equipment that are largely imported. Devaluation increases cost of service delivery and someone has to pay for this cost. If the devaluation is not checked, operators may be forced to increase tariff to recoup cost.”

Ajayi urged the regulatory authorities to appropriate policies on local content in the telecom sector and Internet industry that would ensure the use of local input, entrepreneurs, service and goods in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

Ajayi

Global business 30

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, january 26, 2015

Global commodity markets outlook for 2015 Broad-based commodity price declines occurred in the second half of 2014.

Crude oil prices declined the most, down 55 per cent to $47/ bbl (barrel) in early January, from a high of $115/bbl in late June 2014, bringing an end to a four-year period of high and stable prices Trends Although the energy price index experienced the largest drop in 2014Q4 (mostly due to oil), all three industrial commodity price indices (energy, metals and minerals, and agricultural raw materials) have experienced nearly identical declines from their 2011Q1 peaks: 37, 36, and 35 per cent lower as of December 2014. The moderate decline in agricultural prices (down 24 per cent during this period) reflects strengthening beverage prices (led by the rally in Arabica coffee prices) and some other food items (mostly meat products).

Outlook and risks The broad-based weakness in commodity prices is expected to extend in 2015. In fact, 2015 is a rare case in which all nine key commodity price indices are expected (as of January) to decline for the year. OPEC has repeatedly stated that the cartel will not act even if prices decline to $20/bbl.

Agricultural prices, which fell 3.4 per cent in 2014, will decline almost five per cent in 2015 (before recovering marginally in 2016) given that current good crop prospects are unlikely to be reversed during the remainder of the season. Some variation in agricultural prices is expected, however. Grain prices are projected to decline almost four per cent in 2015, while prices of edible oils and meals will drop more than seven per cent. Although prices of other food items will remain almost unchanged in 2015, some small declines (e.g., shrimp and chicken) will be offset by increases in beef. Beverage prices will decline almost six per cent, driven by coffee (Arabica) prices as the

market rebuilds lost supplies due to Brazil’s crop failure in early 2014.

Most price risks in agriculture are on the downside.

In its January 2015 assessment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture maintained its comfortable supply outlook for most grains and oilseeds. The stock to use ratio, a measure of whether markets are well supplied, is expected to increase for wheat and maize and most oilseeds (but decline for rice).

Trade policies Given the well-supplied nature of most grain and oilseed markets, export restrictions are unlikely to be imposed (as they were on 2008/09) and, if they are, they will be sporadic and, thus, ineffective.

Biofuels The collapse in oil prices removes one of the key forces that supported biofuel production in recent years: energy scarcity and security concerns. While biofuel production received broad-based support when oil was above $100/bbl, it is unlikely that policymakers will be able to justify transfers from consumers to grain and oilseed producers at $45/bbl, pointing to a drop in biofuel production in the near term.

Metal prices Are expected to decline 5.3 per cent in 2015 on top of last year’s 6.6 percent decline. Fertiliser prices are projected to fall marginally (2.1 per cent) after last year’s 11.6 per cent decline, as price moderation in natural gas feeds into prices of nitrogenbased fertilizers. A moderate decline is also expected in precious metal prices as institutional investors view them less attractive “safe haven” investment vehicles; reduced demand

by China and India will also contribute to the weakness.

The key risk on metals prices is a sharp slowdown in the Chinese economy, as China accounts for almost half of world metal consumption. However, a sharp slowdown of the Chinese

economy remains a low probability scenario at present.

How low oil prices impact prices of other commodities Low oil prices have numerous implications, including redistribution of income from oil producers to consumers, shifts in global growth and inflation, likely changes in monetary policy, and environmental implications, especially increased CO2 emissions, depending on how much demand will increase due to lower prices (World Bank 2015). Low oil prices will exert downward price pressure on other commodity markets as well, in particular natural gas, fertilisers, and food commodities (mostly grains and oilseeds).

Natural gas Low oil prices will translate into low natural gas prices, especially in Europe and Asia. U.S. natural gas and LNG (Japan) prices declined 25 and 15 per cent, respectively, from June to December 2014. If low oil prices persist, the price of LNG, mostly destined to Asian markets, will be affected the most in the

longer term because its pricing arrangements are linked to oil prices. Low oil prices will also put downward pressure on European natural gas prices, since they are partly linked to oil prices. U.S. natural gas prices will be affected the least (perhaps through some limited substitutability) because they are determined by domestic (U.S.) supply and demand conditions.

Fertilisers Low natural gas prices will, in turn, put more downward pressure on fertilizer prices, especially the nitrogen-based ones, most of which use natural gas as a major component. Already, fertiliser prices are down 45 per cent since 2011 and more than 50 percent lower since their all-time high in 2008. Following the 2005 collapse of natural gas prices in the United States due to the shale boom, many fertiliser companies began moving their fertiliser plants to the United States in order to capitalise on the “energy premium,” a move that may be reversed if low oil

(and, hence, natural gas) prices persist.

Grains and oilseeds Lower oil prices will impact most agricultural crops (agriculture is an energy intensive sector, four to five time more energy intensive than manufacturing).

There are multiple channels though which low energy prices will impact agriculture, especially grains and oilseeds.

A first channel reflects the fuel cost side, in which falling fuel prices reduce the cost of producing and transporting food commodities and the cost of chemicals and fertilisers, some of which are crude oil byproducts or directly made from natural gas. A second channel relates to policies favoring the production of biofuels, which are often driven by the policy objective of reducing dependence on imported crude oil. In a third channel, lower oil prices render biofuel production less profitable, or even unprofitable.

Source: World Bank

Mitsubishi releases pictures of MRJ fleet

Mitsubishi aircraft

As its MRJ regional jet programme approaches its scheduled first flight in 2Q 2015, Mitsubishi Aircraft has released pictures of its flight test fleet in various stages of final assembly.

The pictures reveal a fully painted second flight test jet (MSN10002), without the radome and engines. Mitsubishi

says the aircraft has completed its wing to body join, and that the landing gear has also been attached.

The third flight test aircraft is meanwhile undergoing wing to body join. Pictures show that its horizontal stabilisers have not yet been attached.

The forward and mid-fuselage

sections of the fourth flight test aircraft have also been fused.

Mitsubishi says the section is now being painted.

The Japanese airframer will be using a fleet of seven test aircraft – five in flight tests and two for ground tests - for its regional jet programme.

Mitsubishi has said that test modules such as envelop expansion, system tests, performance tests and icing tests will be conducted in the USA. These tests will be conducted at a flight test centre at Grant County International airport in Moses Lake, Washington.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

31 Capital market

Daily summary as of 23–01–2015

Charles Okonji

Features

Buzz Byte

News

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Friday hosted the duo of Akinwumi Ambode and Jimi Agbaje, both Lagos State gubernatorial aspirants on the platforms of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively, to a debate and meeting with the members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

Both aspirants promised that if elected into power in 2015

Business

22 US, Indian P12 FG still War against Uproar 22 leaders meet, subsidising blindness Features 21 over new petrol – PPPRA discuss security health law goes into 21 cooperation International 12 P 26 moviedom Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, January 26, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria

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Monday January 26, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria

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MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.31

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D’banj performs at world economic forum

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It was colourful thrill at the on-going World Economic Forum (WEF) as Koko music master, D’banj perfomed to an elite audience at the event taking place in Davos, Switzerland last week.

The DB Records boss performed at a special cocktail event hosted by the Tony Elumelu‘s company, Heirs Holdings to celebrate Africa at the ongoing summit with the theme: ‘The New Global Context.’ The event was part of activities in a special PanAfrican forum to make sure Africa is engaging more strategically and proactively than ever before at WEF and D’banj travelled to Switzerland in the company of his hype-man, Jimmie and producer, Deevee. NET investigations reveal he would soon be back to Lagos to begin preparations for his 10th anniversary tour which kicks off in Lagos on January 31.

dailytimesng blindness

Many are ignorant of what causes blindness, some point to witches, and wizard, others claim it is hereditary, but a new Nollywood movie titled, Avoidable Blunder has come to remove such ignorance, and educate, inform on ways to avoid blindness.

The movie which was shot in Lagos recently focuses on certain major causes of avoidable blindness and visual impairments such as Cataract, Glaucoma, Childhood Blindness, Trachoma, Onchocerchiasis and refractive errors.

Produced by Chibuzo Patrick, and directed by Okechukwu Ben Ifeanyi, who has directed over 50 movies, the flick parades some of the regular faces in Nollywood.

The movie will be released in few weeks to coincide with this

year’s World Glaucoma Day or World Sight Day. “Avoidable Blunder” tells a story of the travails of a young Ophthalmologist, who is passionate about prevention of blindness as she handles the myriads of challenges that face professionals like her in sub-Sahara Africa.

Mrs. Oyefunmike Ani, an Ophthalmologist, who is on the movie driving seat is also the founder of a Non-Governmental Organization, Mission To Save Sight Africa Foundation (MTSSAF), who has carried out several outreach programme across Nigeria and beyond in the last 14-years, said she has been able to confirm that there is need for several innovations if the nation can win the battle against preventable blindness. “That is why Avoidable Blunder is a must watch, because its corrective measures would be what all African families are

It seems harmless enough: “a person shall not remove tissue, blood or blood product from the body of another living person for any purpose …”

Then the clincher: the above provision may be waived “for medical investigations and treatment in emergency cases.”

The above are among the provisions of the National Health Bill signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on December 14, 2015.

Shorn of legalese, the law allows medical practitioners to remove body parts with – and most scandalously, according to lawyers – without the consent of people under the umbrella of “medical investigations.

Even, the choice of waiving consent for treatment in emergency cases ought not be legalised, lawyers say, adding that the law is made worse by the apparent blanket permission to remove body parts from human beings – whether the patient grants approval or not – for medical “invesAni tigations.”

Sonnie Edwuowusi of the Project for Human Development searching for.” like a drop in the ocean of disor(PHD) and constitutional lawyer, Traversing such communities ders, and that communities could Femi Falana be(SAN) believe as Ngwo, EtitiMr. Ngwo, in Enugu empowered to contribute to the newly signed eye lawcare. hasThe unwitState, Eha Alumona, Nokwa, sad effectparts of poverty , people without their from Nimbo/Igalamela, Nnono in Abia trading which in works in the vicious cyclefor medical investigatingly legalised human consent, State, Ajegunle,body Ebuteparts.

Metta, and of poverty –ignorance – disease, tions.

Ojo areas of Lagos State, Bong is clearly brought to the front Concerned lawyers have kicked County locations in Liberia, and burner by this movie.” Section 48 (1) of the law states: against the provision while the getting closely in contact with Mrs. Ani who is notSubject new in to the provision of secbill was regular day-to-day rural/being inner considered. the terrain They of eye business tion 53, ina person shall not remove city, Africans attended battling against that apart the lesson public form hearings andfromtissue, blood, or blood product blindness and vigorously eye health chalthe movie bringit.to the fore, eye canvassed against from the body of another living lenges, Mrs. Ani saw the urgent surgeries are safe, and should Somehow, it was passed by the person for any purpose except; need to address the ailment which not elicit fear in any individual. and signed (a) With the informed conis prevalent inNational the society Assembly today. “Each ophthalmologist is a norby President Jonathan.

Today , it facing sent of the person whom the tis“This movie would entertain us, mal human being, same is are legal: Doctors remove everyone body sue, but lodged in it life-size les- can challenges else faces. blood, or blood product is

FG sti

Lawyers challenge Uganda over Augustine Am General’s retirement Narendra Modi broke protocol to meet President Obama personally at the airport in Delhi, on Sunday

Uproar over US, Indian leaders meet, new health law discuss security cooperation which not only infringes on the fundamental human rights of the citizens, but also capable of encouraging the already thriving “business” in human and organ trafficking in Nigeria.”

He added: “Strangely enough, the interpretations of the phrases “medical investigation” and “treatment in emergency cases” are not provided in the Act. This means that anybody under prefirstthe American leader attend outObama placed a wreath at removed granted in prescribed In an President interview with Daily text of tocarrying “medical United States the country’s Republic Day cer- the Mahatma Gandhi memorial manner; Barack ObamaTimes, said Ekwuowusi, he agrees expressed ob- investigations” or “treatment in emony. aheadget ofhold talks with Modi and (b) That the consent clause Prime jected to the law. emergency cases” could with Indian Minister Na-He said: Indian Prime Modi later, a state dinner. may be waived for medical humble view is that Sec- ofMinister any non-consenting living perrendrainvesModi on a“My “new vision” demonstrated the importance On Monday, in addition to attigations and treatment in emertion region.

48(1) of the Act, which per- son and remove his or her tissue for the Asia Pacific of the visit by breaking protocol tending India’s Republic Day celgency cases mitsconference the removal In a joint news in of the tissue, or blood or blood product. This to receive Obama at the airport ebration, the U.S. president will Section 49 of the Act prescribes blood or arriving blood product from an- obviously could lead to a willful New Delhi hours after with a big hug. speak at a CEO forum bringing India, the leader alsoperson said “without his bodily injury or murder of a hupunishment for the in violators of U.S. other living Their talks will primarily together American and Indian he52and Modi informed have “agreed to for “medical man being in its true sense.” the law while section names consent” focus on trade, but also take in business leaders. deepen” their defense and secu-and “treatment those who may exercise as regisinvestigations” Section 48(2) of the Act states: security, nuclear power and cliObama canceled a planned rity cooperation. tered medical practitioners and in emergency cases” is a very “A person shall not remove tissue mate change. trip to the Taj Mahal to travel to Modi said thedangerous relationship be- of legislation dentists. piece ON PAGE 23 on January 27, and After his arrival, the U.S.CONTINUED presi- Saudi Arabia tween the U.S. and India “stands dent travelled to the presidential will cap his New Delhi visit with at a new level.” palace for an official welcoming a speech earlier Tuesday laying Obama arrived in India on ceremony with his Indian coun- out his vision for the future of Sunday for a three-day visit durterpart, Pranab Mukherjee.

U.S.-India relations. ing which he will become the

ÏÏÏA team of lawyers is preparing to legally challenge the Ugandan government’s refusal to approve a retirement request from renegade army General David Sejusa.

David Mushabe, a leading member of the legal team, said the army used double standards and the discretion of President Yoweri Museveni — the commander in chief — to retire senior army officers.

Sejusa applied to be retired from the army on December 30, 2014. By law, the army has 90 days to let Sejusa know whether his application has been approved.

“It’s not up to 60 days or 90 days yet, but we are ready to keep watching the clock and the calendar. Once it hits 90 days, then we need to ask the government why they are not retiring my client,” said Mushabe. “The retirement process is subject to the discretion of the powers that be. It depends on whether or not you are being viewed as a threat.

“You realize that not everybody can be retired or not everybody would be allowed to retire. … For us as lawyers, we are saying we could take legal action demanding to apply the same standards like that which has been applied to others who have retired.”

Mushabe’s comments came after army spokesman Paddy Ankunda said Sejusa would be contacted within the next 90 days.

Reginald Stanley, Exec Sec, PPPRA

ÏÏÏ

A peace deal signed in September in the Belarusian capital of Minsk envisaged a cease-fire and a pullout of heavy weapons from a division line in eastern Ukraine.

It has been repeatedly violated by both sides, and heavy artillery and rocket barrages have increased the civilian death toll in the last few weeks.

The foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agreed Wednesday to revive that division line, but fighting has continued unabated.

The Pe Pricing Re (PPPRA) on Federal Gove subsidising t price of petro This is con ment issued i spokesman, M The statem Executive S PPPRA, Mr F

Jega, Let Our Valentine Be!

Yinka Odumakin

D’banj

ÎÎÎI

goes into moviedom

Moses Kadiri

Monday, January 26, 2015

Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr

can’t fathom what Professor Attahiru Jega was driving at when he decided that the most divisive election in the history of Nigeria should hold on February 14, a day that is universally celebrated as that of lovers.

Why Jega would want to cancel Valentine’s Day in Nigeria for the year 2015 is a big puzzle.

To start with, the 2011 amended Electoral Act

stipulates that elections must hold not earlier than 150 days to the expiration of tenure and not later than 30 days. There are about 80 days in between Valentine’s Day and 30 days to handover which our election boss could have chosen from rather than ruin the fun of lovers by fixing a festival of hate on the day lovebirds are supposed to be rollicking unhinged.

I shudder to say that if Jega were a Ballard, he would probably sing funeral dirges at wedding ceremony to have elected to ruin the celebration of love in Nigeria this year.

The whole world has been apprehensive of what the general elections coming up in our country portend for us as a people and the potential threat to the global community.

That was why Kofi Annan was dispatched to Abuja a few days back to hold the hands of our politicians to sign the dotted

sons. We meet several patients visiting the proper and improper eye care givers, the movie teaches on what we should do to achieve the best outcome for our eye health,” she said. “Another issue addressed is the reality that whatsoever governments have been doing in the area of health care is

We get to know that people are not unwilling to do the right things; the problem is lack of infrastructures that enables the common man to participate as a citizen in all spheres of life, including eye health,” she echoed.

Though there are educative

‘For a woman to love and marry me is proof that God is great’ Continued on page 24

Dancehall star, Timaya has

landed in Australia ahead of his 2015 tour. The singer flew into the country recently. According

to arrangements, Timaya will

kick off his 2015 tour of Australia on January 23, 2015 with a live concert at Perth. He will follow up with stops at Sydney, Melbourne and other cities in

Nigeria in the first week of Feb-

try currently hosting the 2015

ruary 2015. Timaya’s tour of Australia is part of plans to promote his 6th studio album, Epiphany which dropped in

edition of the Asian Cup, the self-styled Egbeeri Papa of Bayelsa is expected to have a swell time with crowded concert ven-

Australia before returning to

September 2014. With the coun-

ues for the tour.

Timaya

Obanor and wife

Malawi Muslims split over proposed holiday

he was born, conceded it was the The strength of the woman as a burden bearer comes to the fore again in the age of 24.

“I started well and saved most painful waiting period of this courageous 28 years old, who defied her parents and married a blind man. Today, she is nursing her second baby of the marriage. GOD’S enough for seven years. I was pur- his young life. In his one bedroom suing my admission in 1977; but apartment at the because, dead end of COVENANT SNR spent time with the couple at their home ÏÏÏ and reports.

Islamic calenMalawi’s minority Muslim third month in the according to the Islamic while I was reading for my exams, Oriyomi otherwise Ziyala Ipaiye paradeStreet, population has been pushing dar. This year, the knowledge, Prophet Muhammad having known as Sunshinewas Street, Paiko, Author- I started A look at Philip Obanor National Electric Power markingwith the prophet’s birthday the government to declare the problems born on 12th Rabi’ al-awwal my left sight, so I went to seeJanuary a Orisunbare in Alimoso Philip will tell you that fate is no respect- ity (NEPA) in Ondo State, took place 4.

Prophet Muhammad’s birthday and alsoLocal died on the same day, close examination hefor Government Area Lagos State, to doctor. er of good looks. Fair and hand- was faced with no resources In calling a public holiday , ofsame a public holiday , but After the threedate and same time. And me I was suffering fromAboo glau- said Philip relieved the experience education some, Philip would fit admirably climb the ladder ofyear Faizal Malawi’s govcampaign told has been plagued therefore, and we feel that it is not and cataract. worst part tragedy his first school, but coma into any role in Nollywood, but after his secondary by ernment shouldthe follow the that leadfollowed disagreement among Islamic The advisable to celebrate while the attempt to operate growth up poor was that he could not he fell victim to grave physical determined not to end of operate at least on 50 other countries, in- the scholars. same personinis dead.” the glaucoma; that Icluding have to Indonesia, wait his Malaysia eye. man Nankhumwa, and spiritual circumstances in a like his father, the young and Kondwani inforbefore it “I waited for five years before I buying series of tragedies that caused his launched himself into Saudi Arabia. mation ministerfor forthe the cataract southeastto grow can be operated.” wasbe cleared for the operation; but materinight to come in his early youth, and selling of building “Malawi should no differAfrican country , told VOA “the Philip whose parents for my turn at the money to will act when his strength was yet unex- als with intent to raise ent,” had said miAboo, while mediawaiting coordinagovernment accordingly from Agenebode in Etsako theatre theSunni following week, my further his education, pended. the Al-Traq Qadeia oncebut thethat issuegrated is discussed at tor for Area of a local fathercharity suddenly his world Association, as-fell sick and died The first of eight children born ladder collapsed when Cabinet level.” East Local Government Edo only StateIslamic to Ondo sisting State where at the Muslims in Malawi.CONTINUED ON PAGE 23 Right now, to Pa Obanor, a retiree of former suddenly sank into darkness The country has nearly 17 milholiday publicly observed in Malawi is Eid al-fitr, a celebration lion people. Aboo said that, with that marks the end of the Muslim at least 5 million Muslims among them, officials should give “serifasting month of Ramadan.

In 2003, Muslims in Malawi ous thought” to designating the started observing Ziyala, as it’s holiday.

Sheikh Imran Sheriff, who known among the country’s Muslims. It is celebrated on the chairs the Supreme Council of 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, the Ulemas, said: “We don’t celebrate Mutharika

lines Timaya in promise of good us for a turlands in Australia ahead ofprogramming 2015 behaviour during the bulent Valentine by insistcoming elections. ing on holding elections I recall a journalist call- on February 14 given the ing to ask what I thought shoddy preparations for of the hollow ritual and I the elections so far. told him point blank that A few days to the electhe whole session was a tions, about 50 per cent waste of time as it would of registered voters are mean nothing when the yet to collect their Permachips were down. I added nent Voters Cards (PVCs). that those who had been Prominent voters like the programmed to cause Sultan of Sokoto and the chaos would never hold Lagos state Governor, Mr any pen or sign any paper Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at the command of An- are among the 30 million nan. Their own dialogue voters who are yet to have is with the aid of cudgel, their voting instruments. arms, charms and other The Sultan spoke for weapons of violence. They these millions of voters don’t care a hoot about the when he told President United Nations or its mes- Jonathan: senger Kofi Annan.

“We have to look for a They have started show- way out. It is for your goving that by throwing ernment to now look for stones and pure water in what to do; how do you Katsina and Bauchi states. ensure that all cards get Heads are being bandaged to the voters before the and and folks soaked in voting day or in the alblood even when the D- ternative find a way out Day is still weeks away. because in any problem, Fears are being ex- there is a solution”. pressed in many quarters Shortly after the Sultan that it appears Jega is spoke, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki spoke in far-away London and advised INEC to move the election date to allow a proper distribution of PVCs to all registered voters. This, he said, should be done within the

time allowed by the law.

The NSA statement was greeted with instant rejection by opposition party elements who insisted the election must hold as scheduled. The INEC also sang from the same hymn page with the APC. This arouses curiosity in the minds of keen observers to ask if INEC has already formed a merger with the opposition. In an ideal situation, the umpire should be offering apology for the mishandling of the whole process and be looking for a way out of the mess.

The opposition party that espouses democracy should also be hard put to oppose any suggestion that would allow all registered voters to exercise their right within the law.

To argue that an election must go ahead when half of the electorate have been shut out is nothing but a coup d’état.

The right to vote has taken bitter struggles over the years. When President LB Johnson was signing the Voting Rights Act in 1965, he made the following remarks: “To apply any other test, to deny a man his hopes because of his color

35 militants killed

CAR militias kidnap sport minister

ÏÏÏThe wife of a minister in Central African Republic’s transitional government says her husband has been kidnapped by armed men believed to belong to the Christian anti-Balaka militia group.

Nicaise Danielle Sayo said her husband, Armel Mingatoloum Sayo, minister of youth and sports, was taken from his car while the couple was returning from church on Sunday morning.

She said the assailants sped off in an unmarked taxi.

Central African Republic was hit by unprecedented sectarian violence about a year ago when the anti-Balaka militia was formed to combat a Muslim rebel coalition that had taken control of the country.

Last week, anti-Balaka fighters kidnapped and later released a Kurdish female UN staffer as well as a French aid worker and her Central African colleague.

air or race orin Pakistani his religion or strikes the place ÏÏÏof his birth is not only to do injustice, it is to deny Americans and to dishonor the dead who gave their lives for American freedom. Our fathers believed that if this noble view of the rights of man was to flourish it must be rooted in democracy. This most basic right of all was the right to choose your own leaders. The history of this country in large measure is the history of expansion of the right to all of our people.

Many of the issues of civil rights are very complex and most difficult.

But about this there can and should be no argument: every American citizen must have an equal right to vote. There is no reason which can excuse the denial of that right.

There is no duty which weighs more heavily on us than the duty we have to insure that right” Jega should not lead us into an impasse on February 14. He should let lovers celebrate their day, do the needful about the voters card so that we do not take away the rights of 30 million citizens.

This is the way we can live in love ever after!

The Pakistan military says it has bombed suspected militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal territory, killing at least 35 militants.

The army said the air strikes Sunday focused on the Datta Khail area near the Afghan border. Foreign fighters are said to be among those killed.

Pakistan’s military has launched a major counter-terrorism offensive in the Waziristan region since June. Officials said the attacks have killed around 2,000 suspected militants. The military said it has lost more than 200 soldiers in the fighting.

U.S. officials have said the Waziristan district was where al-Qaida and its allied Haqqani Network have established bases.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR MONDAY 26 - 01 - 2015 ABUJA

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

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Life&

TIMES Monday, January 26, 2015

I don’t have role models -llami Whyte

L4

P

Toyin Aimahku’s wedding hits the rocks? PL2

Rihanna

wins lawsuit against Topshop PL7

Fashion L2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

Decoding Dress Codes Series of Eight by Eyola

1ne Black tie (a.k.a. formal) – Upscale

fetes can include luncheons, garden and dinner parties. When in doubt, reminisce old Hollywood glamour.

Events such as these, ladies are expected to wear a floor-length evening gown with the option of detailed work on both garment and shoes – think beading, sequin, and sparkle. Polished, elegant and sophisticated are three words to keep in mind during every stage of getting ready --- outfit, accessories, makeup, hair and attitude. Cocktail dresses can also be worn during this occasion. Rely on luxurious fabrics such as silk, velvet and satin and be wary of loud prints or patterns. While this is a wonderful time to raid your jewelry box and adorn you neck, ears, wrists with your most dramatic and precious jewels, avoid costume jewelry and opt for time-honoured classics such as diamonds. Do remember that accessories must be kept formal. Elegance is understated so if you have a piece of jewelry that is very striking, it is best to keep the rest of your jewelry simple. Finally, wear your hair in an up-do or partial up-do to complete your look and you are ready to rock the party.

2wo White tie

(a.k.a. ultra-formal) – The most formal and rare of all dress codes worn in the evening for royal or award ceremonies and balls. White tie, also known as “full evening dress”, calls for ladies to wear a full-length formal evening dress. Shorter dresses are not acceptable, jewelry can be striking and tiaras can be worn. Hair must be styled in an up-do. Evening bags must be small and elegant, arms accessorised with long evening gloves and a smart cloak cover-up or wrap are usually part of the overall look.

3hree Cocktail (a.k.a. semi-formal, after-

five) - One of my favourite dress-up codes, ladies have room for creative expression. Experiment and have fun with silhouettes and striking colours. From hair to toe nails be as experimental and daring as you wish, making sure you look less like a fancy dress party attendee and more like an elegant fashion forward belle by the end of your transformation.

Cocktail dresses can be worn at varying lengths but your safest bet when going short is a modest hemline that hits two inches maximum above the knee. Creative dresses can be heavily beaded or very detailed to make an entrance. Alternatively for a low-key demeanour, opt for an LBD (little black dress) accessorised with jewelry to make the look dressier and less businessformal. It is also commonplace to wear dressy separates --- say a dressy skirt-top combo or brocade cigarette pants. Whichever attire you go for, fancy footwear is mandatory. The sparkler the better and

-Women’s Edition overdoing it with the makeup and although obvious to some, common pitfalls include wearing denim, spaghetti straps, exposing midriffs and plunging necklines. Blazer jackets are a wardrobe must-have; a truly transitional piece serving both casual business attire right through to casual chic and the perfect day to night coverup. Try your hand at designing your perfect blazer at w w w. f e m m e d erose.com. With a wide spectrum of styles, fabrics and trimmings to choose from, your blazer is handmade in London and delivered worldwide, including Nigeria.

the daintier the heel the more graceful you’ll look on the dance floor. Head over to Eyola’s Private Showroom in Lekki (Lagos) for head-turning one-of-a-kind cocktail and evening dresses.

4our Business

formal (a.k.a. professional) - Whether a traditional skirt-suit or trouser-suit, the key to business-formal dressing is classical tailoring. Suits usually project an air of authority for, fancy footwear is mandatory.

The sparkler the better and the daintier the heel the more graceful you’ll look on the dance floor. Head over to Eyola’s Private Showroom in Lekki (Lagos) for head turning one-of-a-kind cocktail and evening dresses.4ourBusiness formal (a.k.a. professional) --- whether a traditional skirt-suit or trouser -- -suit, the key to business-formal dressing is classical tailoring. Suits usually project an air of authority to project a professional and well-respected demeanour.

5ive Business casual (a.k.a. casual but office appropriate) – Certain days are declared dress down days in offices --- generally Fridays --- where business-casual clothing is often the code of dress. While you can express your personal style, this dress code still requires a professional appearance. Regardless of whether

you a r e asked to look formal or informal, it is important to keep your look clean, ironed and business-appropriate. While formal occasions would best suit your standard skirt, trouser suit or tailored dress, casual occasions can be slightly less conservative. However, it is advised to wear formal business attire with some added accessories to make the look more personal. Despite being a more relaxed look, you still want to dress sharp and be taken seriously. With that said, opt for a plain dark-coloured pencil skirt or tailored trousers, coupled with an open collar shirt or silk T-shirt paired with a blazer jacket to guarantee office attire success. Hosiery is not required but can be worn if preferred. Avoid

6ix

Wedding guest – Dress code etiquette for weddings can be quite fun. This is a time to really enjoy yourself while celebrating an important day for a friend or loved one. An elegant dress is often best in a luxurious fabric such as silk, satin or chiffon. Cardinal rule: save white for the bride and avoid an all-black ensemble. Look dressy in a suit or dress that is appropriate for the season and weather. Hats are optional but can sometimes add a glamorous touch to your chosen outfit. An exception to the rule is if you opt for Eyola Fashion House’s “Semper Fidelis” bridal wear. Go against the grain with a wedding to remember by opting for a colourful wedding gown while guests wear white. Following in Queen Victoria’s

footsteps of transforming wedding dresses and as a result setting the trend for white wedding gowns, Eyola Fashion House proposes the bride wears colour while guests strictly wear white. Check out Eyola’s Private Showroom for more unconventional wedding attire ideas for the bride --- from reception right through to the wedding day--- and styles for the mother of the bride and wedding guests.

7ix Smart casual (a.k.a. dressy ca-

sual) - Arguably the most confusing, casual dress codes are typically least likely to be mentioned on the invitation. Therefore, any invitation received without a dress code usually requires casual attire.

Never translate smart-casual as loungewear or with an “anything goes” attitude. It is deemed inappropriate to wear baggy slouchy attire – think sweat pants, shorts, flip flops. One exception to the rule is jeans. Jeans can be worn so long as they are not covered in holes or rips. Opt for maxi dresses, summer dresses in floral prints and wedges for a perfect mix of comfort and dressy shoe. The appropriate way to dress for this category is comfortably but chic. Completely ignore the word “casual” when selecting pieces from your wardrobe. Occupy your thoughts with the words “chic” and “relaxed”. Make sure for every item that seems underdressed you pair it with a dressy or statement piece. During times of uncertainty, it is always better to look overdressed than under-dressed. Being overdressed during such events will allow for an easy grab of the bestdressed crown.

8ight Party etiquette – RSVPs aren’t

optional. RSVP is an acronym for a French term which translates to “please reply”. RSVPs are essential for amassing an accurate head count requisite for party planning purposes. Therefore it is considered inconsiderate if you do not respond. Reply preferably within two days of receiving the invitation letting the host know whether or not you’ll be able to attend the event. Dress codes must be strictly adhered to. Show respect to your host and dress appropriately following any dress code request on the invitation. When in doubt, it is never inappropriate to directly ask the host to clarify the dress code.

Alternatively, it is typically better to be overdressed rather than underdressed. Be punctual. I know it is a habit in Nigerian culture where it is believed that to make an entrance one must arrive late. The opposite is in fact true. Being late is a sign of discourtesy and lack of appreciation for the hard work and efforts of your host and oftentimes you miss out on the most entertaining events at the beginning of a party.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 26, 2015

L3

Extra L4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 26, 2015

Kourtney Kardashian, Scott Disick relationship problem: …Scott moving out of the house As much as we hope things get better between Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, things may just be heading for the worse.

According to a new report, Scott, 31, no longer wants to live with his family.

“Scott has told Kourtney that he’s moving out,” a source claims.

And while their two younger children (two-year-old Penelope and one-month-old Reign) aren’t

old enough to comprehend the heartbreaking situation, the report claims Mason will have a difficult time without his father around.

“It’s very hard because Mason is obsessed with his dad and it would tear them – and the whole family – apart,” the source said.

The 35-year-old mom is becoming increasingly more frustrated with her baby daddy’s drinking and partying, especially since the arrival of their

third child on December14, 2014.

She’s allegedly almost ready to leave Scott for good — and those close to her think it’s for the best.

“He hasn’t been there for the new baby much,” the source close to the reality star tells Us Weekly.

“Kourt gave birth a month ago and he’s already doing club appearances and back to binge drinking. It’s not normal.”

Rihanna

wins lawsuit against Topshop Rihanna has won her lawsuit against Topshop.

Topshop used a screenshot from Ri Ri’s “We Found Love” video on one of their sleeveless tanks without permission.

In return, Ri Ri reportedly sued Topshop for $5 million.

Clearly, the Topshop item conflicts

Lindsay Lohan may be jailed for incomplete community service

Lindsay Lohan could face jail next week, when a court will hear she still hasn’t completed 240 hours of community service.

Times Live says the Mean Girls star was required to undergo 240 hours of unpaid work as punishment for a reckless driving offence in 2012 and is due to show proof of completion on Wednesday --- but insiders told website TMZ she “isn’t even close” to finishing her sentence.

Lohan was originally due to have finished by a court hearing on November 6, 2014, but her lawyer told the judge at the time she had only done half the hours, prompting the new date to be set.

The Machete star will reportedly claim she ran into difficulties because the community service centre in London, England, closed for two weeks over the

festive season and she was subsequently hospitalised after contracting Chikungunya, a debilitating, untreatable virus caused by mosquito bites.

However, prosecutors may not accept the excuse as she contracted the virus while holidaying in Bora Bora --- a time when she could have been completing her community service --- and could order a jail sentence.

This isn’t the first time Lohan hasn’t abided by court-ordered punishments.

In both 2009 and 2010, she failed to complete alcohol education programmes, while also in 2010 she missed a court hearing, claiming she was stranded in Cannes, France, after having her passport stolen.

She was late for another hearing in 2013 after missing a flight, while in 2010 she had probation revoked after cocaine was found in her system.

with Ri Ri’s River Island line. According to Complex, a judge ruled in favour of the Rihanna because the shirts were damaging to her “goodwill” and represented a loss of control over her reputation in the “fashion sphere.”

We don’t know exactly how much Ri Ri banked after the suit, but Topshop has to foot the bill for her legal fees.

Patrick Dempsey

wins lawsuit against Topshop

All seems not well with Grey Anatomy’s actor, Patrick Dempsey as his wife, Patrick Dempsey has reportedly filed for divorce from the actor.

Jillian Fink, who married the Grey’s Anatomy star in July 1999, has cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split and is seeking joint custody of their 12-year-old daughter, Tallulah Fyfe, and seven-year-old twin sons, Sullivan Patrick and Darby Galen.

The make-up artist, 48, is also requesting spousal and child support, and a source told gossip website TMZ. com: “She’s all about the kids.”

According to Times Live, the 49-yearold actor has an estimated $40 million

fortune and the former couple do not have a prenuptial agreement.

The insider added: “It remains to be seen whether it will be amicable.”

Dempsey, who was married to Rocky Parker from 1987 to 1994, previously credited Jillian for helping him to stay grounded.

He said: “The best part about being married is feeling centered. Nothing else matters so much as long as you can come home and be with your family.”

But he also admitted they were both very independent people.

He said: “She’ll do things on her own so she can come back and be much more patient with the kids. I go car racing.”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 26, 2015

EXCLUSIVE

OC Ukeje

Toyin Aimakhu

gushes about role in

‘Gone Too Far’

keeps mum on marriage issue

Nollywood actor and Alanpoza star, OC Ukeje, recently gushed about his role in the British\ America movie “Gone Too Far” which is currently making waves across Nigerian cinemas.

Ukeje noted that the said movie has helped to reshape his belief in his African roots and has opened more opportunities for him.

He said, “The movie has helped shape my own stance toward Africa and the African continent entirely. It really boosted my belief in myself as an African and taught me to stand up for who I am anywhere and anytime with every sense of originality.”

Stories by: Mutiat Alli

Nollywood actress and Vice President of the Actors Guild Of Nigeria (AGN), Toyin Aimaku, may not be enjoying the best of time as her one year and five month old marriage to ex-tinsel actor, Adeniyi Johnson, is reportedly on fire.

Our sources revealed that the marriage could not stand the test of time due to alleged infidelity and lack of respect. We also heard that the couple have been living apart for over three months but have been trying to hide it from the press.

Prior to the said separation, the couple have showed unconditional love to each other with appraisals shared on social media --- which makes one begin to wonder, what could have happened within the short while.

Earlier on Saturday, the actress pasted a deep emotional write-up on Instagram which kept her followers’ tongues wagging. She said “I just wonder why pple murder pple with words, don’t u feel pples pain and wen things happen u write we love

we do rip painful word bla bla, pls don’t murder me with words walk in my shoe..pls don’t make it worse with ur words pls if u can’t help pls don’t make it worse..”

Again, Life & Times revealed that Toyin has since removed her husband’s name, Johnson from her name on her social media accounts, while her husband, Adeniyi retains ‘husband’ on his Instagram bio with his latest post as: “Me, myself and I with folk.

When Life & Times contacted Toyin on the matter via telephone, all the actress did was hiss and hang up after a question was posed about her troubled marriage.

However her husband denied the tale when a call was put through to him insisting that his marriage is still intact. But then, one begins to wonder who is being economical with the truth among the couple and why the wife has refused to either confirm or deny the reprt. Also, why the sudden change of name in her various social media platforms?

L5 Movie

Meanwhile, none of their colleagues agreed to say anything about it as they all kept mute.

Life & Times promises to bring to you all the latest gist as time unfolds.

Meanwhile none of their colleagues agreed to say anything about it as they all kept mute.

Life & Times promises to bring to you all the latest gist as time unfolds.

AMAA awards to hold June Organizers of the yearly African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), have announced the postponement of this year’s edition of the award earlier scheduled for April 2015 shortly after the nomination process. It will now hold in June.

The shift was made in honour of Micheal Anyaim-Osigwe, elder brother to AMAA founder, Peace AnyaimOsigwe, who passed on recently.

According to the Director of Administration, Tony Anih; “The late Micheal has been a pillar of support for AMAA since its inception and his untimely death has since thrown some immediate challenges on us as a body, but we are pressing on. That’s why we had to change the date from its traditional month of April to June to allow us prepare and respond to the current realities. We will announce the actual date for nominations and the main award in April and June.”

He also noted that entries remain open until January 31st 2015.

Meet sexy Nollywood actress, Ilami Whyte Akio Precious Ilami (now Ilami Whyte) stands out as an actress of distinction hewn in professionalism, a trait that earned her the highly reputable position of Winner of the 2010 Edition of Next Movie Star Africa. Born in the month of February, the equally astonishing beauty loves honest and real people, hard work and has a high penchant for success.

The Abua girl from Rivers State, who studied English/Linguistics at the University of Jos and so dearly loves her family has been taking her time to study the world of acting and has a lot of upcoming projects such as her foundation and talk show.

As distinct as she is, the strong and

confident young lady says... “I don’t have role models just people I look up to, which includes the likes of Oprah, Angelina Jolie, Joke Silva, Bimbo Akintola to mention a few” .

It is her dream to work with A-list talents like Joke Silva, Bimbo Akintola, RMD, Uche Jombo etc. She is of the belief that Nollywood gets better every day, and is more than willing to put in the best of her capabilities to ensure a furtherance of the principles upholding Nollywood.

The actress has starred in a couple of movies like Stripped (starring Beverly Naya, Ramsey Noah, Joseph Benjamin etc), Job Seekers (starring Ayo Adesayan, Kiera, Moyo Lawal etc), Next Door and Nigerian Girl.

Wellness L6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 26, 2015

How to

manage your

strain

Lara Adejoro

o.adejoro@dailytimes.com.ng

Have you ever slipped from your bathroom tub and strained any part of your body? Perhaps, you have tried treating the strain in your hand, ankle, foot or any joint in your body the last time you got injured. But how did you go about it? Were you relieved afterwards, even without a professional touch?

A strain is a medical condition, any injury that can be sustained in the muscle or tendon, which is a piece of connector tissue that connects a muscle or group of muscles to a bone. It is an injury to the joint usually by trauma, a force to that joint resulting into injury usually affects the supporting structure of the joint which are the ligament, tendons as well.

Some believe the more you apply rob or the more you twist the strained part, the more you get relieved and healed. However, the wrong application of force to a strain could result in complete breakage of the ligament or joint.

Strains can be minor or serious.

The muscle or tendon is simply over-stretched or partially torn if it is minor but the muscle or tendon gets torn if it is a serious strain but

when the strains affect the bone, it’s called fracture.

The damage can be twisting or sharp resulting in overstretching or breakage causing the ligament to be destroyed temporarily completely or leading to permanent deformity.

If the ligament or tendon is stretched beyond what it can sustain, which is the elastic point, then it cannot go back to its normal position or it could result in tear.

When the ligament are twisted in the opposite direction beyond, the injury can result to temporal or permanent/severe deformity but it is determined by the amount of force on the place but if it is a mild injury. The ligament can go back to its normal position.

In several/permanent injury, the joint becomes loose and there won’t be the ability to control it.

For instance, the amount of body weight transfers to the point of injury when you obtain injury.

One’s weight affects the injury sustained and when there is an injury, there is redness, increase in temperature, swelling, pain, loss of function and if there is a permanent cut, then there is absolute inability to control the place.

Therapeutic management Before you get to a professional, the reducing and swelling can be reduced with the following steps: Cold pack application: Put the cold pack or ice block where you are injured for twenty minutes because if it is applied more than that, the swelling will resurface again then it can be reapplied after two hours.

The bandage: It should be done properly to provide support because if it is done unprofessionally, it could

be disastrous to the joint or ligament and increase the pain.

Bandage the injured area to limit any swelling and movement that could damage it further. Use a simple elastic bandage. Wrap snuggly around the affected area, but not so tightly that it restricts blood flow and remember to remove the bandage before you go to sleep.

Then, there is exercise in accordance with the injured person’s ability, tolerance and the degree of injury and the healing stage.

Please Note: Wrong use of bandage on an injury can result to permanent breakage of the place Do not apply too much force and don’t over-twist Do mobilization exercise for the joint The more you rub, the more it get swollen

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 26, 2015

L7 Mixed Grill

Walnut

Nutmeg

Food for strained muscles Just like there are medical ways of healing or relieving strained muscle, so also you can eat your way to healing a painful muscle.

Eat more of these: Ï 0 ƕ ƑƆƎ Ɖ Ǝ ƅ ƊƄ éƠ fatty acids, including leafy greens, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, walnuts, and fish Ï ƎƆ ƒƆƕ ƎéƍƆƃ ƅ ƕ è Əƃ as citrus fruits, spinach, carrots, peppers, squash, garlic, and onions; green and black teas, too Ï 6Ɔ éƅƆƂƄƍ ƅ ƕ è Ƒ Ɔƃ Ɔ ƃƉƏƕƄ

many listed above as well as whole grains, fruits, and veggies Ï d Ɠè Ɔ ƃƉƏƕƆ ƎƄƊƋƄ è Ǝ ƅƏè ƊƆ è ƕ Ɠ ƂƄ ƃ ƂƄ ƎƆéƆ ƅƉ ƊƊ Ǝ ƍƓ ƕ ƍƄ Ɖ Ƌƍ ƎƄƆ éƍƆƃ è Ƒ Ɔƃ ƄƉƋ Ǝ regenerate muscle Ï dƋƆƃƄ è Əƃ ƏƎƊƄ è Ɔ Ƅƍè cayenne, oregano Ï 6 ƄƓè Ƒ Ɔƃ Ɗ Ɠ ƐƄ ƆƊƊƏ ƄéƂ ƎƆ Ƌƍ ƋƄƍƎƆƄ è ƎƆé inflammatory effects, and also goes well in your green or black tea

Honey

Eat less of these:

Ï RƊƄ éÕ ƅ ƕ ƕ ƅ ƕ Ɔ in saturated fats such as peanut, cottonseed, or corn oils, as well as foods with a long ƄƉƅéƉƆƅƄ æƃ ƈƆƄ è ƃƍ ƃƈƄƍ è ƃ ƆƋ ç Ï # ƆƍƓ Ï `Ƅƕ ƊƄ Ǝ Ï dƆƊƋƉƄ ƃ ƍƂ Ɠƕƍ ƎƄ è Əƃ white bread, bagels, cereals, instant rice, wheat in general Ï & Ï ƍƎƆƅƆƃƆ Ɖ ƃ Ɖ ƍ ƕ ƅƉ Ɛ ƍ

Carrot

Daily Times Nigeria Friday January 26, 2015

L8 Television

Showing on 124 E!

Showing on 130 MTV

15:25

02:00

Mon, 26 Jan | PG

Mon, 26 Jan |16

‘S4/E5-T-100’. Pimp master of ceremonies, Xzibit turns tired old hatchbacks into fully loaded crusin’ machines.

X helps a marine’s Toyota T-100 go above and beyond the call of duty.

‘S1/E1- 1/1’. We send twelve young adults looking to escape their lives, to an exotic, tropical resort where they will do whatever it takes to keep their place in paradise.

124 E! Entertainment

101 M-Net West

00:00 Gotham 00:20 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit 02:05 Code Name Geronimo 04:00 Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom 07:00 Masterchef Junior USA 08:00 Modern Family 08:30 Wipeout (USA) 09:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:30 The Book Thief 12:40 2 Broke Girls 13:05 Masterchef Junior USA 14:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:00 Perception 16:00 Nashville 17:00 The Last Ship 18:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 Mom 19:30 Masterchef Junior USA 20:30 The Last Ship 21:30 Elementary 22:30 Nashville

118 Telemundo Pix- telemundo 00:00 Aurora 00:30 The Queen Of The South 01:20 The Queen Of The South 02:10 The Queen Of The South 03:00 The Queen Of The South 03:50 The Queen Of The South 05:20 Where Is Elisa?

06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart 07:50 My Heart Beats For Lola 08:40 Broken Angel 09:30 Where Is Elisa?

10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart 12:00 My Heart Beats For Lola 12:50 Broken Angel 13:40 Where Is Elisa?

14:30 Aurora 15:20 Fearless Heart 16:10 My Heart Beats For Lola 17:00 Broken Angel 17:50 Where Is Elisa?

18:40 Aurora 19:30 Fearless Heart 20:20 My Heart Beats For Lola 21:10 The Queen Of The South

130 MTV

120 BBC Entertainment

00:00 My Family 00:30 New Tricks 01:25 Come Dine With Me 02:15 The Musketeers 03:10 The Cube 04:00 EastEnders 04:30 EastEnders 05:00 Fool Britannia 05:25 QI 05:55 Spy 06:20 EastEnders 06:55 Antiques Roadshow 07:50 The Weakest Link 08:40 The Chase 09:25 Total Wipeout UK

10:25 The Cube 11:15 New Tricks 12:15 Top Gear 13:15 Come Dine With Me 14:10 Total Wipeout UK 15:10 The Weakest Link 16:00 EastEnders 16:30 Deal Or No Deal 17:10 The Cube 18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

19:00 MasterChef 20:05 Hell’s Kitchen USA 21:00 QI 21:35 The Graham Norton Show 22:25 Would I Lie To You?

135 BET 00:00 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 00:15 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 01:00 Sunday Night Mixtape 05:05 Hate Mondays, Love Music 08:20 Pranked 09:05 Punk’d 09:30 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 10:35 The Ex And The Why 11:05 Teen Mom 2 12:10 Awkward 12:35 Punk’d 13:00 Punk’d

13:25 Ridiculousness 13:50 Ridiculousness 14:35 Teen Cribs 15:25 Pimp My Ride 16:10 Awkward 16:35 Awkward 17:25 Ridiculousness 17:50 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 18:40 Jersey Shore 19:50 Snack-Off 20:35 Ridiculousness 21:05 Geordie Shore 21:55 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 22:40 16 And Pregnant

00:30 Nellyville 01:30 MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 04:00 BET Now 04:30 BET Now 05:00 Late Night Heat 07:00 Soul Sessions 08:00 Soul Sessions 09:00 Being Terry Kennedy 09:30 Being Terry Kennedy 10:00 Hell Date 10:30 Hell Date 11:00 The Wendy Williams Show 12:00 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 12:30 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 13:00 Let’s Stay Together

13:30 Let’s Stay Together 14:00 Apollo Live 15:00 The Wendy Williams Show 16:00 BET Presents: 2Face Idibia 16:30 Defining Moments: Chris Brown’s...

17:00 Born To Dance 18:00 The Wendy Williams Show 19:00 Being Terry Kennedy 19:30 Being Terry Kennedy 20:00 Hell Date 20:30 Hell Date 21:00 The Family Crews 21:30 The Family Crews 22:00 The Wendy Williams Show

128 SONY MAX

00:00 The Treasure Hunters 00:45 Code Name: Pheonix 02:15 Video Zonkers 02:45 Video Zonkers 03:15 World’s Most Amazing Videos 04:10 World’s Most Amazing Videos 05:00 Ninja Warrior 05:25 Ninja Warrior 05:50 I Bet You Will 06:15 Cheaters 07:10 World’s Most Amazing Videos 08:00 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

09:00 I Bet You Will 09:25 Killer Karaoke 10:25 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

11:20 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

12:15 Cheaters 13:15 World’s Most Amazing Videos 14:15 World’s Wildest Police Videos 15:15 Video Zonkers 15:40 1000 Ways To Die 16:10 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

17:05 World’s Most Amazing Videos 18:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 19:00 Killer Karaoke 20:00 Fresh 21:55 Kenny vs Spenny 22:25 World’s Most Amazing Videos

XT Exclusive

QUADRI

Poster!

EXTENDS GERMAN KITS CONTRACT

ANDY MURRAY

X4,5

X7

Monday, January 26, 2015

L A N E S R A OUGH TO

SLIMANI TO MISS SENEGAL CLASH X3

THR H T 5 P U FA C ROUND IMPROVE OR GET DROPPED,

RODGERS TELLS

X8

BALOTELLI

Interview

X2

CRISTIANO HAILS ANCELOTTI’S INFLUENCE X6

X2

Monday, January 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

FA CUP Mesut Ozil (left) scores Arsenal’s second goal against resilient Brighton & Hove Albion in their fourth round FA Cup tie at Amex Stadium on Sunday.

L A N E S AR

S E V I SURV S ’ N O T H G I BR !

E R A SC round ticket h ft fi k o o b to in w Secures 3-2 slim Sakho headed a late winner as West Ham

English FA Cup defending champions Arsenal survived Brighton & Hove Albion scare on Sunday as they reached the FA Cup fifth round. The 3-2 win did come on a platter as Gunners were forced to hang on for victory against a spirited Brighton side at the Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls were outplayed in all the departments of the game, but a late goal ensured a tense finish for the Arsene Wenger-led side.

Theo Walcott gave the Gunners the lead in the 2nd minute before German midfielder Mesut Ozil slotted in to make it 2-0 in the 24th minute.

After the break Tomas Rosicky volleyed home a sublime third after Chris O’Grady had reduced the deficit, before Sam Baldock’s effort at the 76th minute set up an exciting finale for both sides.

An incredible round of shocks began on Friday night when League Two Cambridge United held Manchester United to a goalless draw and continued on Saturday lunchtime as Swansea City exited at the hands of Championship Blackburn Rovers.

The two served as little warning as Pre-

mier League leaders Chelsea followed suit, while second-placed City and third-placed Southampton also saw hopes of a Wembley trip ended.

The Saints were beaten 3-2 at St Mary’s by Crystal Palace, while eight-time winners Tottenham missed out on a place in Monday’s fifth-round draw as they conceded twice in the closing seven minutes to lose at home to Leicester City, and Liverpool drew with Bolton.

In other FA Cup fourth round matches concluded on Sunday, Carles Gil scored a stunning strike on his full debut to help English Premier League (EPL) strugglers Aston Villa beat Bournemouth 2-1 to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

New signing Gil curled home from distance in the second half to put Villa - with just one win in their previous eight games - ahead.

Andreas Weimann then added a second with a neat first-time finish, while Callum Wilson stabbed in a consolation for Championship leaders Bournemouth, who had made eight changes for the tie.

Meanwhile, earlier yesterday, Diafra

withstood a frantic start from Bristol City to book their place in the FA Cup fifth round.

The League One side dominated the opening exchanges at a sell-out Ashton Gate and striker Matt Smith twice had

headers cleared off the line.

But West Ham kept their composure and Sakho headed in Andy Carroll’s tempting cross nine minutes from the end to give Hammers a deserving 1-0 win.

Malaga held by Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao have ended their fourgame losing streak in La Liga with a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga on Sunday.

The hosts were dominant during the opening half, but Xabier Etxeita, Mikel Rico and Aritz Aduriz all squandered chances in front of goal.

Despite those missed opportunities, Bilbao made the breakthrough on 71 minutes when Mikel San Jose got above his marker at the near post to head in from a corner.

However, Malaga earned themselves a share of the spoils just seven minutes later as Javi Guerra converted following good work by Miguel Torres out wide.

Both teams pushed forward late on in search of a winning goal, though neither provided the killer touch when it mattered.

NFF congratulates Udoh, Oshoala Andrew Ekejiuba

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has congratulated the duo of FIFAbadged referee Ferdinand Udoh and African Woman Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala for deserved strides they made in the past few days.

Udoh, 28, and much respected for his athleticism, firmness and strict application of the rules of the game, has been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as one of the referees for the 11th African U-17 Championship taking place in Niger Republic from February 15 – March 1.

Oshoala, Most Valuable Player of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Canada, and also undisputable choice for same honour at the African Women Championship in Namibia last year, signed a professional contract with Liverpool Ladies Football Club of England.

NFF Acting President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, lauded the duo and charged them to see their strides as calls to put in even more effort and diligence into their different vocations.

“The NFF is happy with the selection of Ferdinand Udoh for the African U-17 Championship in Niger. This underscores

Oshoala

that the integrated efforts we are making for the general improvement of refereeing in Nigeria has not gone unnoticed by the organisations that matter.

“We congratulate Oshoala who is definitely the new poster girl of Nigeria’s women football. Her contract with Liverpool Ladies will certainly encourage her mates in the national team to also put in more efforts to attract the attention of the best clubs in the world.”

Monday, January 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

X3

AFCON 2015 Dangerman! Islam Slimani to miss their crucial Group C match against Senegal in Malabo on Tuesday.

I N A M SLUIBTFUL

DO L A G E N FOR SE CLASH A

lgeria now look set to be without their deadly striker, Islam Slimani, for their crucial Group C match against Senegal in Malabo on Tuesday.

Slimani is still nursing a muscle injury and now looks likely to sit out against Senegal’s Teranga Lions when they clash inside the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.

The 26-year-old failed to join the Algerian team in training on Saturday just as the team’s technical staff are now considering leaving him out of their last group game.

The medical staff of the Desert Foxes revealed that the Sporting Lisbon attacker does not look in good shape to be part of the team for their next Africa Cup of Nations match.

Algeria head coach, Christian Gourcuff, insisted on playing Slimani in the match against Ghana’s Black Stars despite the striker failing to recover well from his muscle issue.

The Foxes are in second place in Group C of the AFCON with three points, same as Ghana who will meet South Africa in Mongomo on Tuesday.

Slimani scored the third goal in their 3-1 victory against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana last week before he picked up the injury.

The Algerian forward has been linked with a move to English club, Tottenham Hotspur by the Portuguese media.

BELLOUMI

GOOM CON UED FR RESC ROADSIDE BY OPPONENTS

Congolese national team rescued by Burkina Faso, after their bus broke down yesterday in a forest, while travelling from Bata to Ebibeyin.

T

he Congo squad found an unlikely saviour when the team bus broke down in a forest and they were rescued by Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations opponents Burkina Faso.

French radio reported that

BRIEFS

Gourcuff

laments ‘cruel’ Gyan winner It happens in football, but Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff is still sore after losing to Ghana on Friday. The Group C encounter appeared to be heading for a stalemate when Gyan, who had only made the game after recovering from a malaria attack, stepped up with the sensational winner in injury time. Frustrated, the Algeria boss took to blaming a range of things, including the pitch.

Belloumi

A

lgerian legend Lakhdar Belloumi has called on his country’s team head coach, Christian Gourcuff, to inject new faces in their last AFCON group match against Senegal on Tuesday.

by the head coach,” Lakhdar said.

“Our national team have a big problem too, the technical staff don’t have enough former international players to give advice to Gourcuff especially about African football. The Frenchman takes all the decisions by himself and that is not right.

“Gourcuff should do more psychological work before the last match against Senegal on Tuesday as we have one choice and it’s to win. The players should know that they are playing for Algeria and the nation waits on them to qualify.”

AFCON RESULTS Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon Zambia 1-1 RD Congo Tunisia 1-1 Cape Verde Ghana 1 - 2 Senegal Algeria 3 - 1 South Africa

WANTS REJIGGED Gyan equals Osei ALGERIA Kofi’s record The Desert Foxes are yet to secure qualification to the quarterfinal of the Africa Cup of Nations after they lost 0-1 to Ghana last week.

But Belloumi wants the Frenchman to ring changes to the Algerian start list for the clash with the Teranga Lions.

“Gourcuff should depend on new faces in the next match (against Senegal) after the starting squad showed they don’t have enough ability to score goals, and I don’t know the reason El Arbi Soudani and Abdelmoumene Djabou are not used

the players were left needing to hitch a ride on the way from Bata to Ebibeyin for their final Group A game.

Travelling along the same road was the Burkina Faso bus which was almost empty as their players had been put into more comfortable mini-busses for the three-hour journey.

It picked up Congo’s squad and delivered them to their destination after a delay of only an hour.

Earlier in the competition Congo coach, Claude LeRoy, complained bitterly about the team bus because it had no air conditioning in the African heat.

On Friday night Asamoah Gyan added another tick to his list of record-equalling feats as the Black Stars captain scored a sensational stoppage time winner at the ongoing 2015 AFCON against Algeria, which equalled the highest number of goals - seven - scored by the legendary Osei Kofi. Osei Kofi, who is now a reverend minister, is revered around the continent for being one of the greatest wingers in the history of the competition.

Cote d’Ivoire 1 - 1 Guinea Mali 1 - 1 Cameroon Equatorial Guinea 0 - 0 Burkina Faso Gabon 0 - 1 Congo Zambia 1 - 2 Tunisia Cape Verde 0 - 0 RD Congo Ghana 1 - 0 Algeria South Africa 1 - 1 Senegal Cote d’Ivoire 1 - 1 Mali Cameroon 1 - 1 Guinea

TODAY’S MATCHES RD Congo v Tunisia 19:00 Cape Verde v Zambia 19:00 Tuesday, January 27, 2015 South Africa v Ghana 19:00 Senegal v Algeria 19:00 Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Cameroun v Cote d’Ivoire 19:00 Guinea v Mali 19:00

X4

Monday, January 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

MURR ANDY BARRON

Monday, January 26, 2015

PERSONAL INFORMATION

EXTRATIME

X5

Full name: Country: Residence: Born: Place of birth: Height: Turned pro: Plays: Coaches:

Andrew Barron Murray Great Britain London, England, United Kingdom May 15, 1987 (age 27) Glasgow, Scotland, UK 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 2005 Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Mark Petchey (2005–2006) Brad Gilbert (2006–2007) Miles MacLagan (2007–2010) Àlex Corretja (2010–2011) Ivan Lendl (2011–2014) Amélie Mauresmo (2014–till date) Prize money: $ 34,190,085(5th all-time leader in earnings) Official website: andymurray.com Singles Career record: 481–151 (76.11%) Career titles: 31 Highest ranking: No. 2 (17 August 2009) Current ranking: No. 6 (17 November 2014) Grand Slam Singles results Australian Open: F (2010, 2011, 2013) French Open: SF (2011, 2014) Wimbledon: W (2013) US Open: W (2012) Other tournaments Tour Finals: Olympic Games: Doubles Career record Career titles: Highest ranking: Current ranking:

SF (2008, 2010, 2012) Gold medal (2012) 55–59 (48.25%) 2 No. 51 (17 October 2011) No. 337 (13 October 2014)

Grand Slam Doubles results Australian Open: 1R (2006) French Open: 2R (2006) Wimbledon: 1R (2005) US Open: 2R (2008) Other Doubles tournaments Olympic Games: 2R (2008) Mixed Doubles Career record: Career titles:

7–4 0

Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results Wimbledon: 2R (2006) Other Mixed Doubles tournaments Olympic Games: Silver Medal (2012) Team competitions Davis Cup: Hopman Cup:

QF (2014) F (2010)

“I never saw Andy Murray as a potential opponent anyway because I’m too focused on what I have to do.

I am sure it is somewhat disappointing for the tournament director after going through all the headaches with the wild cards.”

RAY “

Roger Federer

QUOTES ON

ANDY MURRAY In tennis, it is not the opponent you fear, it is the failure itself, knowing how near you were but just out of reach.

I’ve been asked a lot lately if tennis is clean or not. I don’t know any more how you judge whether a sport is clean. If one in 100 players is doping, in my eyes that isn’t a clean sport.”

“I used to think that losing made you hungrier and determined but after my success at the Olympics and the U.S. Open I realise that winning is the biggest motivation.”

–Andy Murray

”

X6

Monday, January 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

Interview

CRISTIANO: ANCELOTTI

IS REAL’S GOOD LUCK CHARM!

Ronaldo

Though this is your third FIFA Ballon d’Or win and you’ve been to this Gala many times before, you still appeared emotional on stage.

Is it still as big a thrill as ever?

I know how much hard work and effort goes into winning this award, and that’s why I still get emotional, no matter how many times I come here to receive it. I hope I’ll be doing so for many years to come. That’s why I have to thank my team-mates, my club Real Madrid and everyone in Portugal. This Ballon d’Or caps a great season for me and it also gives me the motivation to start 2015 with the same ambition.

It’s one thing to get to the top but another to stay there for so many years, like you’ve been doing.

When you came to this Gala for the first time, did you ever imagine you’d become such a frequent participant?

To be honest, no! It’s all happened so fast. In my opinion, the hardest thing is maintaining that level. I’m proud to have been in the World XI for eight consecutive years and always vying to be among the best three, as it’s something very few people manage to do. I think just Messi and I have done it, not many more anyway. I don’t think anyone else has done it eight years in a row, which is why it’s immensely satisfying. Year after year I keep working hard with my club and national team so that I continue to stand out. This recognition is an indication that things are going well and that I’m enjoying an exceptional career.

And all that while you were still

relatively young and at the very top of your game. Even if you stopped playing today, your name would forever be remembered in the history of football; what’s your take on this?

In truth, I don’t think about that. I know I’ll have a place in the history of the game because of what I’m doing and winning, whether at an individual or team level. I know I’ll have a nice page devoted to me between some of the alltime greats, and that makes me happy.

I’m 29 now but I feel great, like I’m still 25 (laughs)! I think I can play on for another five, six or seven years at a high level. Beyond that, we’ll have to see.

A while back, your agent said that, if you wanted to, you could easily play until you were 40; how about that?

(Laughs) Well, yes, it’s conceivable but, as I said, it’s a case of seeing how I feel year after year, how motivated I am and if I’m still useful to my team like in the past.

As for going on until 40 – if I want to play until then, I will, though I might be dragging myself around by then (laughs). But while I’m playing to an acceptable standard – acceptable to me, that is, and at a level my fans and club deserve – then I want to continue. Honestly, though, it’s not something I’m thinking about yet.

You’ve always been a versatile player, but the way in which you’ve incorporated new elements into your game over the years is what stands out for many people. What’s the key to that?

There’s no secret: it’s a matter of always being willing to learn. For me, each

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Of course, work comes into it, as I always say, but it’s also the desire to be the best.

This time last year you had two big goals in mind: the Champions League, which couldn’t have gone any better, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where you arrived less than fully fit. Do you have any regrets from last year?

I’ve no regrets about what I did, as things happen for a reason. After winning the Champions League, for which I was injured – I had to sit out training for two weeks ahead of the final because of pains – I headed off to the World Cup. I could’ve told the coach not to consider me. I could’ve headed off on holidays instead without the worry, and it would’ve been easier for me. Nobody would have been able to talk about me out there.

However, I like to face up to things directly.

First of all, I don’t want to use the fact I was injured as an excuse, but it’s true that I wasn’t 100 per cent, as many people knew. But, as I said, I’m not making excuses. That I’m here today is down to my sacrifices, dedication and the sweat of my brow. God sees everything, and if I’m here, it’s because I was one of the best of the last year.

What was your most memorable moment in last year’s Champions League triumph?

Finally winning it and lifting the trophy.

It’s the culmination of everything – the tide of emotions during the final itself, all the suffering, then scoring in the last minute. Also the fact that the game was in Portugal – it all made it a beautiful and historic moment! It was unforgettable for the Madrid fans. Anyone who plays there can tell you how important it is to win the Champions League – and especially La Décima (their tenth title). It was the highlight of an extraordinary year, both with club and country. Not long ago we also won the Club World Cup, which was also extremely important. It was just an unforgettable year. I’ve great memories as it was possibly my best year at both an individual and collective level.

How much credit goes to Carlo Ancelotti for handling that pressure?

That’s down to his coaching excellence.

Wherever he’s been, he’s won major honours. He’s an extraordinary man, not just as a coach but as a human being. I think the fact that was also a player is very significant, as he understands everything so well. On top of that he’s what we in Portugal call pé quente (a good luck charm).

He’s a winning coach and tries to instill that in us. His appointment as Real Madrid coach was a very good and important move, as with him we’ve won the biggest trophies around.

Last year you took to the stage at the FIFA Ballon d’Or with your son, who is now four. How big a motivation is it to have such a special fan as him, now that he understands a bit better what all this means?

Yes it’s becoming something special.

The birth of Cristiano brought more joy and tranquility to my life. It’s not that I had none before, but it’s been an important factor. The fact that he can share these moments I’m having fills me with pride, because he’ll grow up and know – in fact since last year he already understands – who his dad is: a professional footballer with Real Madrid. He already knows a lot about football: how it works, what the main titles are, why his dad is here trying to win the Ballon d’Or. He makes me very happy as he’s my only child.

Is he already letting you know if you do something good or bad on the pitch?

(Laughs) No, not yet. He still has the mentality of a little boy – he talks about normal things like other teams and players. He also plays football, which is something that’s been a nice surprise in the last year. He really likes it. At first he was into cars, but now its football. I’m pleased about that as it should be a cheaper hobby to pay for (laughs). But I’m just very happy.

Monday, January 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

Federation Watch

NBBF stakeholders’ conference holds in Abuja N igeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) will commence its programme of activities for 2015 with stakeholders’ conference holding from February 1-5 at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) in Abuja.

The conference will be closely followed by the DSTV Basketball League Jump Ball on March 6 and the Zenith Bank League Phase 1 tourney also scheduled for March 15-25 at the indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja Stadium.

The President of the Federation, Tijani Umar, told Extra Time that his board has various activities lined up for the year.

“We are fully loaded for the year, but our only problem is lack of funds. We have applied to the various organizations for assistance, but up till now we have not received any positive response and the National Sports Commission (NSC) is not helping matters.” he said Umar however berated the NSC for deliberately starving them of funds. He revealed that NBBF activities were not funded by the NSC since 2013.

With Osaretin Emuze

QUADRI

EXTENDS GERMAN KITS CONTRACT Nigeria Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri

Umar

“We were not funded in 2013 and 2014. We currently stand the risk of not participating at the Afro-Basketball and the All Africa Games qualifiers,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, FIBA AFRICA Zone 3 led

by Sam Amedu has received two stateof-the-art basketball courts from one of its major partners. The courts which are to aid the organization of competitions in the sub-region will be made public in March.

NFF mourns N Abdullahi Gumel

NOC AGM slated for Abuja The newly elected Board members of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) will hold their first Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the ANOCA office in Abuja on Tuesday, January 27.

The main agenda of the meeting is to appoint members into the various commission and plan ahead of the forthcoming All Africa Games holding in Congo Brazzaville in September and also the Rio 2016 Olympic Games holding next year in Brazil.

NAFED General Meeting gets date The Nigeria Archery Federation (NAFED) General Meeting will hold on Wednesday, May 28, by 12 noon at the Board Room of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) at the National Stadium Surulere in Lagos. The main agenda of the meeting according to President of the Federation, Felix Osagie Okugbe, is to present and possibly ratify the Federation’s action plan for the game of Archery in Nigeria for the year 2015.

X7

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep sorrow at news of the death of one-time Head Coach of the Golden Eaglets and a former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Musa Abdullahi.

Abdullahi, who suffered a stroke several years ago and had been confined to his home in Kogi State since then, died on Sunday and was buried the same day.

“This is terrible news,” began NFF President Amaju Pinnick, who spoke on telephone from Equatorial Guinea where he is on official duty for the Confederation of African Football at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations finals.

“Abdullahi was known by all who came across him as a gentleman. He was a humble, highly dedicated and tireless professional who had real passion for the job.

“We feel very sad to lose him and our prayer is for Almighty God to grant him peaceful rest. May God also grant the family he has left behind the fortitude to bear the huge loss,” Pinnick stated.

The ever-smiling Musa Abdullahi assisted Coach Fanny Amun to lead the U-17 national team to a second FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Japan in 1993, before leading the team, several years later, to win the African title in Seychelles in 2001. He also the team to win silver at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago the same year.

igeria Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri has extended his contract with German-based kits firm JOOLA from 2015 to 2019.

The newly improved contract will ensure the 26-year-old player receives kit-

ting and monetary rewards, while a new bat will be named after him.

The World Table Tennis Player of the Year is with Team Nigeria Table Tennis contingent in Cairo, Egypt for the ongoing ITTF Africa Championships from January

A Blessing Okagbare is expected to take part in Jamaica International Meet holding in May in Kingston.

24-29.

Meanwhile, Cecelia Otu Akpan and Kazeem Makanjuola joined the team over the weekend for the six days tournament.

The Nigerian team is expected back next week.

AFN flags off Olukoya tourney

thletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is set to flag off its activities for 2015 with the 5th edition of Dr. D. K. Olukoya Youth and Junior Athletics Championships in Lagos from February 6-7.

The championship will be used to prepare the country’s junior athletes for the African Junior Championship holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in March.

The U-20 athletes will also use the tournament as build up to the African Youth Championship in Mauritius in April.

Meanwhile, Shelley Ann Fraser Pryse, Allyson Felix and Blessing Okagbare have been confirmed for Jamaica International Meet holding in May in Kingston.

X8

Monday, January 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME BRIEFS Milan defender Mexes apologises for red card

RODGERS

Balotelli

CHARGES

BALOTELLI TO IMPROVE

L

iverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has told striker Mario Balotelli he will not get picked for the squad unless he improves in training.

The £16m summer signing did not make the matchday 18 for the goalless FA Cup fourth-round draw at home to Bolton despite being fit after

illness.

Rodgers said he spent an hour on Friday telling the Italy international exactly what he had to do in order to be considered.

“I am judging it every day in training - Mario is exactly the same as every other player, there is no special treat-

ment for anyone,” said the Reds boss.

“Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert are working tirelessly in training and when they go on they have contributed and young Jordan Rossiter, on the bench today, has been brilliant in training and I have to judge it on that.

“If you want to contribute you have

BARCA

Cech urges

Blues to clean up FA Cup exit ‘mess’

HAVE NO INTEREST IN REAL RESULTS

P

–NEYMAR

A

s the battle at the top of La Liga intensifies, Neymar insists Barcelona’s focus is on themselves and not leaders Real Madrid.

The Brazil international played a starring role with two goals in Barca’s 6-0 demolition of Elche on Saturday.

However, a late Gareth Bale penalty ensured Real Madrid remained top of the table by one point with a game in hand as they defeated Cordoba 2-1.

Neymar, though, is unconcerned by how Carlo Ancelotti’s side fare and is

instead purely focused on Barca’s own form.

“We have to just get on with our business and do it well,” he said.

“After that, we’ll see what the rest of the teams do. We always depend on ourselves, on what we do on the pitch.

“Playing as we are, it’ll be hard for us to lose.”

Neymar’s brace against Elche took him to 14 La Liga goals in 17 appearances in what has been a fine campaign so far.

to be at it every single day in training in order to be in the squad on matchday.

“We had an hour or so yesterday chatting and he understands where he is at. He knows exactly what is required to be in this squad before he can be in the team.

“It is difficult for him but he knows the level of what this team is at - you see the aggression in our pressing and if you can’t do that you are not going to be a part of what this team is trying to achieve.”

Neymar

etr Cech has challenged his Chelsea team-mates “to clean the mess up” in the aftermath of the side’s humbling FA Cup exit and book a place in the League Cup final on Tuesday.

League One Bradford City produced one of the biggest shocks in the FA Cup history by battling from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and reach the fifth round, a result that left Mourinho “ashamed” and “embarrassed”.

But Cech insists that Mourinho’s men cannot afford to dwell on the setback as Liverpool prepare to make the trip to London in midweek for the second leg of a League Cup semi-final tie that hangs in the balance at 1-1.

“We need to take it on the chin and pick ourselves up,” the Czech Republic goalkeeper said.

“It’s up to us. We have put ourselves in this position and we only have ourselves to blame for what happened.

Philippe Mexes has apologised for his injury-time sending off in Milan’s 3-1 Serie A defeat at Lazio.

Filippo Inzaghi’s men let an early lead slip at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday as their winless league run stretched to five matches.

Milan’s miserable evening was capped off when Mexes saw red for grabbing Lazio’s Stefano Mauri by the throat in the closing stages as tempers flared in Rome.

“I have to apologise to the club, the coach and my family,” said the defender.

“It was the wrong reaction and I am sorry because I left the team with 10 men and I will be suspended.

“Unfortunately I made a mistake, in my career I have had these reactions.

These things should not happen out on a football pitch.”

Milan have the perfect opportunity to exact immediate revenge when they welcome Lazio to San Siro for the Tuesday’s Coppa Italia quarter-final.

Philippe

Djordjevic thanks fans ahead of ankle surgery Stricken Lazio star Filip Djordjevic has thanked his well-wishers after it was confirmed he requires an operation on a fractured ankle.

The Serbian striker was introduced as a substitute with 15 minutes remaining in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Milan at Stadio Olimpico and unwittingly set up Marco Parolo for his second goal and Lazio’s third.

However, in doing so Djordjevic fell awkwardly when he rolled his ankle on the ball and was subsequently taken from the field on a stretcher.

An X-ray assessed the extent of the damage and Lazio subsequently confirmed the severity of his injury in a statement on their official website, with the forward set to have an operation on Tuesday.