DTN 26-3-15

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 24th March 2015.

EXCHANGE RATES Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN)

GAINERS

Selling(NGN)

LOSERS

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

FO

206.34

9.82

4.76%

MOBIL

140

-5.00

POUNDS STERLING

292.6868

293.4335

294.1801

NB

136

4.00

2.94%

NESTLE

800

-5.00

-0.63%

5.6

-0.30

-5.36%

152.6

-0.28

-0.18%

EURO

215.404

SWISS FRANC

215.9535

205.0209

205.5439

216.503

TOTAL

144

4.00

2.78%

ACCESS

206.0669

STANBIC

29

1.10

3.79%

DANGCEM

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NIGERIA

ABUJA Low 26°C High 39°C

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THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.73

ENUGU Low 26°C High 36°C

KANO

LAGOS

Low 28°C High 41°C

Low 27°C High 36°C

MAIDUGURI Low 30°C High 47°C

-3.57%

N150

P/HARCOURT Low 24°C High 33°C

Jonathan may win 24 states

DAILY TIMES PRESIDENTIAL POLL PROJECTION

ÏÏÏBarring

Jonathan

unforeseen circumstances, President Goodluck Jonathan is set to return to office, the Daily Times can authoritatively reveal.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday in an exercise that is set to be a defining moment in the life of the country.

Jonathan, the incumbent President, who is seeking reelection on the ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is projected to record clear victories in 24 out of the nation’s 36 states.

His main challenger, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, of the All ProgresCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Card reader’s masterkey compromised – PDP Ï APC: Ruling party drowning, grasps at straws Segun Adio (Group News Editor) & Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Polls: FG closes sea, land borders

7

ÏÏÏAs the nation inches towards the decisive March 28 presidential election, a war

of words continued to rage between the two main conCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Court adjourns eligibility suit against Buhari to April 22

5

2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Politics Page Three

3

s

Editorial Resolving Lagos doctors strike

T

he current strike embarked upon by Lagos State medical doctors calls for concern, especially as it puts the health of hapless patients in the hospitals at utmost risk. Last week, doctors in all government owned hospitals embarked on an indefinite strike to protest what they say was the continuing appointment of their members as contract workers and the unpaid arrears for the months of May 2012 and July, August and September 2014 due to the state’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy.

It would be recalled that two weeks ago, the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA), gave the government a 21-day ultimatum within which to pay the August and September 2014 salaries or face strike. We believe that the present impasse is uncalled for, especially where there is the political will to end it.

The issues in contention could have been resolved before now if both sides had shown enough goodwill and appreciation of each other’s positions.

Even with the ongoing strike, it is pertinent to ask why the Lagos State Government is refusing to pay the doctors for the months they went on strike, given that their colleagues in other states who also took part were paid their outstanding salaries.

More painful is the fact that six other groups that had embarked on strike within the said period, such as ASUU, ASUP, polytechnic lecturers,

teachers union, magistrates, judiciary workers and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), had their salaries paid in full.

But it seems the government is relying on section 43(1)(a) of the Trade Disputes Act which states that “Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law, where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or other remuneration for the period of the strike, and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly.”

Definitely, the present muscle-flexing is not only fuelling resentment, but also making it harder for any amicable settlement to be reached.

Strikingly, one of the issues at stake is the contract employment of doctors by the state government.

This is very ridiculous given that Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole have one of the least numbers of doctors to patient ratio in the world.

Absurdly, this action tends to pay scant regard to the profession, even when it takes a lot of time and resources to train a medical doctor.

We believe that no law is cast in stone or cannot be amended to meet the exigencies of the moment. With this in mind, we implore both sides to meet and work out an acceptable framework for ending the impasse in the interest of patients and the state health sector.

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Polls: Who’s afraid of soldiers?

Sam Nzeh ÏÏÏThough largely not un-

expected, the ruling on Monday by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos restraining the Federal Government from deploying soldiers for the general election flagging off on Saturday has raised the question: Who actually is afraid of soldiers playing limited roles during polls?

Before Monday’s ruling, the Court of Appeal Abuja had on February 16, 2015 made a similar pronouncement.

While the ruling is yet to fully be digested, it is pertinent to note that soldiers

have always assisted during elections in Nigeria, albeit minimally. They have always been deployed to patrol major highways, city centres, flashpoints as well as assisted the police and others para-military personnel to provide security during elections.

At no time, at least from 1983 to date, have soldiers been deployed to polling units or asked to take over the counting of votes or collation of results.

This is the reason many Nigerians are at a loss at the noise being made about deployment of soldiers during elections. If the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approves soldiers assisting the commission and the po-

Words On Marble :

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lice, then those who insist that soldiers should be holed in their barracks during polls, must have something they are hiding. It is either that such persons are afraid that with soldiers in the picture, they may not be able to perpetrate their evil plans, including ballot box snatching, doctoring of results, among others or that they will be caught in the act.

Beyond the court rulings, those who are opposed to soldiers assisting INEC and the police during elections should let Nigerians know what they are afraid of. Do they want us to return to the days of old when ballot box stuffing and snatching, outright manipulation of results, violence among others reigned supreme?

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

Chief Commercial Officer

Deputy Editors

Noel Anosike

Doyin Awomosu

Group Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Tunji Okegbola

Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Segun Adio Okay Osuji

Sports Editor

Andrew Ekejiuba

Head of Operations Innocent Nwankwo

Adetayo Adelaja Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Vince Lombardi

Mario Andretti

Racism is a contempt for life, an arrogant assertion that one race is the center of value and object of devotion, before which other races must kneel in submission.

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.

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

News 4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

PDP raises alarm, says INEC master key compromised Continued from page 1

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right) during election sensitization tour in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State… on Wednesday

Jonathan may win 24 states Continued from page 1 sives Congress (APC) will win convincingly in the remaining 12 states.

These projections came from an opinion poll, commissioned by the Daily Times newspaper and conducted by a team of renowned social scientists.

Using both upper and lower limits, the exercise showed that President Jonathan will have convincing victories in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa and Benue states.

The list also includes Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enu-

gu, FCT, Imo and Kogi states. The rest are Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Taraba.

General Buhari is projected to also record huge victories in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states.

The projection also includes respondents who are considered as conservative, optimistic and pessimistic.

The upper limit projections for Jonathan include Abia (90%), Akwa Ibom (85%), Anambra (85%), Bayelsa (95%), Benue

(65%), and Cross River (90%).

It also includes Delta (80%), Ebonyi (75%), Edo (60%), Ekiti (60%), Enugu (80%) and FCT (55%).

The rest are Imo (70%), Kogi (65%), Kwara (60%), Lagos (55%), Nasarawa (55%), Niger (55%), Ogun (55%), Ondo (65%), Osun (55%), Oyo 60%), Rivers (75%) and Taraba (60%).

The upper limit for General Buhari are: Adamawa (80%), Bauchi (70%), Borno (80%), Gombe (75%), Jigawa (65%), Kaduna (60%), Kano (85%), Katsina (85%), Kebbi (85%), Plateau (60%), Sokoto (90%), Yobe (80%) and Zamfara (90%).

Babangida slams anti-military political broadcast Former President Ibrahim Babangida has flayed what he described as an attempt to ridicule the military institution in the name of politics.

Babangida, who took note of a television documentary reportedly aired on Tuesday night on a private television network to project President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the presidential election, lamented that the president’s backers at the same time poured calumny on some of the country’s former military

rulers.

The former president took strong objections to what he said were the negative imputations put on the integrity and services to the nation by Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, himself; Ibrahim Babangida, late Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and T.Y Danjuma.

Noting that the sponsors of the documentary which he described

Continued on page 6

Babangida

tenders on Wednesday.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised alarm that the master encryption (decryption key) of the card readers to be used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been compromised.

The main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) described the PDP as a drowning party that was “clinging unto a straw.”

The PDP’s allegation was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of its Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

Fani-Kayode alleged that a major shareholder and board member of the company that supplied the card reader system and machines, one Sani Musa, is an ardent supporter of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The master encryption/Decryption Key, he said, could “unlock” and simulate the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) data processed by the Smart Card Reader”.

Fani-Kayode continued: “There is only one copy of the Master Key in Nigeria and it is in the possession of an individual, who is a known APC sympathizer/supporter (and also the contractor responsible for the production of PVCs and manufacture of Smart Card Readers for INEC. “The Master Key should rightly be in the possession of INEC, as the neutral umpire, under the most stringent access control protocol imaginable and not freely in the possession of a partisan actor”, he said.

The PDP also alleged that the master encryption/decryption key, could “unlock” and simulate the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) data processed by the Smart Card Reader”.

Continuing, Fani-Kayode added, “There is only one copy of the Master Key in Nigeria and it is in the possession of an individual, who is a known APC sympathizer/ supporter (and also the contractor responsible for the production of PVCs and manufacture of Smart Card Readers for INEC. “The Master Key should rightly be in the possession of INEC, as the neutral umpire, under the most stringent access control protocol imaginable and not freely in the possession of a partisan actor”, he said.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO pointed out that INEC has already expressed concern over intelligence reports that APC has been purchasing VINs

(Voter Identification Numbers uniquely identifying each PVC).

He added that this can only mean that the party is already in possession of the Master Key (as the purchase of VINs would otherwise have been a fruitless exercise).

Fani-Kayode wondered how INEC would give the contract to supply the card readers to a fanatical APC supporter and to a man whose other company was officially blacklisted by the same commission in 2011 for sharp practices.

But Alhaji Mohammed claimed that the PDP and its leaders were only trying to salvage a drowning ship.

The APC spokesman said: “They say he (Buhari) does not have a secondary school certificate, even when the school he attended publicly released his results. They say he is suffering from a terminal disease, even when it was clear that the medical report they used to back that claim was forged. They say he won’t be the one to rule, they say he will approve same-sex law, they say he will jail all Nigerians and they say he is a religious bigot.

“Plus they commissioned and ran the most untruthful and irresponsible documentary ever made, just to demonise him.

“When all the muckraking failed, woefully, because the stock of our candidate rose in direct proportion to the mudslinging he was subjected to, they went and commissioned an American media man, Richard Grenell, whom they fraudulently called an ex-US Envoy, to write an uninformed opinion piece that Gen. Buhari would Islamise Nigeria if he is elected.”

Continuing, the APC said: “Out of their desperation, they resorted to lies and frittered away millions of Naira. After commissioning Grenell to write his misleading and unintelligent article, they then went ahead to advertise the trash on the front page of many newspapers for several days, at a huge cost of more than 400 million Naira!

“There is no better illustration of the idiomatic expression: Grasping at straws! Left with nothing more to use against Gen. Buhari, they held on tight and celebrated what is nothing but trash!”

Alhaji Mohammed also said that the PDP had extended the list of APC leaders to be clampdown.

Some of those on the new list, according to him, are Senator Bukola Saraki, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Senator Femi Ojudu, Hon Dakuku Peterside, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Senator Sola Adeyeye, Senator Jajere, Senator Serika Hadi, Senator Jide Omoworare, Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade and Hon Bimbo Daramola.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

5 News

200,000 PVCs yet to arrive in Lagos – REC Kwasu Alhamdu

ÏÏÏThe Lagos State Resident

Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi, has said that about 200,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), meant for the state, are being expected.

Orebiyi said this on Wednesday, at the state INEC office when he met with stakeholders, ahead of Saturday’s election and informed them that about 1.6 million of the cards had been released for distribution to

L-r: Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar; Vice Chairman, International Peace Committee, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd) and Bishop Matthew Kukah, during a meeting between the National Peace Committee and Election Observation Groups in Abuja ...on Wednesday PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

the electorate across the state.

He urged those yet to collect theirs to go to designated centres for collection and appealed to them to bear with INEC, saying that the commission would ensure that the cards were available before the elections.

Orebiyi also advised all stakeholders against violence during the elections, saying that nobody should come to the polling unit with weapons, explosives or dangerous substances.

Buhari’s eligibility suit adjourned to April 22 Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏThe palpable tension, gen-

erated by the suit challenging the eligibility of General Muhammadu Buhari, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Saturday’s general election, slated for hearing on Wednesday, at the Federal High Court in Abuja was defused as hearing was adjourned till April 22 and 23.

The court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, adjourned the matter, after he dismissed applications filed by

three other persons, seeking to be joined in the suit as parties.

Ruling on the applications on Wednesday, he agreed with the submission of the plaintiff ’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), that the applicants were “meddlesome interlopers and busy-bodies”, who had no interest to protect in the suit.

Justice Ademola said: “It is the court’s opinion that the applicants are nothing more than meddlesome interlopers. Their applications are refused in its entirety. Suit adjourned till April 22 and 23 for hearing”.

The presiding judge had ear-

lier fixed Wednesday for ruling, after hearing the submissions of counsel to two fresh parties, OluEbun Adegboruwa and Chukwu Ochu, who sought to be joined as fourth and fifth defendants.

Adegboruwa, a pro-democracy activist, had hinged his application on the grounds that whatever might be the findings and decision of the court, would impact him, his family and the legal practice in the country.

Similarly, Ochu, an APC chieftain from Rivers State, argued that his sole aim of voting for Buhari in the presidential election would be affected if the par-

ty’s candidate was disqualified.

Ademola, had on Monday, delivered a short ruling, in which he decided to hear all the processes filed before him along with the substantive suit.

He gave the ruling after listening to the submissions of Ozekhome and Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), defendants’ lead counsel.

Mr. Chukwunweike Okafor, one of the plaintiffs in the seven suits now consolidated, was also seeking an order compelling INEC to disqualify Buhari from contesting in the March 28 polls.

I’m ready to sign another peace accord with Buhari – Jonathan ‘…We will recapture Gwoza by Friday’ Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident

Goodluck Jonathan has said that he is ready to sign another peace agreement with General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) to further demonstrate his commitment to violence-free elections.

Jonathan spoke at a closed-door meeting with a delegation of the National Committee on Peaceful Elections led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) on Wednesday.

The President said that he was ready to do that to convince Nigerians and the international community that he was truly, committed to free, fair and peaceful elections.

Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement after the meeting, said that Jonathan

urged all political parties, their candidates and supporters to approach the elections with more patriotism and a greater willingness to place the larger interest of the country above personal ambitions.

“President Jonathan also said that he would be quite willing to meet and sign another peace accord with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to further emphasise his total commitment to a violencefree polls on Saturday,” Abati stated.

The President said that the Federal Government had worked very hard, over the years, to promote strong democratic institutions that would sustain the country’s democracy and would not tolerate any form of violence, during or after the polls, that could reverse the

gains of the present democratic dispensation in the country.

“My cardinal principle has always been, and still remains, that the ambition of any Nigerian is not worth the blood of anybody. I am not a violent person and I don’t tolerate violence in any form. I don’t believe that violence can be used to achieve anything meaningful in life.

“I am giving my total commitment to peaceful elections in the country, not because I am persuaded to do so, but because I believe in it,” Jonathan added.

The President called on religious and political leaders, community heads and other senior citizens in the country, to be vociferous in condemning electoral violence in the country, such as the pelting of opponents with stones and other objects.

Abubakar commended the

President for his consistency in insisting on peaceful, free and fair elections in the country at all levels.

At another meeting with international election monitors, Jonathan assured them that the forthcoming elections would not generate the type of violence that followed the 2011 elections.

Justifying the postponement of the elections, he said in the last six weeks, the Nigerian Army had recaptured almost all the territories seized by the Boko Haram terrorists, adding that, latest, by Friday, (tomorrow), Gwoza in Borno State would also be captured.

He said “We believe by tomorrow (today) or latest Friday, we will be able to take over Gwoza. If we take over Gwoza, it will not take us more than one week to clean up.

Now, Boko Haram is not in a position to disrupt elections,” he said.

APC promises to alleviate poverty Joy Anyim Ndudi

ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) has, again, promised to alleviate poverty in Nigeria, if voted into power.

According to the vice presidential candidate, Prof. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke at the 7th Annual Bola Tinubu Colloquium, the party had developed a programme called the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).

The programme, which would target about 25 million Nigerians, would pay participants a token of N5,000 monthly, if they enroll their children in schools and also partake in the immunisation programme.

OPC, Ijaw group drum support for Jonathan in Lagos Jonathan Eze

ÏÏÏSome

ethnic nationality groups, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and the Ijaw Coalition Group (ICG), on Wednesday, reiterated their conviction, through a rally, that President Goodluck Jonathan would be re-elected on Saturday.

The rally, which kicked off with a walk from the Toll Gate area of Lagos, saw the groups dancing through the popular Ikorodu/Western Avenue, which occasioned heavy traffic.

Members of the groups were dressed in colourful T-Shirts, embossed with the pictures of Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

FG plans trouble in six states, APC alleges Augustine Aminu & Mathew Dadiya

ÏÏÏ

As the nation prepares to vote for a new president, come Saturday, the All Progressive Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has alerted the nation to the emerging facts of a sinister and desperate plan by the Federal Government to deliberately engineer trouble in six states across the country.

A statement, on Wednesday, by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC presidential campaign, signed by Garba

Shehu, said that “credible information available to the campaign from deep inside the federal government have starkly put it to us that the PDP administration has hatched a plan by which the states of Lagos, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kano and Sokoto would be racked by trouble of a serious magnitude, in order to sabotage the presidential election and democracy in the country, in a sinister, wicked and selfish objective.”

The statement said the crises to be provoked in these states “is clearly intended to generate a crisis of serious proportions

that would lead to either the postponement or the outright cancellation of the election, in order to exclude the states from the first round of voting.

“By this plan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be forced to cancel the election and have these states conduct rescheduled elections a week later,” it revealed.

“The whole idea, according to these credible sources, is that the government wants to buy time yet again, gain energy and pump resources into a renewed crackdown on popular will in those states. They deploy the entire muscle and resources of

L-R: All Progressives Congress(APC) Presidential Candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; APC Chieftain, Chief Bisi Akande; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; his wife, Sen. Oluremi and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola at the 7th Annual Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos... on Wednesday.

Photo: Olawale Rotimi

the federal government to steal the election in the six states,” it observed.

The APCPCO statement announced that “100 trained saboteurs had been deployed to each of the states to carry out these felonious acts.”

It advised Nigerians, in the in-

terest of the well-being of “our hard-won democracy and the overall interest of the nation, to wake up to the reality of the threats and to do all that is lawful to resist the attempts by the outgoing Jonathan administration to bring down our democracy at the point of their exit.”

Thugs attack Police minister in Osun Alade Tasma Osogbo

ÏÏÏ

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan, was on Wednesday, attacked by suspected political thugs in Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State.

The minister, who is also from the area, was attacked when his house to house campaign train arrived the town. In the attack, about 10 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were severely injured.

The Daily Times gathered that some suspected APC thugs had unleash terror on members of PDP in the town, who were waiting to receive the minister’s campaign train. In spite of the minister’s presence, the irate youths still went ahead to attack the PDP supporters.

While trying to appeal to the members of PDP to remain calm in spite of the harassment and provocation by the APC, the minister was almost lynched by the thugs but for the

prompt intervention of security operatives in his entourage who whisked him away from the scene.

Narrating his ordeal, the minister recalled, “As I was coming from Orile-Owu to Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government, in continuation of my house to house campaign for the re-election of Mr. President, members of our party were brutalised by APC thugs at Gbongan.

“As I was pleading to our party members to be law abiding and allow law to take its due course, my immediate younger brother’s wife who is on our campaign train was matcheted and she is in the hospital as I speak now. The APC thugs blocked the road and they insisted that they won’t allow me to pass and they were shooting sporadically before my security personned chased them away.

One of the victim, said that they were holding a meeting in one of their leaders’ house when the APC thugs stormed the area.

Babangida condemns anti-military political broadcast Continued from page 4 as a hate campaign were either intellectually delinquent or suffering from memory loss; or a combination of both, Babangida referred them to his leading role in the formation of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Said he, “For record purposes, and without sounding immodest, the idea of a PDP that has now become the “largest party in Africa” started in my home, here in Minna.

With the support of my fellow colleagues, we prepared the way for this democratic process that has now led us to where we are presently.

“We built the democratic infrastructure and architecture. Those who are parading themselves as democrats today, all participated in

military governments. As a deliberate principle of remaining unsung, or blowing my own trumpet, I have elected over the years to maintain dignified silence on so many issues concerning Nigeria while I cultivate my access to each sitting President to pass across my advice in whatever form.

“It is on record and this is incontrovertible that the government I ran paraded some of the best brains this country can be proud of. I still remain eternally grateful to those wonderful brains who participated in our government to fashion a new roadmap for re-engineering the country. Some of our policies have remained unsurpassed till date and most of what the country enjoys today was a creation of the Military.

“From primary healthcare to good roads, DFRRI, Better Life for

Rural Women, housing, river basin authorities, MAMSER, new airports, agricultural development and other economic infrastructure, to mention but a few, were platforms where our interventions were felt.

We achieved that much with very slim resources. If we had the several billions of dollars that are flying around today, we would have turned Nigeria to the Dubai of Africa.

“The military is an institution that is so dear to my heart. It is an institution that nurtured my growing up and my achievements in life.

I am not only sold to the military institution and by extension the Nigerian state, I am betrothed to it. As a profession, retirees are bound to participate in politics and democracy as an all-inclusive process, same way that Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Nurses, and Civil Servants get

involved in it.

“It is the reason why I ventured into politics in 2003 before I quit in 2010. It is the same reason why General Obasanjo participated and got elected; and now General Buhari.

It is therefore very curious that promoters of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration would attempt to demonize and stigmatize former military leaders and cast aspersions on them in order to malign their reputation. This is very unfair.

“Fact is; the military fought a civil war to keep this country together. What I suffer today is a consequence of the injuries I sustained during the Nigeria Civil War. I am not sure there is any patriotism that is more than that. Some of us were prepared to die for the country. The military is presently combating the

dreaded Boko Haram sect to restore Nigeria’s territorial integrity. What law under a democracy forbids retired military personnel from participating in politics and presenting themselves for election? Over 90 percent of American Presidents have military background. ‘‘Leadership training is better grounded in the military than any other profession. And the military parades some of the best brains in any country, including Nigeria.

In fact, some of my military students that I tutored have Doctorate Degrees. It is therefore callous, wicked, out-of-sync, cynical and a show of crass ignorance for anyone to undermine the military institution by embarking on mudslinging campaigns against former presidents and leaders of military background.’’

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Enugu community threatens to boycott relocation of polling units Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏThe people of

Oruku Community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State have petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), threatening to boycott the March 28 and April 11, 2015 election, if the two polling units relocated from the community to the neigbouring Umuode community were not restored.

The community said there was no justification for the relocation of the two polling units by the commission, as the action was capable of disenfranchising several eligible voters in the area, and urged the com-

mission to reverse it before the coming election.

INEC in Enugu State had, through a letter to the traditional ruler of Oruku Autonomous Community, dated March 13, 2015 and signed by its Administrative Secretary, Mr. Owhor Nathan, notified the community of its decision to move the two poling units out of Oruku.

The commission said that “the purpose of the relocation is to provide two polling units for the people of Umuode Autonomous Community out of the five polling units in Oruku Autonomous Community, from where Umuode people have relocated, while retaining three polling units for Oruku Community.”

The commission asked the monarch to inform his people of the decision, so as to enable them know where to vote during the general election, explaining that it had approved a nationwide relocation of polling units from places of worship and private buildings to public buildings, and from areas of concentration of polling units to locations where there are no polling units.”

But the decision did not go down well with the Oruku natives, many of who had registered at the relocated polling units, and it would be impossible for them to move to Umuode to vote in view of the unresolved communal feud between the two communities.

The affected polling units were Community Primary School, Oruku, with code number 006, moved to Community Primary School, Umuode and Afor Uzam Oruku, with code number 008, moved to Eke Umuode market square.

However, in their reply to the letter, signed by Mr. Cyprian Nwatu, president-general of Oruku Town Union, the community said that there was no Umuode person that registered at Eziobodo Primary School under code 006, alleging that “the aim of Umuode community, was to carry the population of Oruku to swell up their own population for other political and social machinations against the Oruku community," it said.

FG closes land, sea borders over polls Lateef Ibrahim

7 News

Don't bring weapons into polling booths – Mbu

Kwasu Alhamdu

ÏÏÏAssistant

Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Command, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, has warned the electorate under his area of coverage not to come to the polling booths with weapons of any kind.

Mbu said this during a meeting with police commissioners of Ogun and Lagos states at his Onikan, Lagos Island office.

The police boss also urged voters to shun violence before, during and after the election. Mbu declared that law enforcement agents would deal decisively with anyone found fomenting trouble.

He warned citizen not to carry weapons on election days.

According to him: “We are very unfortunate here; we have about eight squadron of the combat army of Nigeria police; we have police mobile force sufficient, counter terrorist sufficient, special provincial unit sufficient. So, we have enough men to be deployed."

Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Federal Government, on Wednesday, announced the closure of the nation's land and sea borders, ahead of the Saturday's presidential and National Assembly election.

The closure was announced by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji, in a statement issued in Abuja.

According to the statement, all borders will effectively be closed from midnight of Wednesday, March 25, to midnight of Saturday, March 28.

In the statement, Magaji said the borders would be closed “to allow for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general election.”

It also said the Nigerian Immigration Service has been directed to ensure that non-Nigerians do not participate in any part of the election process.

Jonathan

Fashola urges Lagosians to vote for credible leaders Joy Ekeke L-r: Deputy Governor, Ogun State, Chief Segun Adesegun; former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and the Social Democratic Party's governorship candidate for Ogun State, Sen. Akin Odunsi, during a campaign rally at Itoku market in Abeokuta, Ogun State… on Wednesday

EPZ ground-breaking: Navy warns war mongers Omon Esene Warri

ÏÏÏ The Commander, Naval ship NNS Delta, Commodore Musa Gemu, on Wednesday, warned disgruntled people along the creeks of the Niger Delta, to steer clear of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Ogidigben in Warri Southwest today.

Gemu urged those who are planning to take advantage of the President’s visit to foment trouble to have a rethink, as his men would deal decisively with any breach of the peace.

The $16 billion Export Processing Zone ground-breaking ceremony has been postponed at least

five times, following warnings from ex-militants to the president to stay away from the event, as a result of some unresolved community issues. The commander, who spoke during a ‘show of force’, in preparation for the President’s visit, assured the President and guests at the event of their safety during the ceremony.

During the exercise, the Navy also destroyed over 260 illegal refineries containing about 5000 metric tons of stolen crude at Otegbene-Agbara, Bennet Island and Jones Creek, both in Warri South.

Commodore Gemu noted that the locations were the latest remote hideouts in the creeks, where crude oil thieves carry out the re-

fining processes before being taken to their various markets.

He added that the renewed commitments of the navy to combating the illicit oil trade was in line with the zero tolerance of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, to the issues of illegal bunkering activities and pipeline vandalism along the waterways.

"We are particularly concerned that in spite of what the Federal Government, NNPC, NDDC, and DESOPADEC had done and still doing to alleviate the poverty in this region, through youth empowerments, job creation and educational uplifting, some people are still not satisfied," he observed.

ÏÏÏ Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has called on Lagosians to play by the rules when they go out to elect the next set of leaders to direct the affairs of the country.

The governor, who spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Shomolu, enjoined the citizens to be law abiding, reasonable and peaceful, so that they could contribute reasonably to the process of changing the country for the better.

He enjoined the people to vote en-masse and elect credible leaders in the Saturday election which, he said, would usher in a new Nigeria, calling on them to stay behind and defend their votes after the election.

He advised all voters to be calm and to comport themselves peacefully on voting dates, and also ensure that they did not canvass for votes at the polling booths.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Politics Desmond Festus

s

Politics Editor: Akinjide Akintola E-mail: akinjide.akintola@dailytimes.com.ng

Jonathan/ Sambo: Best option for Nigeria – Festus

Chief Desmond Bestman Festus is pioneer chairman of ASUU at Niger Delta University and founder/ National President Jonathan/Sambo Grassroots Ambassadors of Nigeria (JOSGAN). He spoke with SUNDAY ISUWA, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari cannot stop Jonathan’s re-election bid. Excerpts: Sir, what really are you doing in JOSGAN?

JOSGAN is an expansion of support groups. When Mr. President was the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, some of us who returned from the United Kingdom looked at the future of Bayelsa in respect to the governorship election of 2007 and who will succeed Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha which must be determined by us. When we looked around, we narrowed our support down to Mr. President and we formed the organisation called Jonathan Goodluck Ambassadors of Nigeria (JOSGAN). I was the Bayelsa

central senatorial coordinator at the same time I was in charge of the public image department.

Now, we at the grassroot decided that Mr. President’s second tenure means well for Nigerians and for the African continent. When we talk about courage at this moment, we are looking at leader who decided to go against the common thinking that the convention of a national conference may mean the end of a country where ethnic nationality will disCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

FASEHUN

Jega is okay but his surbordinates are saboteurs Yemi Ogunsola “I have no apology to make to those who are criticising the contract awards.”

That’s Dr Frederick Fasehun, founder of the six million-strong Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) replying his critics over the newly signed Federal Government contract for his ethnic nationality group to safeguard pipelines.

Slight of build; almost, but not frail, the 74-year-old looks so harmless; at first glance, you could almost let your gaze graze over him in a crowd of potential antagonists. Yet he mobilised thoroughbred Yoruba sons and daughters to take on the military junta when it mattered most.

Now he sits fielding questions from journalists at his Century Hotel in Okota Lagos as Nigerians of all tribes trickle in and out of the expansive edifice. He‘s responding to criticisms that his support for the second term of President Goodluck Jonathan is fuelled by hopes of getting a

pipeline protection contract from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“That is totally false”, he says.

Rather, he says, it is his concern for the economy of his motherland and the thousands of jobs the contract will create.

“The NNPC loses about N7 billion every month through vandalisation of the pipelines.

Our application to NNPC started since 2010... Well, if the problem is now at a peak why shouldn’t NNPC take steps to correct the situation?

“I don’t think that there is any Nigerian that wants the economy of this country to collapse. The economy of this country is based on oil. If oil is losing that much every month for God sake, how long can we sustain that?”

Fasehun however, explains that the contract is awarded not to the OPC as a group but to his security company, New Age Global Business Nigeria Limited formed about eight years ago as a solely security firm. But

ADESIYAN

Adesiyan

Why Bisi Akande shunned Buhari’s campaigns

of course, he will involve OPC members in the job.The contract, he adds, is not permanent, but depends on the performance of the company in the first three months.

Justifying the contract, he says: “Let us say we put about 40,000 people on the pipelines earning salaries every month. Does that not affect unemployment statistics? Does that not feed people, their families, their children, and wives? That is the ripple effect.

Unfortunately, the opposition, although they are shouting free education, free meals, etc don’t believe in providing employment to at least 40,000 people in a group.

That is paradoxical.”

He continues: “I, as an addict of democracy, will want unemployment cured. Nothing we do in this country should sustain unemployment. We should work and make sure that unemployment comes to a dead end.”

He denies any role in the recent CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Alade Tasma Police Affairs Minister, Alhaji Abdul Jelil Adesiyan, has given reasons why former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande has not been attending the rallies of its Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Fasehun

According to Adesiyan, the former governor of Osun State could not forget the horrors Buhari as head of state subjected leaders of the defunct UPN to including the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He also spoke on why President Goodluck Jonathan deserves another term in office saying he has performed better than his

predecessor in office.

Adesiyan, who stated this during a house-to-house campaign for President Jonathan in 10 Local Governments in Osun West Senatorial District, emphasised that no past president has achieved what Jonathan achieved in the last four years.

He described President CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

9

‘Buhari can’t stop Jonathan’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

agree and perhaps lead to possible disintegration. A leader must be courageous enough first to determine the future of the petroleum industry supported and push the petroleum industry bill. He was able to show courage by saying that look, we cannot continue to subsidize petroleum product at the expense of the commoners.

Secondly, the issue of the national conference, the end point of it was that those who remembered the unity of Nigeria, the first national anthem was sung in spite of the disagreement and the key thing is if that conference result is implemented as a developmental plan, most of the issues confronting Nigeria will be over. Most people have forgotten that the issue of corruption in this country is not unconnected with the structure of this country.

We have a structure that is very microscopic. What I mean is that everybody runs to the centre and if everything is concentrated at the centre then the tendency for corruption will be higher. He also provided governance through the passage of Freedom of Information Bill that most people don’t even understand. It’s a pity that those who are highly corrupt are hiding under cover. Before now you cannot expose corruption, President Goodluck Jonathan said where ever you find corruption in my government let it be exposed. It was through that bill that Nigerians now have freedom. He has giving hardware; he has giving the two that will instil the character of leadership in

Jonathan

this country. And so when people say corruption is overwhelming everywhere, it’s because you journalists and every other person can access information and release it without any intimidation. You can see that nobody has been assassinated. Who are you to come and expose corruption before now? Even from 1999 to 2007 or there about, you can’t try it, but Jonathan has provided that software. Now coming to talk about his capacity, people say government has done nothing.

Let us now say they may be right but if he has done nothing and the railway is moving, were they moving before? If you travel by road, you will see substantial and miraculous improvement on our road network. If you go to the airport, you will see differences now than before. This reminds me of the two slogans of the two political parties: APC says change and PDP is saying transformation. Now, change is about moving from somewhere to somewhere but transformation means a complete change of something either infrastructure or whatever from some undesirable situation to a near perfect or wonderful situation.

What are you doing to ensure that you endear voters to Goodluck/Sambo Campaign?

JOSGAN has a good product.

Our message is that the highly educated, humbled, forward looking God fearing pair of Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo remains the good option for this country and that every Nigerian needs to see physically what they are doing. The man who led devel-

Politics network abroad. JOSGAN has gone beyond just ordinary politicking, we are saying that we need to protect our interest as a country.

People go out there and tarnish the image of our country because they feel they want to take over from Mr. President but you see our right and respect as a nation must be there for anybody to continue to lead.

As I talk to you the mobilisation in the north is massive. We also have structures in Lagos, in the south- west and in the south- south.

Festus

“The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician is interested in the next election date like the opposition.

But Jonathan, as a statesman, is not even talking about his money, he is talking about the future of this country.”

“Before now you cannot expose corruption, President Goodluck Jonathan said where ever you find corruption in my government let it be exposed. It was through that bill that Nigerians now have freedom.”

opment in Malaysia was permitted to be in the office for 26 years.

One of our greatest problems in Nigeria is change in government policies. Mostly, those changes are coming out of selfish interests.

Here is a government that has decided to chart a new direction of leadership in terms of power.

When the opposition talks about no power, the government of today decided to do something that is internationally accepted.

What we are saying is that if you allow this government to consolidate, in the next four years, we will be out of the problems of power supply. We will be out of the problems of unemployment.

The reason is that power is the key driver of the informal sector and the private sector.

We have the people to carry the machines of mobilisation, we have a network in UK, and we have a

“As a comrade, there are two things that bother me. First, Professor Attahiru Jega earns his reputation as a former national president of ASUU and again his respect as a political scientist but I see deceit and that is where my worry is.

Is your support base religious?

We are not campaigning because President Jonathan is president from the South- South. We have a candidate that has touched more Muslims than Christians.

The Almajiri’s are at the moment enjoying modern education; nobody can take advantage of their ignorance again. This man has decided to develop almajiri schools all over the North. He thought about dry season farming, it has become a marvel in the world.

Jonathan is not the president of Ijaw people or Bayelsa, he is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Coming to religion, there are people that have made religion their political instrument of winning that has backfired.

The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician is interested in the next election date like the opposition.

But Jonathan, as a statesman, is not even talking about his money, he is talking about the future of this country. Our country is for the youth. The unity of this country is important. I told my people that if we separate from this country, the wars we fight within the Niger Delta will be more than all the wars we fight under the country called Nigeria. We called on the people to look at the qualities and service record of the two candidates and vote for Goodluck.

Do you see any foul play in the distribution of PVCs in the geo-political zones?

As a comrade, there are two things that bother me. First, Professor Attahiru Jega earns his reputation as a former national president of Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) and again his respect as a political scientist but I see deceit and that is where CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Jega

Politics 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

anti-Jega protest. According to him, those behind the protest may have their reasons, but in his opinion, “Jega is not somebody you put in office and you remove like jiga. Jega is not jiga.

It is not that Jega has not done well. But I wish I could say that for his subordinates. I have interaction with the subordinates and they are the most unreliable subordinate staff anybody could have. Jega is a decent person.

You couldn’t have found a better Nigerian for that job. But his subordinates are saboteurs.”

He narrates how instead of N100,000 registration fee, Jega’s subordinates allegedly made him pay N3million just to register the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

But the OPC leader remains staunchly pro-Jonathan even while admitting that corruption remains one of the major challenges of Nigeria. The bastion of corruption, he says, has been gathering strength for years and has grown so formidable now that it is unrealistic to expect Jonathan to vanquish it in just one term.

But is that why Jonathan should not fight it at all and allow it to become so brazen, so transparent?The pension fund scam, the oil subsidy scam, crudeoil theft. A fellow found guilty of stealing billions was fined N750,000 and simply went the boot of his car to bring it out; he went home a free man. A Maina accused of misappropriating billions was going round Abuja with government security detail despite calls for his arrest by the National Assembly. And when finally an ultimatum was issued to the presidency over the arrest, Nigerians were told the cock-and-bull story that he had escaped from the country. A government that allows such to happen is sending signals that with the right connections, you can go ahead and commit murder and get away with it?

Fasehun grows still.

His expression? Is it a mixture of sadness, sorrow and dilemma?

That of a doting father whose beloved son is clearly caught on the wrong side of propriety? Does a father abandon his son?

The septuagenarian’s response, when it finally comes is measured, and… cryptic.

“It would be foolhardy of Jona-

‘There is some deceit in the use of card readers’

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Pipelines safety contract to tackle unemployment – Fasehun

Fasehun

“If Buhari is the best material we have in this country, then all Nigerians must be bad. He shouldn’t come back to our national life. Has he forgotten what he did to fellow Nigerians?”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

my worry is. My present national president (ASSU) made a statement that even if government has shifted elections, that they should not bother, they should be patient.

That means that there is a link between Jega’s action and my national president. ASSU is not a political party and is not supposed sound that warning. A professor of political science told Nigeri-

than to confront the principalities of corruption frontally; he has to be tactical… strengthen the judiciary, and anyway, but Buhari is not the alternative…”

Why is he so critical of Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate whose major selling point is his anti-corruption stance?

This time his response is fast and sharp: “Because I do not want to commit suicide. I remember the political history of this country. Have we forgotten people sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for being politicians? Have we forgotten people at the age of 74 (e.g. Pa Adekunle Ajasin) being sentenced to 30 years imprisonment? Have we forgotten that somebody, after committing a terrible offence

(coup) against democracy, came out and announced that politicians go to the nearest police station to submit themselves?

And some of those politicians didn’t come back to our polity with their vision. Many of them went blind. Have you forgotten that Ambrose Ali came back almost blind and died soon after?

For God’s sake and somebody is turning the truth upside down and telling us this is the best material we have in this country. If Buhari is the best material we have in this country, then all Nigerians must be bad.

He shouldn’t come back to our national life. Has he forgotten what he did to fellow Nigerians?

It doesn’t matter the level of the truth you had to write about, you couldn’t publish the truth. If you

published the truth against the government, you would end up in jail. Sometime, ago he was still defending that position on the BBC. The BBC man said: ‘If journalists publish the truth, will you still deal with them?’ Buhari said ‘Yes, anybody that publishes the truth that embarrasses government will go to jail.’

“I was surprised that the newspapers were not screaming the following day. What is the duty of the press? Truth may be embarrassing but truth is truth. Would you be a democrat without believing in the truth? I don’t have anything against Buhari in person, but he misruled us.

Does Fasehun think Buhari is going to misrule again?

“Leopards don’t change their spots.”

But snakes do, he is reminded.

“They don’t. They only remove their skin for a new one.”

Is he saying that Buhari cannot mend his ways?

“He wouldn’t have answered the British interviewer on BBC that he will not accept the truth that is embarrassing to the government.”

Does Fasehun foresee postelection violence?

“The way it was going, there would have been post-election violence, if some of us didn’t stand up at the INEC meeting to say ‘no let us shift this thing’.

Some of us who thought Nigeria should remain a country got up and said that we had listened to the advice of the security operatives ... So we advised, ‘let us comply with the advice of the security operatives’.

“It was on that basis. Why were we in a hurry? What the constitution recommends is that there should be at least 30 days between the end of the election and the swearing-in. Why did we want to do the election in February and wait till March, when we knew that the country will get into trouble? If some of us did not speak up, history will not forgive us…”

ans, in fact, he lied to Nigerians that he was ready for elections.

Why did I say he lied, he knew that he was still printing about one million PVCs that would never have been ready at the day of the election but went on to say he was prepared to conduct the election. As chairman of INEC, Jega has no right to deny one qualified Nigerian from voting. Did you remember that Al-makura defeated the PDP candidate with just 500

votes? The APC candidate in 2013 said Jega is PDP. Today, they are very comfortable with Jega. That tells you that there is something funny now when you talk about PVCs. I don’t want to say what I don’t know but we investigated and found out that individuals have 10 PVCs. How did they get it? Software can be put into INEC card readers and disable it to the extent that every PVCs inserted can pass through.

Jega

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

11

Politics

Buhari may be good, but we are voting Jonathan – Onuma Few days to the March 28 rescheduled Presidential election, Publicity secretary of Ndigbo in Lagos, Kalu Onuma, explains why they will vote for re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan even as he canvases that Jonathan’s decision to implement the reports of the recently concluded National Conference earns him the people’s nod. Onuma who spoke to AGOZINO AGOZINO, said his group will soon take a decision on who to vote for among the gubernatorial candidates in the State. Excerpts: Will you say INEC is prepared for Saturday’s election and what is the position of Ndigbo in Lagos?

Ndigbo in Lagos are watching closely, the political development, the unfolding drama concerning the election. Before the earlier announced date f 14 February, we have taken a position that our national vote would go to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. That was simply based on a very wellthought out pragmatic reason. We believe that in the absence of any other serious political contender, or any other offer made for the advancement of the country that Jonathan stands a better time of the continual evolvement of the nation-state called Nigeria. One of the key things is the emphasis that is being made on statehood of Nigeria, to be or not to be. And we agree based on the outcome of the just concluded National conference, we felt that the only person that was rightly positioned to execute it is Jonathan. Buhari was considered with other Presidential candidates. But we felt the world is moving forward and it

doesn’t go backward. In spite of all his great qualities, we don’t think at this age where our children at the age of five could dismantle a phone and put it back again, where China is becoming the workshop of the world, in age where things are changing in great rapidity that we should be looking back to analogue to elect our leaders. Buhari has no doubt made contribution, we should not look at a grand father or great grandfather for our leaders.

Apart from the Presidential election, in a nutshell what is your stand on the gubernatorial candidates?

There are various Igbo groups which are not accountable to us that may have considered Ambode as their candidate. However, Ndigbo Lagos as an institution and well respected organisation is presently consulting with both Akinwunmi Ambode, Jimi Agbaje and every other runner. We believe that before Saturday, we will be making an announcement on where we stand on who we are voting in Lagos State. We have a close working relationship with APC under Governor Fashola. We also had good relationship under Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And I can tell you that Ambode is seriously being considered. But for now, no pronouncement has been made from Ndigbo in Lagos as who is our choice.

Are you satisfied with the way the recent distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and proposed use of the Electronic Card Reader device?

We are not. We are part of the first people that analysed the whole thing and preparedness of INEC towards the election. Long

before February 14, we told the public that INEC was not prepared for the election. It is impossible for you to be talking about a democratic process where half of the people are disenfranchised from voting.

Up till today, a lot of our people don’t have their PVCs. For example, if the election had held on 14 February, more than 60 percent of non-indigenes in Lagos would have been denied their voting rights. And as I speak, they have not come to accept the fact that they were wrong. To your question, yes, a lot of reports have been coming to us that our people have been practically disenfranchised.

I give you an example. Prof. Anya O. Anya, is the President of this organisation. Four times he has gone to the resident Commissioner and has not been able to pick his PVC. The same with Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Admiral Madueke and many other high profile Ndigbo in Lagos. Now you imagine the rank and file of our people in Alaba, Oshodi, Mushin, and other places who are practically denied. That is why a high profile delegation of

“Buhari has no doubt made contribution, we should not look at a grand father or great grandfather for our leaders.”

Onuma our group is planning to visit the resident Commissioner to raise up these issues. If they are not properly handled, there would be a counter reaction by our people to make sure that we are not disenfranchised. We pay our tax and we are living here. So for us to be openly disenfranchised, we will not accept it. INEC should not be selective. If you think you disenfranchised Ndigbo, you would boost the camp of APC or PDP how are you sure? So we say to INEC, if you think you are the umpire that is unbiased, make sure the PVCs get to everybody.That is what we are asking INEC. And we may go to court if necessary.

So, how serous are you taking the election?

We are very serious. The most serious electorate in this country has always been the Igbos. No person has ever become a President, Governor or any elective post without the Igbos. There is no community you go in Nigeria after the indigenes you will not have the Igbos. So for you to become President, Igbos have always played a significant role. So this election has never been important as it is for our people. Secondly, the issue for us is not just who becomes President but what is going to become the direction that Nigeria is heading to.

‘Buhari placed Awo under house arrest’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Jonathan as one of the best presidents Nigeria has ever produced, adding that it was in line with the prediction of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo had that “One day, an Ijaw man will rule this country”.

While addressing the mammoth crowd, Adesiyan charged the people of the state to come out en-mass on Saturday to cast their votes to re-elect President Jonathan.

He said Buhari was not the

right choice for the country as being claimed by the opposition APC, stressing that “a man can not be better than his character, so people of the state should vote for God’s choice which is Goodluck.”

Adesiyan assured the people of the state that PDP would soon reclaim its stolen mandate through the process of court.

He said Obasanjo’s administration was not different from the military, adding that “Jonathan is the real second civilian president after Shehu

Shagari, as his government represents peace and tranquillity and that is why he must be reelected.”

“He is poised to revamp the decayed infrastructure and this can be done if he is given the chance to continue the great job he has started. The rotational government must not be distorted so that one zone would not be short changed.

If Jonathan wins and most of our candidates for the National Assembly did not win, the president will not enjoy what he

is supposed to enjoy, this is why our candidates must be voted at all levels.

“The president has promised to implement the report of the Confab so that Yoruba will be given its rightful position in the scheme of things in Nigeria.

“Jonathan’s government is people oriented that is why he didn’t oppose the use of Smart Card Reader. He urged the electorate to collect their PVC so that they can vote for their respective candidates.

“If no human being can

dethrone Almighty God, no human being can dethrone Jonathan since he is ordained

by God. All groups including Yoruba socio-cultural groups have endorsed Jonathan.

“Buhari is a failure because he put Awolowo under house arrest, he did the same thing to Ambrose Alli and Bisi Akande and that is why the former governor did not show up in Buhari’s political rally. We have not experienced any political assassination during Jonathan’s Administration”, he stressed.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

NLC sets up committee to reconcile aggrieved unions

Polls: Miyetti Allah urges Fulani to vote for Jonathan Sunday Isuwa Abuja

Akor Ejumene

ÏÏÏA

Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has called on all Fulani people in the country to come out en-masse and cast their votes for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, come Saturday.

National President of the association, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, made the call while addressing all the state chairmen, zonal chairmen and co-ordinators of ‘Ruga to Ruga’ Campaign Initiative for Jonathan’s 2015 re-election at their national headquarters.

Bodejo applauded Jonathan for honouring the organisation by accepting to be conferred the honour of the Life Patron of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and the promise he made to fulfil all the laudable programmes and policies meant to uplift the Fulani pastoralist.

The Fulani leader, however, called on the general public to ignore the publication by one Adamu Mohammed, claiming to be youth leader of Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, where he opposed the organisation’s endorsement of Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Jonathan

Abuja

ÏÏÏFollowing

Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (right); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Delta State, Sen. Okowa Ifeanyi (left) and Deputy Governor, Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama, during a meeting with the PDP Stakeholders ahead of 2015 general election held in Asaba, Delta State … on Wednesday

Japan donates N154m to Boko Haram victims Sunday Isuwa

ÏÏÏ

The Japanese government, through its embassy in Nigeria, has donated $770,000 (about N154 million) to the Nigerian Red Cross Society for the rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims in the north-east of the country.

The Nigerian Red Cross will implement programmes, which would focus largely on enabling healthy and safe living for affected families, targeting vulnerable women, children and the elderly in Adamawa, Borno and Bauchi States.

Daily Times gathered that the activities would mainstream gen-

der-related issues, psycho-social support, community health, livelihoods, shelter and relief.

Since 2013, more than 600,000 people have been displaced due to violence in the northeast region.

An estimated 60,000 have fled, searching for safety in neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroun and Niger.

It was gathered that people were in urgent need of shelter, potable water and sanitation, food, household supplies, livelihood support and psycho-social support.

“The Government of Japan is seriously concerned about the tremendous damages caused by

Oshiomhole tasks INEC on credible polls

Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏAhead of the March 28 presi-

dential election, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the delivery of voting materials to the polling centres on time, so as to guarantee credible democratic elections.

Speaking to the Edo State INEC Resident Commissioner, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said: “One major area is the question of late arrival of materials. This has been a tool that INEC has used oftentimes, delib-

erately to reduce the number of voters, but that is not the number that could have voted if INEC did not try to collude to delay arrival of the materials.

“The average middle-class person would have said ‘inasmuch as I want to vote, I am not going to waste my entire day waiting.’ So, many people left in frustrations before the materials arrived and that affected the number of persons that voted. I remember one of your officials told me that they didn’t pay NYSC officials their allowances, which was why they protested. That shouldn’t be election day issues,” he charged.

The governor continued: “I hope you take into cognizance

Oshiomhole

that as you distribute and move the materials, there are increasing security challenges. When you move the materials to CBN, I understand that CBN is a safe zone but, once it moves from there to the local government headquarters, the security challenge is decentralised to 18 locations,” Oshiomhole observed.

insurgents in Nigeria and the negative impact it is having in neighbouring countries,” said the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria, adding that: “We have, therefore, decided to extend humanitarian support to internally displaced persons, through the Nigerian Red Cross.

“These activities will contribute to the reduction of suffering, and risks for development of severe trauma of those who have lost their family members and friends, it would promote social and economic livelihoods, and mobilise community strengths,” said Bello Hamman Diram, Secretary General, Nigerian Red Cross Society.

issues that arose from the recently concluded elections of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which led to the splitting of the body, its leadership, on Tuesday, set up a committee to reconcile the aggrieved unions.

The eight-man committee, headed by Comrade Aliyu Dangiwa, was given two weeks to bring together the breakaway unions that rejected the results of the delegates’ election, which produced Ayuba Wabba as the president, for the purpose of peace and unity in the labour movement.

While inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, Wabba said the ultimatum given to the committee for the reconciliation could be extended, depending on the progress made.

He urged the members of the committee to use their wealth of experience to restore the dignity of the labour union.

Wabba

Enugu APC candidate urges electorate to put away fear ÏÏÏAn

All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Magnus Ozongwu, has urged Nigerians to put away the fear of insecurity on election day and come out to vote for the candidate of their choice.

He also threw his weight behind the use of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as introduced by the electoral umpire.

He maintained that the use of the PVCs would eliminate electoral fraud, adding that anyone opposing the idea was in support of corruption.

According to him: “If you fail to take a risk in life, you have started failing. We cannot sit in

our homes and project insecurity. Your vote is your opinion; do not allow fear to overcome our democracy.

“No success can be achieved without taking a bold step by sacrificing our pleasures and businesses. Let us make that day a day of obligation for our country,” he said.

Ozongwu described the introduction of the PVCs as the best thing to happen in Nigeria’s electoral history.

He continued: “The introduction of the PVC is an excellent idea, because it will stamp out corruption and promote credible election that is free and fair.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

13

International14

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Yemeni President flees palace as rebels advance Southern People's Resistance militants loyal to Yemen's President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi move a tank from the al-Anad air base in the country's southern province on Tuesday.

ÏÏÏ

Yemeni officials have said President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has fled his palace in the southern city of Aden for an undisclosed location in the city Wednesday as Houthi fighters continued their advance to the south.

The officials denied earlier reports that Hadi had left the city

entirely. Aden has been a refuge for Hadi since last month, when he escaped house arrest by the Houthis in the capital, Sana'a, and went to the city on the Gulf of Aden to try to establish his government there.

Map of Aden, YemenMap of Aden, Yemen The Houthis captured Sana'a

last September and have been advancing south toward Aden. The reports that Hadi had fled came after the rebels took control of the key al-Anad airbase about 60 kilometers north of the city following clashes with pro-Hadi forces.

Al-Anad was an important intelligence site used by U.S. personnel in the drone campaign

targeting militants from the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. The U.S. announced Saturday that all of its remaining personnel had left the country because of the deteriorating security situation. Hadi appealed to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to authorize a military intervention to halt the Houthi advance.

Burundi media, activists bemoan mounting harassment ÏÏÏ As tensions mount in Bu-

rundi ahead of presidential elections, journalists and activists say they are paying an increasingly heavy price as standard bearers for free speech.

Civil rights in the small Great Lakes nation, they say, are on the decline - sacrificed at the altar of President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial ambition to defy a two-term limit and stay in power for another five years.

There are allegations of wide-

Ukraine's president fires regional governor

spread harassment and threats of violence, and even talk of a hit-list containing the names of opposition figures, civil society activists and journalists to be eliminated before parliamentary polls in May and the presidential election in June. High-profile arrests have already been made: human rights defender Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa was detained last May after reporting that Nkurunziza's ruling party, the CNDD-FDD, was arming its youth wing and train-

ÏÏÏUkrainian

President Petro Poroshenko dismissed the billionaire governor of an eastern region Wednesday following a rancorous dispute pitting the tycoon against the government.

Poroshenko's office said in a statement that Ihor Kolomoysky had asked to be released from his duties as governor of Dnipropetrovsk.

The government last week fol-

ing them in the jungles of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bob Rugurika, director of the popular independent African Public Radio (RPA), was also arrested in January after implicating intelligence officials in the recent murders of Italian nuns.

"These are the best known cases, but there are many other cases of activists who are constantly harassed, intimidated by high-ranking members of the authorities,

lowed through on its plans to dilute the power of Ukraine's ultrarich business elite by pushing a law through parliament that led, in effect, to control over an oil and gas company being wrested from Kolomoysky.

Kolomoysky reacted by ordering armed groups of men to seize the offices of two energy companies in the capital, Kiev.

The episode has threatened to

Mbonimpa

who receive threatening phone calls or summonses," explained Carina Tersakian of the global watchdog Human Rights Watch.

spark renewed political instability in Ukraine, which is battling Russian-backed separatists in eastern regions neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk, as well as a sinking economy.

Kolomoysky is a contentious figure in Ukraine — unafraid to use heavy-handed tactics in his business activities but also strongly committed to protecting Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Pakistani airstrikes near Afghan border kill 30 militants ÏÏÏAuthorities in Pakistan say

military jets pounded suspected terrorist hideouts near the Afghan border Wednesday, killing at least 30 militants.

An army statement says that "two arms and ammunition dumps" were also destroyed in the air strikes in a remote part of the insurgency-hit Khyber tribal district.

Meanwhile, suspected U.S. drone strikes early Wednesday in northeastern Afghanistan are reported to have killed at least 20 fighters of the outlawed Pakistani Taliban who have allegedly set up bases on the Afghan side of the border. Several senior commanders are among those killed. Earlier a drone attack in the same area on Tuesday killed nine Pakistani insurgents. Both drone strikes happened in the Afghan border province of Kunar. The area is adjacent to Pakistan's Khyber's Tirah Valley where where Pakistan's military says its forces have killed nearly 150 militants within the past week.

Ex-Chad leader's security chiefs jailed for life ÏÏÏSeven

of former Chadian leader Hissene Habre's security chiefs were jailed for life Wednesday for torture and murder by a special court in the capital N'Djamena.

They included the ex-head of the political police Saleh Younous and Mahamat Djibrine, who investigators said was one of the "most feared torturers" under Habre's eight-year dictatorship.

Three other former aides of the ex-president - who was overthrown in 1990 - were also sentenced to 20 years.

They were among 28 people accused in the first trial held inside Chad arising from the so-called "black years" when thousands of people were tortured, killed or disappeared in the vast sub-Saharan country.

Habre, 72, has already been sentenced to death in his absence by a court in Chad for crimes against humanity.

He now awaits trial for war crimes and torture by a special court formed under an agreement between the African Union and Senegal, where the former strongman has been living in exile for more than 20 years.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

15 Opinion

Are we really better off now than in 2011? (lll)

I

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY

Nnanna Ude

n addition, historical deficits in our military institutions including the fact that the last significant procurement of equipment was done over two decades ago, the inability of the government to buy the weapons needed in a timely manner, the need for a philosophical as well as operation shift from conventional warfare to asymmetric warfare in towns and communities teeming with millions of civilians, the delay in securing a regional military cooperation as well as human rights accusations greatly affected the military campaign. Fortunately, with those challenges now resolved, the security situation is being reversed in an efficient and effective manner. The Nigerian military has restored peace and security in 36 towns that were under occupation by the terrorists. The men, women and children driven from their land are returning home. The government has also deployed counterradicalization and deradicalization mechanisms to stop the recruitment of new terrorists. Today, there are about 125 Almajiri schools and this means that young, promising boys will rather be found in schools than on the streets available to be recruited. Additionally, 9 out of the 12 newly established federal universities are in the Northern part of the country.

But while we are still on education, it is worth mentioning that the Federal Government has also consistently made huge investments in basic education through counterpart funding grants by the Universal Basic Education Commission to states and local governments.

The Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) has made our universities, polytechnics and colleges of educationfederal and state – to once again become institutions of research and advanced learning. Their laboratories and research capabilities have been greatly enhanced in the last 4 years. Again,

Jonathan

don’t take my word for it, stop by any of them and see for yourself.

I end as I must with the National Conference 2014 which was convened by President Jonathan. It was very symbolic in a number of respects. First, it defied the odds that such a Conference could be convened with such a diverse group of Nigerians. Previous attempts at a National Dialogue had excluded certain segments of the society for fear of the unknown. Secondly, the rigour in the debates at plenary as well as in the committees was very reflective of today’s Nigeria for our tomorrow. Thirdly, the means of resolving the most contentious issues were managed in such a manner to prove that we have come of age. Fourthly, the depth and quality of the Resolutions revealed the vast frontiers of our possibilities as a nation.

Finally, the successful end to the Conference proved that Nigerians can indeed talk amongst each other and come to reasonable conclusions without rancour or division.

It was indeed a good array of Nigerians who might not have made it to the Conference through elections, not because they cannot win at such elections but due to the frailties and inadequacies of our electoral process at the present times. After four and half months of rigorous negotiations, discussions

and debates, the National Conference submitted its Report to the President with over 600 Resolutions. These Resolutions addressed a wide range of economic, political and social issues and they were compartmentalized into three areas: constitutional, legal and policy. It is indeed a long list of revolutionary decisions that have embedded in them the architecture of a new Nigeria. Our country must always be one that takes a long look at the future. One fundamental basis for progress and development in a society is the need for a Compact, according to which human beings begin as individuals in a state of nature, and create a society by establishing a contract whereby they agree to live together in harmony for their mutual benefit, after which they are said to live in a state of society. Such a National Compact, which can also be referred to as a Social Compact, is not a just document written by the government as a development agenda and passed on to the people. It is also not just a country’s Constitution, even though it can be embedded in the Compact. According to Yeoh Lam Keong, the Vice President of the Economic Society of Singapore, “without a healthy and stable social compact, the social cohesion needed for national identity and belonging is precarious.

Political legitimacy and its vital twin, trust in governance institutions and policy,

likewise tends to become weak and dysfunctional. A healthy social compact is therefore fundamentally necessary if we are to make a successful transition to a viable, resilient and cohesive nation.” The process for developing such a Compact varies but one very acceptable means is through a national dialogue such as the National Conference 2014.

Just as the framers of the United States constitution, yes, the delegates to the Conference were not elected too. But the spread and quality of their representation confers a lot of legitimacy to the outcome of their deliberations. We, the people, should now own it. It should be a first major step to our social compact and the evolution of the Nigeria of our dreams and it stands to the credit of this President.

So are we really better off now than we were 4 years ago? My straight answer is, yes, and the facts speak for themselves. Recall that I began with a reference to a child born in a rural village in Nigeria. Let us remember this child and then our broader goals of modernizing our society, enthroning social justice, ending poverty and creating equal opportunity for all will be very achievable. That is why the outcome of this presidential election matters.

We should re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan. He has kept our economy on a path to sustained and sustainable growth. He has strengthened institutions of governance to give power to the people.

He has reversed the situation especially in the North East towards achieving long-term peace and security. He has brought Nigerians together to dialogue on our past, present and future. We should not take the work done and the results it produced in the past 5 years for granted. We should look to the future with the knowledge that we will always do better and that beneath the surface lies the fate of individual human beings like that child born today.

–Nnanna Ude is Deputy Director (Civil Society) in the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation CONCLUDED

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Money laundering: Court allows EFCC to separate Nnamani’s trial Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏA Federal High Court, sit-

ting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking to separate the trial of a former governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, from other defendants in a money laundering suit filed against him.

Nnamani, who is seeking a return to the Senate under the platform of the People for Democratic Change (PDC), representing Enugu East Senatorial District, has been on trial since 2007.

The anti-graft agency had, in the application, urged the court to separate Nnamani from other accused persons, so that his frequent medical trips abroad would no longer stall the trial of other accused persons.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa, while granting the application on Tuesday, agreed with the applicant that there was a need for the separation of the trial, to avoid further delay in the determination of the matter.

The separation, according to the judge, would also not run contrary to the spirit of the Practice Direction of the Federal High Court

rules.

After the ruling, EFCC’s lawyer, Kevin Uzozie, requested for an adjournment to enable the body regularise the processes to reflect the latest development.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till May 11 for mention.

In the application, brought pursuant to Section 155 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2004, the EFCC prayed the court to allow the trial of Nnamani and his former aide, Sunday Onyekazur Anyaogu, to be conducted separately from the six companies charged along with them.

Ifeanyi Owuneme Umuahia

ÏÏÏAbia State House of Assem-

bly has passed a total of 12 bills during the fourth and last session of its sitting.

Two other major bills are currently undergoing considerations by members, in spite of the on-going hectic electioneering campaign.

These facts were made known at a press briefing by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Information Committee, Allwell Asiforo Okere, in Umuahia, on Wednesday.

Giving the House a pat on the back for a job well done, despite serious challenges, he noted that many resolutions were also

Abia House passes 12 Bills passed during the session.

He recounted the achievements to include harmonisation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by the National Assembly, amendment on Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) bill, extending the tenure of the Chairman and board members from three to four years, and amendment of the Local Government Statutory Bill, which increased the stipends paid to monarchs from three percent to five percent etc.

Polls: NYSC calls for security of Corps members Eno-Obong Okon Uyo

ÏÏÏAhead

L-R: Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); Author, Capt. George Alily (rtd); Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan and Rear Admiral Francis Dan Akpan (rtd), during the public presentation of a book titled, Defining Persona 6 Virtues that transform societies, held at Nigeria Institute of international Affairs Lagos… on Wednesday PHOTO: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE

Anambra community rejects N73m land compensation Doris Nnabuenyi Awka

ÏÏÏAngered

by what it described as the unfair treatment meted to it by the Anambra State Government, the Umuleri Community in Anambra East Local Government Area has rejected the sum of N73 million as compensation for its land taken over by government.

Before this development, the two communities of Umuleri and Aguleri had been neck deep in land dispute, which led to the two years communal clash, which consumed lives and property between 1997 and 1999.

Against the backdrop of putting an end to the crisis, the state government took over the land and announced the payment of compensations to the affected communities.

But in a letter signed by the

prime minister of Umuleri, Chief Mike Ekweonu, the regent, Prince Chuma Okoye, among others, the community accused government of bias, for which it rejected the said sum.

In the said letter addressed to Governor Willie Obiano, the community contended that: “We have found a lot of flaws in the acquisition and allied issues. For one thing, the land acquired exclusively belongs to Umuleri. It includes the premises of Umuleri Lions Club, which was wrongly identified by Government as OtuOcha Lions Club.

“It comprises a large chunk of Aguakor land, Obinnetiti Umuleri etc. If this extra-ordinarily large expanse of land is excised from Umuleriland, we wonder where our children and children’s children will live, farm and carry out other activities in future.

“Secondly, there was a deliber-

ate effort to shortchange Umuleri in the acquisition process and payment of compensation.

For instance, a lot of documents were fraudulently brought at the eleventh hour, while the memorandum earlier submitted by our lawyer was cast overboard. Specifically, Barrister Ngangah Okey was not known to us and should not have been foisted on the exercise at a time when the document had been brought to Your Excellency for your signature.

“Thirdly, payment of compensation for land acquisition by government is usually determined by the economic trees and commercial crops found on the land and enumerated. But, in this particular case, there was no prior enumeration of such crops and trees belonging to Umuleri people. We wonder how the amount kept for Umueri was determined,” it added.

of Saturday’s poll, the Akwa Ibom State Co-ordinator of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Lady Ngozi Chukwuka, has called for more security measures for the safety of corps members engaged to the forthcoming election.

She made this call in Uyo, on Wednesday, during a town hall meeting of the Mitigation of Violence in Election (MOVE) Project, facilitated by the Centre for Social Transformation and Human Development.

According to her, adequate security had been promised for corps members, who were engaged as ad-hoc staff for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in previous years but, unfortunately, some of the corps members were entangled in electoral violence.

She said that as critical stakeholders during elections, corps members had aided free, fair and credible polls and so deserved to live their lives after the elections, but regretted that some of them had either been maimed or lost their lives due to electoral violence in previous elections.

Jonathan campaign coordinator escapes mob attack Dutse Mohammed

ÏÏÏCo-ordinator of Goodluck/

Sambo Campaign Organisation, Jigawa State chapter, Alhaji Yusuf Alasan, escaped unhurt when irate mob descended on him on alleged diversion of campaign funds.

This was at the conference hall of the state Manpower Development Institute, Dutse, where the co-ordinator took to his heel for his dear life.

The youths, in their hundreds, were drawn from the 27 local government areas of the state, as the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were invited to come to be part of Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN) and campaign for President Jonathan to be reelected, come Saturday.

Trouble started shortly after the occasion ended, when the youths demanded their fee but,

Jonathan

to their surprise, the co-ordinator told them that everyone of them should leave him alone, promising that they would be sent an alert.

The information did not go down well with the youths.

Thereafter, the situation degenerated to exchanges of abusive words and blows.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Business Times

s

17

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

Nigerian Shipper’s Council rejects tariff hike Funmi Coker

L – R: Supply Chain Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Cephas Afebuameh; Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON; Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. John O’Keeffe and Executive Director, Market Operation and Technology, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo at the Closing Gong Ceremony at The Nigerian Stock Exchange on Tuesday in Lagos

Nigeria hit by reversal of portfolio investments Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

The Nigerian economy continues to be resilient against fiscal and investment instability, the latest disclosure by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), shows that the economy has been hit by reversal of portfolio investments, resulting in a drop of Net Foreign Assets (NFA).

The Monetary Policy Committee met on 23rd and 24th March, 2015, against the backdrop of harsh external economic environment and significant risks in the domestic economy.

In attendance were eleven (11) out of the twelve (12) members, including the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and Dr. O. J. Nnanna, who assumed duty

as Deputy Governor (Financial System Stability) at the end of January 2015. The Committee analysed key developments in the global and domestic economic and financial conditions as well as the outlook for the rest of 2015.

Emefiele attributed the fall in NFA to the combined effects of weakening oil price and reversal of portfolio capital flows.

Stressing that Net domestic credit grew by 9.89 per cent as portfolio investments dropped.

“During the period, net domestic credit (NDC) grew by 9.89 per cent in February 2015, annualised to a growth rate of 59.31 per cent, compared with a growth rate 7.89 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014 and an indicative benchmark of 29.3 per cent for 2015.

The credit - to - government (net) component grew sharply by 54.69 per cent relative to a decline of 21.81per cent at end December 2014.”

The Committee noted that money market interest rates were relatively volatile in the intervening period but stabilised on average during the first two months of 2015, as banking system liquidity fluctuated. The Committee noted that the situation, though reflecting current trends globally, needed to be monitored closely.

In particular, the Committee noted that lower commodity prices were weighing heavily on output growth, especially in the oil exporting countries. In addition, expectation s of a rise in US short - term interest rates continue to fuel capital outflows

and currency weaknesses in the emerging markets and developing countries.

Against the backdrop of sustained weakness in the Euro zone and softening growth in the emerging markets, global output has remained largely tapered.

Monetary, Credit and Financial Markets’ Developments Broad money supply (M2) declined by 1.70 per cent in February 2014 over the level at end December 201 4. This translated to an annualized decline of 1 0.

23 per cent compared with the provisional growth benchmark of 15.24 f or fiscal 2015. The decline in M2 primarily reflected the contraction of 18.14 and 8.22 per cent in net foreign assets (NFA) and other assets (net), respectively, during the period.

The Executive Secretary of Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello has said that the Council will not renege on its position in rejecting further hike in tariffs that would make the Nigerian ports uncompetitive.

Bello stated this when he hosted the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the president on maritime matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole, and the Chairman of the port consultative Council, Otunba Tunde Folarin, in Lagos.

According to Bello, the port hasn’t been competitive because of the high tariffs: “our ports are still not friendly, there have also been attempts to increase tariffs in the port but Nigerian Shippers Council refused to accept it.

We have been working so hard on standardisation and there must be consolidation on the Freight forwarding issues.”

He added that “Nigeria is the costliest in terms of cost of doing business which was why people and investors take their businesses to other countries, Nigerian Shippers Council is planning to make the Nigerian Port a place where people’s services could be met hitch free.”

In his remarks, Oyewole commended the Council for efficient regulation of the ports, noting that the government will continue to ensure that the maritime sector played a key role in the industrialization of the economy.

Speaking on the new automotive policy, Oyewole disclosd that production of cars has already started in Nigeria, from automakers like Nissan and Toyota. He also added that they were awaiting the approval of the president so as to further implement the policy.

He stressed that the automotive policy was a government initiative to make sure manufactures have their plants in Nigeria and also to create employment.

Bello

ICT 18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

NSE partners MSCI to woo investors Adesola Akindele

L-R: Director, Weights and Measures, Engr. Joseph Sikuade; Director, Policy, Research Standard and Statistics, Ajiya Mamma; Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa; Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Kenneth Kobani; Director, Industrial Development and Inspectorate, Engr. Tanwa,Director; Finance & Accounts, Salimonu Faskari; Director,(Trade), Felix Asikpata and Director, (Special Duty) Mr. S.U. Ewa during the resumption of duty by the New Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment in Abuja.

Finance ministry empowers graduates on entrepreneurship Emmanuel Ogbonnaya The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) has held three days orientation and employability training for interns and participating firms under the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

According to the ministry, the training was part of efforts to reduce the current alarming rate of graduates’ unemployment in the country, Speaking at the orientation training facilitated by Fittams Consults in Enugu, the Project Director, GIS, Mr. Peter M. Papka disclosed that it has become imperative for the interns under the GIS to be trained on employability skills, ethics and work etiquette, entrepreneurship and other capacity building initiatives.

Papka noted that government should be applauded for the recognition it gave the private sector as the major employer of labour, which according to him requires certain minimum skills from graduates in order to employ them.

Papka bemoaned the educational curriculum in the nation’s higher institutions which does

Okonjo-Iweala

not provide for the development of the need for the skills at workplace, which accounts substantially for why large number of graduates do not get employed.

He said, “The thrust of the GIS therefore, is to partly address this problem by bridging the gap between school and labour market and provide the graduates with something to do and somewhere to go, while they continue their job search”.

The GIS chief noted that though the training was targeted at interns, “we believe that a shared vision with our partners would enhance the benefit the scheme provides not only for the interns but also for the firms

especially the SMEs. For the firm representatives, this training provides windows for staff assessment, official etiquette, staff management/development through structured mentorship and other critical lines, which are necessary for the growth of any firm”. He therefore challenged the trainees to take full advantage of the training and be the change agents in their various organisations.

According to him, since fast tracking manpower development is a key focus of the Federal Government transformation agenda and a priority of the Vision 20: 2020, then interns should take full advantage of development their skills in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Power, Agriculture, Construction, Health, Financial literacy, and others which were provided for under the window of GIS. He added that GIS was designed and introduced as part of the SURE-P for graduates to be placed in interested and demonstrated viable firms/organisations where they would be mentored and supported to develop or strengthen core skills with potential to enhance their employability.

MSCI Inc. a global provider of investment decision support tools, and The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the stock exchange servicing the largest economy in Africa, announced a strategic cooperation agreement to develop and market on a global scale a cobranded family of indexes for the Nigerian equity markets.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indexes are currently constructed, maintained and disseminated by the NSE. Existing and future indexes will be co-branded as the MSCI/ NSE Indexes, including the flagship NSE 30 Index and NSE 50 Index, which will become the MSCI/NSE 30 Index and the MSCI/NSE 50 Index, respectively.

Additional indexes will also be jointly developed and launched in the future based on client demand and market development.

The indexes will be used as performance benchmarks and as the basis for index-linked products for investors seeking exposure to the Nigerian capital markets.

“As the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria is increasingly positioning itself at the center of the development of the region’s capital markets,” said Baer Pettit, Managing Director and Head of MSCI’s Product Group. “MSCI is very proud to establish a strategic relationship with The Nigerian Stock Exchange, and we look forward to working with them to raise the profile of these indexes

around the world. The combination of MSCI’s emerging and frontier markets index expertise and NSE’s position as one of the leading exchanges in the region will, we believe, deliver high quality indexes for both international and domestic investors.”

Oscar N. Onyema, CEO, NSE, said, “We are proud to collaborate with MSCI, one of the top and most-respected index providers for global stock markets. Our collaboration provides the global investing public, listed companies and other stakeholders in the Nigerian market access to MSCI’s high quality products and internationally recognized brand.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, in cooperation with MSCI, will continue to innovate and bring products to market that will increase the sophistication of African markets, and continue to establish Nigeria as the market for entrepreneurial growth.”

The MSCI/NSE Indexes will be calculated and disseminated by MSCI, based on the same industry leading standards that apply to the MSCI indexes. MSCI will commercialise the indexes outside of Nigeria while the NSE will continue to serve clients in Nigeria.

It is anticipated that the indexes will be made available in both Nigerian Naira and US Dollars.

Other currency versions may be made available based on client demand.

Minister prioritises promotion of non-oil, industrial sectors Emmanuel Ogbonnaya The New Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Kenneth Kobani has assumed duty at the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja, pledging to give priority attention in line with the ministry’s mandate to growing the economy through promotion of non-oil and industrial sectors.

On arrival the Kobani was received by the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Abdulkadir Musa and the Directors in the Ministry.

In his brief address, the Minister said that he has been appointed as the Minister of state for Industry, Trade and Investment with a mandate to grow the economy, promote non-oil products as well as improve the industrial sector of the economy.

He said “I am aware of the task at hand and the need to add value to this Ministry as a stakeholder having being involved in the activities of the Ministry as a former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry.”

The Minister promised to work and cooperate with the management team and staff of the Ministry adding that all staff should be dedicated to work and ensure that they add value to the Ministry’s activities for effective service delivery to Nigerians.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa welcomed the Minister and expressed his happiness to receive him adding that all staff of the Ministry would cooperate with him to enable the Ministry achieve the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

19 Labour

FG will not recognise NLC faction group – Minister Stories Joy Ekeke joy.ekeke@dailytimes.com.ng The Federal Government has said it would not recognise the factional group of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led

by Mr Joe Ajearo of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, in Abuja.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Joel Ikenya, declared the stance of the Federal Government when Dr Ayuba Wabba, led other newly-executive members of the congress paid him a courtesy visit.

Ikenya said the splinter election that brought in Wabba was duly monitored by all stakeholders in the sector.

“We have not heard and we have not gotten any letter from anywhere in respect of any other NLC. It was in the media and our ministry participated in monitoring the process of the election.

``Therefore, controversy is internal. The ministry is not part of it. We know that you will sort yourselves out because there is a process and I know that all of you know that process, ‘’he said.

The minister said that Nigerians would like to see a better united NLC that would work in workers interest.

“I want us to understand each other; the government is very serious about the welfare of civil servants. So, I will continue to consolidate on the achievements so far made,” he said.

It would be recalled that Wabba of the Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWU) emerged the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the 11th National Delegates elections held on March 12.

Earlier, Wabba had told the minister that the visit was declared the readiness of the new labour leadership to partner the Federal Government to achieve a better working environment for

Ajearo

India plans pension system overhaul

Aggarwal

The labour ministry has started to work on a budget proposal to let employees choose between provident fund and the fledgling National Pension System (NPS), labour secretary Shankar Aggarwal said. The ministry will discuss legislative changes to this effect at a meeting with the central board of trustees (CBT) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on 31 March.

While the retirement fund EPF invests exclusively in safe but low-yielding government securities for a guaranteed return, NPS

subscribers can choose to invest in government securities, equities or corporate debt. While EPF returns are tax-free, NPS is taxable.

However, permitting employees to choose between NPS and EPF would require an amendment to the EPF Act. Amendments to the EPF Act have been pending for two years, but after the finance ministry’s recent NPS push, the labour ministry hopes the changes can be implemented in 2015-16 itself.

Details on NPS eligibility, monitoring and implementation will

workers.

Wabba decried the devaluation of Naira owing to the drop in crude oil prices at the international market, saying it was already taking its toll on the economic fortunes of workers. ``Labour is a critical component of our economy, we produce and create wealth.

“Therefore, as the creators of the wealth, it is very important that our issues and aspirations are taken on board,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wabba also paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Ekpenyong Ita. Ita used the occasion to call on workers to continue to collaborate with security services in their quest to tackle security challenges facing the country.

He also urged them to share information with relevant security agencies in the fight against insurgent

be finalized after the CBT meeting, said Aggarwal.

Investment experts are divided on NPS, with some favouring it due to possibly higher returns thanks to its equity option, while others say EPF is superior due to its tax-free status.

According to an EPFO official, the government wants to go ahead with the changes even though there was no unanimity on the issue at the last CBT meeting. The amendment will also help move the subscriber’s entire EPF corpus to NPS, he added.

However, the official admitted that having two retirement funds may lead to more paperwork.

However, Aggarwal said that with significant technology adoption, the issue can be handled smoothly.

Another EPFO official said the organization may be charged with monitoring the NPS contributions of those EPF members who migrate. The labour ministry cannot wash it hands of social security issues, the official said, and added: “We may charge a fee for monitoring it.”

However, the first EPFO official said if one client shifts from EPF to NPS, he will lose EPF benefits as well as the insurance that EPFO provides to its contributors. This is, of course, apart from the tax levied on withdrawing the NPS corpus.

NUJ slates triennial delegate’s conference for June The National Executive Committee, NEC, of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has ratified June 24 to June 27 for its Triennial Delegates Conference in Abuja.

The union stated this in a communique signed by the National Secretary of the Union, Mr Shuaibu Leman, at the end of the NEC meeting of the union in Abuja.

Delegates at the triennial conference are expected to elect new officers of the association.

The communiqué appealed to all state councils to update their financial status to be qualified to participate in the conference.

It, however, condemned the situation where journalists were still owed salaries and other allowances by their employers in spite of several persuasions for payment by respective media houses.

On suspension of some journalists by the union, the communiqué explained that NEC empowered the National Secretariat to lift such suspension after clearance from the affected state councils. ``NEC appealed to INEC and security agencies on the need for synergy with journalists throughout the election periods for effective election coverage, ‘’ it said.

The NEC also condemned the unethical contents of political materials that were being broadcast by media houses ahead of the 2015 general elections.

It stated that such materials were capable of heating up the polity and appealed to regulatory agencies including the National Broadcasting Commission to rise up to their responsibilities.

The NEC expressed satisfaction with the performance and conduct of journalists in the country, especially under the present political dispensation.

It, however, warned journalists to avoid any act that could lead to professional misconduct.

The union also advised politicians to desist from politics of hate and abusive language.

It lauded the army for its doggedness in curtailing the challenge of insurgency in North eastern part of the country.

Garba, NUJ President

Interview 20

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Nigerians must leverage on cultural nuances for global recognition – GM Insight Feyi Olubodun is the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of Insight Communications LTD, a Creative Agency that is driven by consumer insight and generating demands for brands. In this interview with GODWIN ANYEBE, he throws more light on the importance of cultural nuances in the place of Advertisement.

One of your dream as an agency is to become a global marketing communication company, but over the years, Nigerian brands have earned global recognition through affiliation with foreign firms, can this affiliation trend be reversed?

You have asked a very good question that has always been close to my heart. Let me start by clarifying something, there is a difference between international and being global, when a lot of Nigerians talk about global businesses today, what they really mean is being international. And being international is about geography, it’s about the fact that I am in different countries, it is the same as saying that an individual travel so very well, but he is not an exposed individual.

So having a geographical location means that you are an international or multinational agency, and also making statement that is seeking to win global recognition in terms of creative work that you do. But when we talk about being global, what we are talking about is not necessarily at the international level in terms of geographical location. It’s being a company so that what we do here can be lifted up for the rest of the world to see and to admire.

The key difference between being a global and international company is admiration, there are companies today that are global companies but they are not international, for example, some of the Chinese companies in the world today like the Xiomi mobile phone company that is challenging the likes of apple in the world today is a global company, but it does not have a geographical representation across other parts of the world.

However, by the practice of its business, it is commanding global attention; the world is looking at it as if there is something going on there. That is what we mean by going global. So when we say we want to take Insight to a global level, we are not saying we want to open offices across Africa, which is being international. What we

want for Insight is global recognition in terms of what we do.

Everybody is travelling abroad to see what other ad agencies do, for us at Insight we want people from other parts of the world to come and look at what we do here in Nigeria. That is the only thing that makes us command global attention and aspiration.

Today, the world admires creative work that come from Brazil, for instance, if you go the canes advertising festival award, you will discover a lot of focus on Brazil, Puerto Rico, and some of the South Americans countries. Yet most of the TV copies they show are purely theirs, why is the world admiring them? They world is admiring them because they have been able to make something that is culturally grounded, and they have been able to use their cultural nuances to help global brands to win in their local markets.

That is what it means for our clients today, we want to do a kind of creative work for our clients today that is rooted in our cultural nuance and that will help them win in our local markets and will at the same time command global aspiration so that in the next cane advertising festival award, they will start talking about the works that are coming from Nigeria.

What role do you think advertising agencies in Nigeria will play in building local brands?

Advertising can actually play a very big role to promote brands here that have some serious equity, for instance, brands like Alabuku and Aboniki Balm, a very solid brand, at a time I wish I was able to work on that brand.

Advertising can play a very big role for brands like that, because it will give the brand a better recognition in the market, not only that, it will also expand business opportunities for those brands because one of primary reason for brand advertising is demand generation.

Advertising exists to create more demand for your brand, and it is more demand for your brand that make your business thrive

effectively. So if you pick some of those local brands and you build them, that will first of all create a national demand for them and later there will be an international demand. And it is the role of advertising to create a platform for brands like that to cross the shores of Nigeria into other markets and projecting the equity in a way that it will be more and more attractive to consumers.

For quite some time now, Insight has always taken the lead in Nigeria Advertising Industry. What is the secret?

There is no other magic from the people, right from inception, we have always chosen the best and we have always treated them like the best, and that is what the magic is like. It is only very few businesses that select and retain the best. It takes having the right kind of environment, having the right kind of processes, having the right king of leadership.

Our magic has always being our people, today if we lose all of our tools and still have our people, Insight will continue to thrive.

You said consumer insight is your strength, do you consider the likely negative effect of brands on consumer before packaging it?

We consider a lot because our job is actually as behavioral economist, we try to influence behavior, and we are behavioral scientist. Everything we do will get to make consumer behave in a particular way. Therefore, as what we do benefit our clients; it must

‘‘It is the role of advertising to create a platform for local brands to cross the shores of Nigeria into other markets’’ also benefit the consumer. For instance, we cannot communicate a product that we know will have an adverse effect on the consumer, because if we do that, it will benefit the clients in a short run while it affect the them in the long term. Also, we particularly take into cognizance the cultural nuances of our environment, there are certain culture that have value that are acceptable in the Nigerian context, whenever we develop communication, we are still mindful of those nuances and ensure that we will communicate in a way that will make consumer behave in a way that is not culturally acceptable.

Yes, we are learning from the west, but there are lots of things that are acceptable in the west that are not acceptable here. So we will not say because sometimes we borrow from their ideas to make our brands global we will begin to communicate contents that are not acceptable here. We are sensitive to things like that.

For example, we work on some

big alcoholic brands, and no matter how we communicate how exciting it is to take alcohol, we will never communicate drunkenness or unruly behavior. This is because, while it is acceptable for an adult to consume alcohol, it is not acceptable for you to behave in an unruly manner. We are not going to do communications that seems to encourage that, hence, we are very sensitive about those things, and we pay close attention to them.

Why is it that African materials are not getting attraction at the Cane advertising festival award?

If you look at the emerging markets that are gaining recognition, one of the things that work for them is global insight. And I think we have to become more confident of our tradition and culture, the things that make the Nigerian a Nigerian, cannot be find anywhere else. We must sell to the Nigerian in a Nigerian way that is what the world wants to see. The world doesn’t want to see how we can sell to the western world in the Nigerian environment, which is what the Brazilians do; they ensure everything they do is in tandem with their cultural nuances. There are some things that are peculiar with Nigerians, we have a wonderful sense of humor, for instance, we are the happiest people by rating on the planet, we are the most sexually satisfied people in the world, and we don’t talk about things like that in our communications.

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

21

s

Cartoons from our Archives

1920 F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel published This Side of Paradise was published, immediately launching 23-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald to fame and fortune.

Fitzgerald, named for his ancestor Francis Scott Key, author of “The Star Spangled Banner,” was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to a once well-to-do family that had descended in wealth and influence. With the funding of a well-off aunt, Fitzgerald was sent to boarding school in New Jersey in 1911 and attended Princeton University two years later. Although Fitzgerald engaged actively in theatre, arts, and other campus activity, his financial background was considerably poorer than those of his classmates, and his outsider status, whether real or imaginary, left a sting. He left Princeton after three years and joined the army during World War I. While in the military, he was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama, where he developed a romance with the privileged, pam-

1950

pered Zelda Sayre, daughter of a State Supreme Court justice.

Like the heroine of The Great Gatsby, she rejected the young man, fearing he would not be able to support her, and like Gatsby, Fitzgerald vowed to win her back.

He moved to New York, rewrote a novel about Princeton he had started in college, and promptly became the youngest author ever published by Scribner’s. His fame and fortune secure for the moment, he convinced Zelda to marry him, and the two began a whirlwind life of glamorous parties and extravagant living in New York.

Unfortunately, the Fitzgerald’s lived far beyond their means and soon found themselves deeply in debt. They moved to Europe, hoping to cut back on expenses, where they befriended other expatriate writers, including Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. While in Europe, Fitzgerald finished his masterpiece The Great Gatsby (1925).

Daily Times March 26, 1961

McCarthy charges that Owen Lattimore is a Soviet spy

During a radio broadcast dealing with a Senate investigation into communists in the U.S. Department of State, news was leaked that Senator Joseph McCarthy has charged Professor Owen Lattimore with being a top spy for the Soviet Union. Lattimore soon became a central figure in the Red Scare hysteria created by McCarthy’s reckless charges and accusations.

McCarthy had achieved instant fame in February 1950 when he stated in a speech that he had a list of over 200 “known communists” in the Department of State. When pressed for details, however, McCarthy was evasive. When the Senate demanded that he produce evidence to support his claim, McCarthy gave a rambling and nearly incoherent presentation.

Nevertheless, the senator from Wisconsin maintained his claim and insisted that he had definitive evidence on at least one person who had worked for the State Department--it soon became clear that Lattimore was that person.

Lattimore was a scholar of Chinese history who taught at Johns Hopkins University.

During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him as a special representative to the Nationalist Chinese government of Chiang Kai-Shek. Lattimore also served in the Office of War Information. His troubles began after the war, when it became apparent that Chiang’s government would fall to the communist forces of Mao Zedong. When China fell to the communists in 1949, shocked Americans looked for scapegoats to blame for the debacle. Individuals such as Lattimore, who had been unremitting in their criticism of Chiang’s regime, were easy targets.

In March 1950, Senator McCarthy was being pressed hard to produce the “known communists” he had spoken of in his February speech.

He turned his attention to those in the Department of State who had been involved in Chinese affairs, and Lattimore’s name

naturally arose. Soon, McCarthy was charging that Lattimore was the top Soviet spy in the United States. Lattimore angrily denied it and hearings before a congressional committee cleared him of all charges. McCarthy did not give up, however. In 1951-1952, the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee revisited the accusations against Lattimore. During his testimony, the scholar admitted that his 1950 testimony contained some minor inaccuracies. This was enough for the Subcommittee to charge Lattimore with perjury.

These charges were also eventually dropped for lack of evidence, but Lattimore’s career had already been severely damaged. In 1963, he left the United States to teach and write in Great Britain.

He returned some years later and died in 1989. He was just one of the many victims of McCarthy’s reckless witch-hunts--as with all of McCarthy’s “communists,” no evidence ever surfaced to support his charges against Lattimore.

1958 On March 26, 1953, American medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announced on a national radio show that he has successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that causes the crippling disease of polio. In 1952-an epidemic year for polio--there were 58,000 new cases reported in the United States, and more than 3,000 died from the disease. For promising eventually to eradicate the disease, which is known as “infant paralysis” because it mainly affects children, Dr. Salk was celebrated as the great doctor-benefactor of his time.

Polio, a disease that has affected humanity throughout recorded history, attacks the nervous system and can cause varying degrees of paralysis. Since the virus is easily transmitted, epidemics were commonplace in the first decades of the 20th century. The first major polio epidemic in the United States occurred in Vermont in the summer of 1894, and by the 20th century thousands were affected every year. In the

Salk announces polio vaccine first decades of the 20th century, treatments were limited to quarantines and the infamous “iron lung,” a metal coffin-like contraption that aided respiration. Although children, and especially infants, were among the worst affected, adults were also often afflicted, including future president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who in 1921 was stricken with polio at the age of 39 and was left partially paralyzed. Roosevelt later transformed his estate in Warm Springs, Georgia, into a recovery retreat for polio victims and was instrumental in raising funds for polio-related research and the treatment of polio patients.

Salk, born in New York City in 1914, first conducted research on viruses in the 1930s when he was a medical student at New York University, and during World War II helped develop flu vaccines. In 1947, he became head of a research laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh and in 1948 was awarded a grant to study the polio virus and develop a possible vaccine.

22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Features ANAMBRA POLITICS:

A tale of the gladiators

Sequel to the elections of March 28 and April 11, Anambra Central would not only witness the greatest heat ever, but also record surprises. NKIRU ORJI reports from Agulu.

The intimidating crowd that stormed the Anglican Church premises in Agulu town, in Anaocha Local Government area could pass for a political rally.

With uniforms on display that day, passersby might mistake it for the State’s ruling party rally, the All Progressives Grand Alli-

s

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

ance (APGA), but far from it.

The rally was actually a show of strength by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favour of its Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central District, Hon Uche Ekwunife.

To the PDP, the rally was instructive as party chieftains and major stakeholders of APGA are to be welcomed into the fold of PDP as new members. They included members of former governor Peter Obi’s Executive Council, ex-councilors and chairmen of the Local Government Areas of

the Senatorial Zone.

Also present at the occasion was the Director General of Gov. Willie Obiano campaign organization, Barr Joe Martins Uzodike who was recently kicked out from his position as Special Adviser on political matters.

Ironically, the venue of the rally is about a shouting distance from the home town of APGA’s National Chairman and Senatorial Candidate of the party for the same zone, Sir Victor Umeh. It is CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

BADAGRY:

Martins

A celebration of memories, relics, and nature Fresh from a trip to Badagry, KINGSLEY NDIMELE reports a town full of scars and memories, and a people in affinity with nature’s abundance.

Agbadarigi was the native name, before white skinned slave traders who could not tongue-twist the dialect renamed the West African coast town Badagry. Today, tourists may not need a tour-guide in Badagry.

Everywhere you go, relics of history, scars of old wounds, images, with detailed records of man’s inhumanity to man, are preserved for generations to catch up with history.

Between the very first storey-building in Nigeria and the Badagry Black Heritage Museum, housed in the then district officer’s office built in 1863, historical artifacts and hundreds of relics that chronicle chilling details of over 300 years of slave trade from Badagry through Lagos to Europe are skillfully displayed to satisfy the curiosity of tourists.

Also, the city of Badagry, from the early 1500s, was a major trading hub and transport terminus in West Africa where slaves were shipped off to America, and it is estimated that about 550,000 African slaves, forcibly plucked out of their native homes (like porcupines or rabbits that strayed into a village!) passed through and were shipped off from the Badagry soil.

A tour of the historic town But away from images and relics of sorrow and old scars that will always be there, Daily Times explored some exciting natural and radiant sides of Badagry and found the poise and aesthetics of lanky cocoanut trees against the deep blue skies irresistible.

Fresh fruits and food wares that make a visitor glad he or she is human, and is in Badagry – live, abound, enough to make your day wonderful.

Badagry is a town that boasts many beaches and resorts. It is a relaxation town ideal for vacation and holidays. You can spend just one day, a whole weekend or entire vacation with family and loved ones. Badagry is a place where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of Lagos, soak up the calm Atlantic Ocean fresh breeze, explore traditional Nigerian meals, and reconnect with nature in absolute safety.

From the early days when traders shuttled across boundaries, buying and selling, traders from Lagos, Kwara, Shaki, Republic of Benin, Togo and indeed all the West African countries troop to Badagry every day for her abundance of sea fresh and dry fish like the popular Cat fish, Barakuta, Okodo, Owere and Tilapia, the big and small Crayfish, etc.

In addition, assorted fruits as God made them, all free of genetic interference by restless sons of men, are not left out. But

“Badagry is a town that boasts many beaches and resorts. It is a relaxation town ideal for vacation and holidays. You can spend just one day, a whole weekend or entire vacation with family and loved ones.” the biggest celebration of fruits in Badagry is the coconut, and all products made from both coconut and the palm tree that stand Badagry out as a centre of trade and tourism.

Daily Times visited the 61 year old Agbalata market, one of Badagry’s busiest trading grounds from the 1950s and sought to know what the attraction to this particular market is.

“All the commodities sold in Agbalata Market are sourced from within the soil and waters of Badagry,” Bernard CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

A holiday maker celebrates nature.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

23 Features

Anambra: The rally is the climax of political rivalry CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

also the home town of former Gov Peter Obi. Expectedly, Ekwunife was ultimately endorsed as the candidate of the Zone instead of Sir Victor Umeh, their National Chairman.

Speakers that addressed the crowd dealt several verbal blows on Umeh whom they described as a tyrant whose alleged greed and inordinate ambition are unlimited.

Barr. Jeo Martins Uzodike told a story of how Umeh has continued to hoodwink and pressurise Gov Willie Obiano to submission,

alleging that the governor is under bondage.

“This rally could be described as the climax of the political rivalry with no love lost between Ekwunife and Umeh who in the recent past were jolly good fellows in APGA,” a party lord told Daily Times.

Ever since the two declared their ambitions to run for the Senatorial seat of Anambra Central, it has been one trouble too many as each continues to trade words and counter allegations of violence and arson.

Umeh had earlier accused Ekwunife’s supporters of setting

his bill boards ablaze and attacking his members, while Ekwunife acknowledged that Umeh is facing the consequences of all the things he allegedly committed against APGA members who are now paying him back in his own coins.

This war has also been carried to the churches where they have constantly taken on each other in a bid to winning the support of the Christian community.

At every occasion that their parts crossed, it has been one long tale of attacks and counter attacks from each side of the divide.

Just a few weeks to the conduct of the National Assembly elections,

political observers have been wondering which of the two candidates would emerge the winner.

Also in Dunkofia Council Area where philanthropist and major financier of PDP in the country, Prince Arthur Eze comes from, Daily Times learnt that Umeh would find it difficult to dislodge Ekwunife.

In Awka North and South Council Areas, the odds still appear to be against Umeh, considering how the APGA primaries for the Federal Constituency allegedly shortchanged the incumbent, Chief Emeka Nwogbo who is now in All Progressives Congress APC.

Ekwunife

Badagry Beach.

Signpost showing where slaves were assembled.

Coconut candy flakes.

Coconut cup.

First storey building in Badagry.

All youths are gainfully engaged in Badagry CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

Ojudina, one of the oldest bulk traders in the market told our correspondent. “The prices are cheap and affordable, which is why people from other states and neighbouring countries come into Badagry to buy and resell.”

On the massive trade of coconut in Badagry, Bernard said trading and exportation of coconut built up over time and later, palm tree produce was added. “Increase in the population and forces of demand turned the trade to a very lucrative business and, as you can see, we find ourselves struggling to meet demand from far and near all year round.”

There is hardly a jobless youth in Badagry because of the opportunity coconut business offers. Youths are too busy making money here to get into mischief like the idle ones in other cities; fathers and mothers also sustain their families by working or trading at the coconut

or fish arena.

A very busy team of able bodied men were seen loading shredded coconuts into trucks and interstate buses in both arenas, to be taken out of Badagry to the Northern states and beyond, Daily Times gathered. Inter-state buses also loading the natural product come regularly from Ibadan, Iseyin and other SouthWestern towns and cities.

Also speaking on the coconut business, a major exporter, Baba Ekundayo said they supply in large quantities to small scale industries for their production. “Apart from the export trade too, people here extract the coconut juice and make pomade from it which is used as body creams. It nourishes the body and brings out the beauty of our skin than the imported creams. It is natural, no additives or preservatives so it brings out the African beauty in our women.

“Depending on the choice and culture of a people and society, the usefulness of coconut is endless.

Whether you just eat the flesh, drink its juice, or use its oil, coconut is a delicious and nutritious source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and amino acids.”

One of the regular customers of Baba Ekundayo, Mrs. Abigail Shofola told Daily Times that coconut oil is excellent for keeping one young and beautiful.

“I must say, that the use of coconut are too numerous.” She counted on her fingers: “The juice is useful for the wellness of the body, our people also make coconut oil from it which is the best oil for cooking, some people use coconut to make coconut soup and coconut candy for school children and, do you know?” she asked our correspondent, “If you eat a delicacy called coconut rice, you will agree there is nothing like it; and coconut shell, when boiled with other leaves, is good for malaria.”

Other local products the town offers include arrays of beautiful traditional mats woven in

attractive colours for domestic use and for export. Madam Ajero, a weaver and mat maker who supervises a workforce of eleven workers, four of them married with children, told Daily Times that even a lazy man in Badagry has no choice but to work.

Further to the West end of the market our correspondent spotted an Asian national almost dwarfed round about by mountains of shed coconuts in the market; behind him stood a shelf with assorted coconut products on display and for export.

In a brief chat with Daily Times, the Asian who asked to be identified only as Gomez said coconut oils extracted and bottled by local women contain amazing healing properties which are used as dietary and healing oil.

Apart from the economic gains derived from coconuts, Gomez said there are other health benefits as eating coconuts are excellent for boosting our immune system.

“Coconut oil is the main ingredient for producing coconut milk, butter, chips, flakes, etc.

We have researched and found that extracts from coconut kill harmful bacteria, fungi, and parasites among others.

“So we know that whether we eat coconut fresh, or use any of its products, it can cure some of mankind’s most resilient of illnesses such as influenza, throat infections and numerous other ailments. The products are also recommended for the treatment of skin disorder such as eczema. Also, regular eating or use of its products supports the development of strong bones and healthy teeth, and that is why Badagry people are strong and full of strength and vigour.”

What more can be said of the abundance of nature gifts to mankind in Badagry? It is said that a holiday in Badagry, or a weekend on the Badagry Beach, is a money well spent and time well utilised.

Public Notice 24 CHRISTWAY CHRISTIAN OUTREACH The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Nwaokocha Chisom Moses - President 2. Pastor Onyechi Nwaokocha Anayochi - Vice President 3. Mr. Eboh Stanley Chiadikaobi - Secretary Aims and Objectives:1. To preach, teach and propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To engage in intercessory prayer meeting activities.

3. To win souls for Christ and attend to their spiritual needs.

4. To evangelize and make believers disciples of Jesus Christ.

5. To educate and teach members of the body of Christ to be law abiding and to respect constituted authority.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Martins Enetale Emonyon (Barrister & Solicitor)

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

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I formerly known and addressed as Miss Angela Nkemdilim Uchedike, now wish to be known as Mrs. Angela Nkemdilim Nkpoidet. First Bank of Nigeria Plc take note TAIWO OLUYEMISI ADENIKE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olawoyin Oluyemisi Adenike now wished to be known and addressed as Mrs. Taiwo Oluyemisi Adenike. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

TRAWL AND FRESH FROZEN FISH MARKETERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

The Trustees are:1. Popoola Afusat 2. Onigbanjo Risikat 3. Huthman Bintu Subuola 4. Lazizi Simiat 5. Egbune Loise Chinyere 6. Adeniji Sinata Abeni The Aims and Objectives are:1. To encourage social interactions among members 2. To promote peace and understanding among members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar- general, corporate affair commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Irosi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

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Trustees: 1. Chris Oshiafi.

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Aim/Objective: To create and promote the enabling environment for the training and education of the less privileged and the poor.

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

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SPRINGLAND KIDS AND YOUTH FOUNDATION

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named mission has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named assembly has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Trustees.

1. Pastor Emeawa Chinedum Justice. - General Overseer / President.

2. Mrs. Emeawa Rhoda Justice 3. Evangelist Mrs Silverline Orokonwo Enwukwe

Trustees.

1. Iroegbu Anariochi Benedict.

2. Okpe Christian Chibuzo, 3. Ekwebeme Felix, 4. Emezue Collins Uchenna. .

OLD TRUSTEES. 1. Mrs. Afolake Adefunke Adegbulugbe.

- Re- Appointed 2. Mrs. Omotola Agunbiade – Re- Appointed.

3. Mrs. Aderonke Ajibola - Re- Appointed 4. Professor Kayode Alao. - Re- Appointed 5 . Mrs. Adejoke Akingun Robert. - Re- Appointed

Aim and objective.

1. To preach good tidings unto the meek.

2. To bind up the broken hearted.

3. To proclaim liberty to the captives.

Aim and objectives.

1. To. To assist members financially in time of need 2. To protect the interest of member

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed. N. A. WEYINMI $ CO.

NNPC-NAPIMS (STAFF) CREDIT AND INVESTMENT COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED This is to inform the general public that the above SOCIETY has applied for registration under the Cooperatives societies ACT 98 of 1993.

The Interim Officers are.

1. Ahmed Abdullahi. - President.

2. Kaumi Mohammed - Vice President.

3. Grandapa Innocent. - Treasurer.

4. Kanu Samuel. - Secretary.

5. Solomon Ohia. - Project Coordinator.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the federal Director of cooperative , MINISTRY OF Agriculture and water resources, Garki Abuja within 28days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: BARR. OPARAH UGOCHUKWU SAMURAINAIJA CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR RURAL PEOPLE This is to notify the general public that the above named initiative has applied ton the corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part c of the companies and allied the matters act 1990.

The trustees are: 1. Dr. Gabriel Adeyemi Francis - Chairman.

2. Mr. Shonde Adetokunbo Samuel - Vice Chairman.

3. Dr. Abiodun Moses Olabiyi - Secretary.

4. Mr. Shimono Toshiro - Director Of Socials.

5. Mr. Amosu Mathew Olajide - Director Of Publicity.

6. Dr. Asemota Omorogbe Joseph - Director Of Finance.

7. Mrs Abe Akiko - Assistant Director Of Finance.

8. Prof. Koji Yamamoto - Director Of Research And Development.

9. Mr. Okafor Ekenechukwu - Assistant Director & Development.

Aims and objectives.

1. To sensitize and educate rural dwellers about the importance of low-carbon and renewable energy utilisation and the efficient ways of harnessing solar energy for domestic uses.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission’ plot 420 Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

New Trustee.

1. Prof. Anthony Olusegun Adegbulugbe – Appointed.

The reason for appointment of new trustees is To promote the effectiveness of the foundation’s activities. That the constitution be amended to reflect the current number of trustees.

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

Signed BAR. KEMI MOGBOJUI

DATA, KNOWLEDGE & INFORMATION PRIVACY & PROTECTION 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.

The Trustees are:

1. Smith Adetokunbo Olaoluwa –Chairman 2. Ayoola Marcus Iyiola –Secretary 3. Oyedokun Ayodeji Oyewole 4. Onayele Augustine Abiodun 5. Aderinkomi Wole Timothy Aims & objectives:

To create awareness, promote and educate the society on privacy and protection of data, knowledge and information.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneralCorporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street,PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of publication Signed: Secretary

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Ondo INEC distributes sensitive materials 'Tosin Ajuwon Akure

Ă?Ă?Ă?Ahead

of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State will, today (Thursday), distribute all the sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, disclosed this on Wednesday, at a Stakeholders' Forum, organised by the commission in Akure.

Agbaje, who said the early distribution would boost the commission's pre-

Navy warns politicians against violence Dilionye Dilibe

paredness for the elections, disclosed that the materials would be dispatched upon receipt from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Akure.

The commission, he added, had also created 750 voting points to decongest the already 3,009 polling units in the state, to facilitate early completion of accreditation and voting on election days. According to him, INEC had made arrangements to ensure that the ad hoc staff get to their respective points of duty early on election days.

He added that a Situation Room had been created in all the state headquarters of the commission to ad-

dress complaints from all stakeholders.

Agbaje also re-affirmed that INEC had distributed 75.44 percent of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to validly registered voters. "As at March 22, 2015, a total number of 1,142,991 PVCs had been distributed to voters in Ondo State, representing 75.44 percent of the 1,515,034 PVCs received while 372,043 or 24.56 percent were yet to be collected by the owners", he said.

He, however, urged all stakeholders in the elections to cooperate with the commission and obey the laws guiding the conduct of the elections.

State Commissioner

6

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Commander, Odekpe Naval Outpost, Captain Mike Oamen, on Wednesday, warned politicians and political thugs not to engage in electoral malpractice in the riverine communities of Anambra State.

Oamen told journalists in Onitsha that the Navy would be deploying more boats and personnel along the waterways to avert ballot box snatching and other forms of violence during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in country. The Naval boss disclosed that the special intelligence of the Navy, had made projections and needs for the election duty. “We are getting our patrol boats ready and, hopefully, we are going to get a few more (boats), so that we can dominate the waterways and the adjoining land space. “We have, already, mapped out our strategies and, you know, this is a professional thing, as we are not going to leave any stone unturned in securing the Ogbaru waterways and other riverine communities of the state.

Oyo APC discredits PDP’s Ibadan State rumour

of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke, promised the electorate that the security agencies would exhibit a high level of professionalism during the elections and vowed that the Police Command would deal, decisively, with anybody arrested for any offence.

Some of the religious leaders present, Bishop Joshua Ketiku of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and SecretaryGeneral, League of Imams, Alhaji Sheik Ahmad Aladesawe, urged the electorate and political gladiators in the state to encourage peace during the elections and advised journalists to avoid sensational reports.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, has alerted the populace to beware of the misleading and false promises by supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that President Goodluck Jonathan would create Ibadan State, if he wins the March 28 presidential election.

The party, in a statement issued and signed by its state Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, and released through its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, dismissed the promise as a joke taken too far by the foot soldiers of the President, contrary to the body language and dec-

Polls: Niger Delta group denies endorsing Buhari Joy Ekeke

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Niger Delta Renaissance (NDR), a youth group, has dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). “We, emphatically, state that the misguided statement issued by MEND, in support of Buhari, contradicts the aims and objectives the group stands for. “We believe that, very soon, those behind the move to embarrass the Niger Delta region, will realise their mistakes and retrace their steps, to unite with their kith and kin that are, totally, in support of the re-election of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

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laration by him. “With the benefit of hindsight�, the party said, “creation of Ibadan State had become an electioneering mantra, prior to every general election, which the PDP had employed, since 1999 to date, to sway support in the direction of its candidates. “Before swallowing the Ibadan State bait�, APC reminded the unwary citizens that “(President) Jonathan did not make any such promise during his campaign adventures to the state, not even during his visit to the revered Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I�, the statement added.

Buhari

“Having, critically, examined the visible developmental strides of the Jonathan administration, the NDR is convinced that, in order to ensure a viable and progressive leadership in Nigeria, there is the need for the continuity of the present administration to sustain the dividends of democracy, achieved so far. “The Jonathan administration had given unprecedented facelift to various sectors of the country. This nation had witnessed vigorous and pragmatic implementation of government policies, construction of critical infrastructure to enhance the country’s economic growth. “It also embarked on an agricultural revolution to diversify the economy from the dependence on oil.

SURE-P and the amnesty programme, have, collectively, created jobs and empowered young Nigerians with skills to make them self-reliant,� the coordinator, Wari Ogori stated.

The group, however, tasked the Federal Government to, urgently, review the justice system in the country to ensure regular decongestion of prisons, while it also called for the speedy trial and amnesty for detainees who committed minor offences.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Health

s

Drug resistance, others impede war on TB- Experts Stories by Lara Adejoro omolara.adejoro@dailytimes.com. ng Despite tremendous progress in the fight against tuberculosis, almost half a million sufferers grapple with multi-drug resistant strains which are far harder to treat. The situation is worsened in Nigeria by co-infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), despite the over 37 million lives saved, much more needs to be done. In 2013, 9 million people fell ill with TB and an estimated 1.5 million people still die of tuberculosis each year.

TB is a serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.

The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.

The disease frequently has devastating economic consequences for affected families, reducing their annual income by an average of 50 per cent, and aggravating existing inequalities.

“This is a matter of social justice, fundamental to our goal of universal health coverage. Each and every man, woman or child with TB should have equal, unhindered access to the innovative tools and services they need for rapid diagnosis, treatment and care,” says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.

However, Director, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Research Group of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, Professor Oni Idigbe, said creating awareness and providing information on the prevention, management and treatment in communities would help reduce the burden of the disease in the Nigeria.

Idigbe said this at a public lecture organised in commemo-

Quote Health is Wealth and there is no Health without Mental Health------Founder, Pinnacle Medical Services, Dr. Maymunah Kadiri

Nuts, grains cut risk of Alzheimer’s disease

A medical practitioner attending to a TB patient

ration of the World Tuberculosis Day marked every March 24 with the theme: “Reach The Three Million: Find, Treat And Cure Everyone.”

According to him, Nigeria was among the 11 high-burden countries that contributed 80 per cent of the estimated 9 million new tuberculosis cases globally every year. ‘’Nigeria contributes 15 per cent of the 80 per cent of new cases among the 11 high burden countries. The burden of TB in Nigeria was further made worse by challenges of HIV co-infection, drug-resistant TB and TB among children. ‘’We are even going beyond

multi-drug resistance TB cases as we are now having cases of Extremely Drug-Resistant TB in Nigeria. Even with all the efforts of the federal government in providing substantial human and financial resources to control TB in Nigeria, many people still do not make themselves available for treatment. ‘’This shows that we still need to reach out to those people in the rural communities where TB cases seem to be rampant and educate them to curb the spread of the disease, ‘’ he said.

Also speaking, Dr Daniel Onwunjekwe, urged individuals and

Continued on page 27

NGO decries govt’s attitude towards sickle cell Jonathan Agaba, Abuja A non-governmental organisation, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) has expressed its displeasure over the plight of those suffering from Sickle Cell disease, especially Nigerians.

In an interview with Daily Times, the Executive Assistant to the CEO of Sickle Cell Foun-

dation Nigeria (SCFN), Kehinde Akinsanya, said, “Nigeria has the largest burden of sickle cell disorder in the world.”

According her, the major challenge is unsustainable funding, “though with government support for outreaches, partnerships and collaboration with MTN Foundation and some banks, research centre and sickle cell, dedicated clinics are established in Benin, Asaba, Kano, Birnin Kebbi, and Lagos.

Also speaking, a sickle cell survivor, Adeshina Adetunbosun, said, “The Nigerian government is not doing anything”.

He said that voluntary support from the financial confines of the haves is basically what is sustaining the awareness on Sickle Cell Disease.

“It took over 10 years before the government launched the National Guideline for the Control and Management of Sickle Cell Disease,” he said.

Akinsanya

Consuming a diet filled with foods such as whole grains and nuts can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by half, says a new study Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline.

Professor Martha Clare Morris who developed the plan at Chicago’s Rush University, said that they found that people who adhered to the diet plan called “Mind” even moderately, had a reduction in their Alzheimer’s risk, the Daily Express reported.

Every meal should include in vegetables, berries, beans, whole grains, fish or poultry and olive oil, accompanied with a glass of wine a day, while fried foods and convenience foods should be avoided.

People are advised to snack on nuts most days, and have beans every other day, poultry and berries at least twice a week and fish at least once.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

27 Health

Nigerians advised on healthy living An administrator at Eternal International, Mr Ishar Jarral, has advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of taking the right foods and exercising regularly to enhance their healthy living.

Jarral gave the advice at an empowerment seminar in Lagos recently.

He said, “I want to advise them to be conscious of the food they eat, they should not choose bad food or junk foods. They shouldn’t eat road-side foods or

dirty foods because there is pollution and germs everywhere.

“Some people just choose bad foods but that is not good enough. It will be good for them to go for natural foods and vegetables and also remember to exercise.”

He however added that the company was committed to providing high quality healthcare products and consumer goods for Nigerian customers by providing health and wealth to the entire customers.

A dentist with her patient

Consult your dentist twice a year, experts tell Nigerians The Nigerian Dental Association has recommended consulting a dentist twice a year and brushing the teeth at least twice a day. This, they say, will make a lot of difference in the management of oral health in Nigeria.

President of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Olabode Ijarogbe, gave the advice at a World Oral Health Day programme put together by the association in conjunction with Unilever Plc, in Lagos.

Ijarogbe said, “25 per cent of Nigerians have not been observing the advice of brushing their teeth twice a day, while 46 per cent suffer from various types of oral diseases.”

He said, that there is more to do in sensitising the public on oral safety because, “if health is wealth, then oral health cannot be ignored.”

Ijarogbe also said that people

must consider their diets and avoid menu that can cause challenges to their oral health.

He said, the public should avoid or minimise taking refined sugar, cigarette and alcohol.

“Normally, we have bacteria in our mouth. The bacteria work on this refined sugar to produce a dilute acid, which results in dissolution of hard tooth tissue. Each time we take much of the highrefined sugar, it retains as substrate at different corners in our mouth and then the bacteria in our mouth feeds on them to cause havoc. Sometimes, it also results in swollen gum, which bleeds each time you touch it.”

On the infrastructural facilities for oral health surgeries, Ijarogbe said the country is lagging behind, but there has been a significant improvement in the last 10 years.

However, the Minister of Health, Dr Haliru Alhassan, said,

there is a National Oral Health Policy aimed at driving the country towards a better oral health management and realising the aspirations of vision 2020.

Among the provision of the National Oral Health Policy, according to Alhassan, is the promotion of national oral health research, preventing oral health-related diseases and respect for gender and age among others.

He said, “The mouth is the gateway to the body; we eat and communicate with it, and it is the first contact when we talk. There must be a paradigm shift in the way we take care of our oral health.” he said.

According to him, “about 90 per cent of the world’s population suffer from oral deficiency, so there is urgent need to encourage and increase awareness on oral health,” he said.

TB co-infection, drug-resistance threaten progress in TB care Continued from page 26 families to contribute to the fight against TB. ‘’You can contribute to TB control efforts by identifying and encouraging anyone who has cough of more than two weeks duration to go for TB screening. And you also need to support those on TB treatment to complete their full course of treatment which nor-

mally lasts six months. ‘’The federal government had done its part by provided free diagnosis, drugs and treatment for the disease. This is a wake-up call for all of us to do all we can to prevent the spread of TB, ‘’ he said.

Prof. Innocent Ujah, the Director-General of NIMR, urged community and religious leaders in the country to be proactive and

educate their people on ways to access treatment for uberculosis.

Ujah said that combating TB required the efforts of individuals, NGOs and private organisations as government could not do it alone.

The institute, he added, would continue to support government’s efforts in terms of research to eradicate the disease in Nigeria.

Beauty queen launches foundation for rape victims Ms Ezinne Akudo, Winner of Miss Nigeria 2013, has described sexual violence as a crime against humanity and infringement on the rights of the victim, who carries the psychological trauma for life.

Akudo, 24, said this at the formal inauguration of her project --- the Eight Foundation Rape Crisis Centre --- in Lekki, Lagos.

“We live in a world where women are abused daily and are unable to speak up. One out of four women experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. This crime can take place at any time and can happen to anybody. Sadly, the society’s response to this heinous crime has led victims to believe that silence is the best option.

“This is why I have decided to set this centre to provide change for women and girls, who are victims of sexual violence,” she said.

Chioma, a human rights lawyer and director of the foundation said that the centre would provide hospital-based management protocol in the form of medical care, counselling, rehabilitation and legal help.

“The centre will provide free services in the areas of crisis response, medical care, counselling, rehabilitation, and legal help as well as advocacy and education on sexual violence.

“The foundation is in strong partnership with the Lagos State

Office of the Public Defender for legal services, the Domestic and Sexual Violence response team and the Mirabel Centre for forensic testing,” she said.

Nwigwe decried a situation where parents of the victims of rape usually shy away from reporting the case for action and called for a change of attitude.

Also speaking, Mrs Omotola Rotimi, the director in the Office of the Public Defender, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said that reports in the media showed that rape and other forms of sexual violence were on the increase and had become a source of worry to many Nigerians.

“Lagos State was credited with a figure of 132 rape cases in 2013.

It may just be a tip of the iceberg, given the utmost secrecy with which cases of rape and other incidents that have to do with sexual abuse are treated.

“This is why we are partnering with this foundation to assist victims and help them outlive the trauma that comes with sexual violence,” she said.

Akudo, Miss Nigeria 2013.

28

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

s

HULKENBURG

Torrance hails

ready for Sepang challenge

MCILROY’S swinging technique

p30

p30

E Y E ID PR D E R U J IN

Inzaghi

S T E G TAR

Q

to G S A L C p29 stay at Milan Mayweather p31

to earn $180m in

Pacquiao bout

p30

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, March 26, 2015

29 ExtraTime

IDEYE HOPES TO FACE QPR

B

rown Ideye is hopeful of being fit for West Brom’s next Premier League game against QPR on Saturday.

The striker missed the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last weekend because of a knee injury which also forced him to pull out of Nigeria’s squad.

But he was in more positive mood when he spoke to West Brom’s official website on Wednesday.

Ideye said: “I am in rehab now so hopefully I will be better before the QPR game.

“Somebody kicked me from behind in the Stoke game on March 14 and since then I’ve been getting pain.

“I thought I could be fit for Nigeria. I thought I could even be fit for the game at Manchester City. But I couldn’t run and I have had to stay back instead of risking it by going to internationals.

“I just have to rest. The pain is still there but the doctors and physios have been doing their best to make sure I’m fit for the QPR game.”

Ideye

Odiche happy at Heartland

A

fter scoring two goals in two matches for Heartland, free-kick specialist, Ebere Odiche, is excited with his decision to return to the club from Warri Wolves.

Odiche left Heartland for Wolves in 2014, but it turned out to be an unholy romance,

Ajax trials for Omeke

S

outh Africa’s Premier Soccer League side, Ajax Cape Town, is set to test Nigerian U-23 International, Chijioke Omeke.

The up-and-coming Omeke was part of the Dream Team squad that participated in the Super Six pre-season tournament in Abuja.

However, he was left out of the squad that played a goalless draw against Zambia in the All Africa Games qualifier.

Omeke is already in the Mother City for the test with The Urban Warriors, which marks a continuation of its romance with Nigerian players.

Chippa United’s duo of George Akpabio and James Okwuosa arrived Ajax before seeking fortunes elsewhere.

Bayelsa United’s Musa Najare and CHAN 2015 star, Ibrahim Abubakar have also tried their luck with the club.

which did not go beyond the first round of the season.

“Wolves lured me from Heartland and my career started well at the club. However, the situation changed and I had to leave the club.

As a professional, I have put all that happened at Wolves behind.

“I remained clubless after my exit since the transfer window was already closed last term.

“The decision to return to Heartland is justified. My ambition is to maintain my form and boost the quality of Heartland’s performance,” he said to supersport.com.

Odiche has scored consecutive free-kicks against newly promoted Shooting Stars Sports Club and Nasarawa United.

ExtraTime 30 Cricket

R

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Motorsport

I don’t want my ODI record broken –Sharma

ohit Sharma is the only batsman to have scored two double hundreds in ODI cricket and his 264 against Sri Lanka is the highest ODI score ever recorded.

His world record score of 264 came under threat during Martin Guptill’s unbeaten 237run mayhem against West Indies in the ongoing World Cup and even though Rohit Sharma knows “records are there to be broken,” he wants the coveted feat to stay with him for some more time.

Having roared back to form with a classy century against Bangladesh, Rohit’s answer to

questions posed by the scribes was pretty similar to the way he bats when in form -- flowing and direct.

Asked if he was scared about Guptill breaking his record, the soft-spoken Rohit replied, “Records are there to be broken. I don’t wish that it is broken but every batsman wants to make a big score. It is not possible to make 200 every day. It’s a very tough job. Even when I made 264, I was told I should have made 300. People’s expectations are high. Even if you make 300, they expect 350. Cricket is moving to a different level.”

F

Hulkenburg ready for Sepang challenge

orce India’s German driver Nico Hulkenberg has said he was looking forward to getting back on the Sepang track after a positive start to the season in which he came seventh in Melbourne.

“I am really looking forward to getting back to action in Sepang after a fairly positive start of the season. We knew the VJM08’s reliability was one of our strong points and we were able to play that card well.

“We didn’t make any mistakes and we

had a good strategy, and that helped us capitalise on a day when others ran into trouble. We need to keep our feet on the ground, however, because we know the circumstances in which we got this result and we know the next races will be tough,” Hulkenberg said in an official release.

Hulkenberg said he also believes the circuit at Sepang will pose a different challenge than the one in Melbourne, where he last raced.

T

he richest fight in boxing history is getting richer by the day, as new estimates show Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s payoff for fighting Manny Pacquiao could be $180 million. Pacquiao gets the short end of the purse, but even that is expected to be well over $100 million by the time everything is tallied up.

Five years of waiting seems to have piqued demand for the one fight even casual fans of the sport want to see.

“For whatever it’s worth, the buildup over these years has certainly enhanced the fight,” promoter Bob Arum said. “Everybody knows about it now, even people who don’t follow boxing.”

Fans will have to pay a hefty price to see the May 2 welterweight title bout, especially those lucky enough to score a ticket inside the MGM Grand arena itself. Ticket prices there range from $1,500 in the upper deck to $7,500 at ringside — and only a small percentage of the tickets actually will be put on public sale.

Arum revealed that the gate at the MGM alone will be more than $72 million, obliterating the previous live gate record of $20 million in Nevada set by Mayweather’s 2013 fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Though the MGM will provide some tickets for its biggest gamblers, Arum said even the celebrities who normally can get free tickets to sit ringside will have to pay full fare for the fight — if they can get tickets at all.

Boxing

Mayweather

MAYWEATHER TO EARN $180M IN PACQUIAO BOUT Torrance hails McIlroy’s swinging technique

S

am Torrance has played with golf’s biggest legends from Arnold Palmer to Seve Ballesteros – but he reckons no one has ever swung a club as sweetly as Rory McIlroy.

Now he’d love to see the Northern Irish superstar use his perfect technique to swing his way into the history books next month when he goes for Grand Slam glory at Augusta National.

At just 25, McIlroy would become

only the sixth player to have won all four modern Major titles if he can add the US Masters to his collection in three weeks’ time.

Such an achievement would see him ranked among some of the most iconic players ever to grace the game – Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.

But Torrance reckons he already belongs in that exalted company

thanks to a flawless swing that he believes is the ultimate example of how the sport should be played.

“For him to get the Grand Slam would be extraordinary but, really, I’m not that bothered whether he wins it or not because he’s already a great.

“The way he swung the club the other week at the Cadillac Championship is as good as I’ve ever seen a golf club swung,” the Scot said.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, March 26, 2015

31 ExtraTime

Kaka

reveals his dream team

Destro

M

Destro’s attia future at AC Milan is uncertain with will not take up that the Rossoneri suggestions in Italy player in the summer. their option to buy the d at Milan in n international arrive The 24-year-old Italia tion to buy op an th ndow, on loan wi wi fer ns tra r nte wi the ros. him at 16 million Eu likely that Milan ng to report, it is un rdi co ac r, Howeve t and the striker n in Destro’s contrac will exercise the optio s managed to ha he to Roma, given urn ret ore ref the ll wi his arrival. in seven games since score only two goals too high by the contract is deemed The figure set in the to be taken by d al decision is expecte Rossoneri, but a fin or, on the San ss cce Inzaghi, or his su o ipp Fil h ac co lan Mi d of the season.

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Kaka

O R T S E D FACES N I Y T N I A T R E C N U

N A L I M F

Inzaghi

inancial concerns mean that AC Milan are set to stick with current coach Filippo Inzaghi until the end of the season despite the team’s poor run of form.

Inzaghi’s future has been in doubt for sometime with increasing pressure mounting upon the legendary Rossonero who has been unable to lift the struggling giants out

Honda

loses form!

K

INZAGHI to remain at Milan of mid table.

However, it now appears that he will see out the season at Milanello because of the cost involved in sacking him and hiring a replacement.

It was reported that in the face of annual loses in the region of 50 million Euros, and ongoing negotiations to sell a minority share in the club, president Silvio Berlusconi

F

ormer AC Milan midfielder Kaka has named the 11 players who make up his Dream Team, accumulated through his 15-year illustrious career.

Six Rossoneri from Kaka’s time with the club make the cut – Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Dida, Cafu, Andrea Pirlo, and Ronaldinho, while former Juventus player Zinedine Zidane is the only other player who had Serie A experience.

Speaking, the current Orlando City player placed his compatriot and former Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos alongside the first four Rossoneri on the list to complete his ideal defence, while Barcelona’s star Andres Iniesta is in the company of Zidane and Pirlo in a three-man midfield line.

In attack, alongside Ronaldinho are Cristiano Ronaldo and the Brazilian Ronaldo, who led the Los Blancos attack between 2002 and 2007.

While justifying his choice to go with Nesta, Kaka pointed out the Italian’s tactical understanding and speed.

“The Italian players, they see the game in a different way to all other nations,” he said.

will persevere with Inzaghi until June when he will then be relieved of his post.

In addition to Inzaghi’s wages, Milan are still paying the salary of former coach Clarence Seedorf who was put on gardening leave after being removed from the position prior to the start of the current campaign.

eisuke Honda, the revelation of the early season for AC Milan, is gone!

He hasn’t scored a goal for the Rossoneri since November. No assists, either. Coach Filippo Inzaghi has even played Honda in a more central position in his preferred area of the pitch. Nothing has come of it.

The mystery started at the Asian Cup in January. Honda had joined his Japanese teammates for the tournament in Australia on the heels of a prolific first half of the season.

Honda had six goals in the opening third of the Serie A season, right up there at the top of the scoring chart.

He had a strong enough start in the Asian Cup, too, scoring in three straight games for Japan. Then he missed a sitter against Iraq and then a crucial penalty in the knockout game against United Arab Emirates. Japan lost.

That’s when Honda went missing.

He came back to Milan, and he went straight on the pitch the day of his arrival.

Health

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President Goodluck Jonathan may return ÎÎÎThe

Wale Adedayo

South-West may fall into the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). President Goodluck Jonathan should have the upper hand in Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun states.

Osun is a core APC state, thus General Muhammadu Buhari’s enclave. However, unlike before, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will either share Lagos State with the PDP or lose it altogether. The APC is very solid in Lagos East Senatorial District.

The PDP should be solid in Lagos West. But its Senatorial candidate, Aero, is alienating himself from the people due to the violence associated with his campaign.Lagos Central is a 50:50 zone between APC and PDP. Of course, this projection for the presidential election is different from what will happen concerning senatorial and House of Reps elections, where local politics will play a strong factor. Candidates with the right orientation among the PDP folks should be able to ride on

Jonathan’s wings to victory in the National Assembly elections.

In the South-South, Rivers and Akwa Ibom should be interesting in a region where the PDP should have scored at least 90%. The APC should be able to claim Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

This remains true for Rivers despite the defection of its deputy governor to the PDP. But Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross River are places Jonathan should deliver.

The South-East is certainly a PDP enclave, thus Jonathan’s territory.

The Middle Belt may not deliver for Buhari. Except more work is done in Kwara, PDP may pick the state. As in most parts of the Middle Belt, the fear of a core Northerner becoming president is the beginning of wisdom.

They don’t like it. Only in Ilorin, where the Sarakis hold sway they love Buhari. From Benue, Plateau to Kogi and a substantial

part of Niger State, the menace of Fulani cattle rearers certainly has an ugly outcome for Buhari.

A vote for Buhari would be seen as strengthen-

people who perished in the conflict might still be alive. From Borno, Yobe to Adamawa, Jonathan should not expect much political “Thank Yous”.

He is seen as being responsible for the deaths and destruction in the place. But the APC needs to be on its guard in the liberated areas. Being areas under conflict and the military under federal control, the PDP may want to use the security forces to determine election outcome.

The feeling in the North-West states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa and Kano are not different from those of the NorthEast. But the Christians and traditionalists of the North-West harbour a long term hatred for Buhari. The former Head of State did not speak out on time when non-Muslims were being slaughtered by pro-Buhari elements

Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross River are places

Jonathan should deliver.

The South-East is

certainly a PDP enclave,

thus Jonathan’s territory. ing the militant Fulanis.

Nassarawa and Bauchi are not sure for APC. But more work can turn the table, especially in Niger where old PDP hands are decamping to APC in large numbers.

Jonathan may have liberated captured portions of the North-East. But the feeling is likely to remain that had a Buhari been in power, thousands of

protesting against the 2011 presidential election.

Scores of people were killed in Kaduna and Katsina states. Jonathan might gain there, especially Kaduna where the Christians are in certain majority.

Who’ll win overall? There is a lot of popular sentiments against Jonathan.

But he is likely to win reelection with the country most likely going up in flames as a result within a few days. If this happens and Buhari plays a statesman unlike 2011, Nigeria may not descend into anarchy.

But if against all odds, Buhari wins, Jonathan’s supporters cannot plunge Nigeria into crisis. The least they can do to to try and sabotage oil export operations. And a leader like Buhari can contain that within a few weeks.

A scorched earth operation as carried out by former President Olusegun Obasanjo along with appropriate carrots should be enough. And Buhari has capability for both.

Just my two cents!

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

2 0 1 5

P O L L S

Why Daily

Times Backs GOODLUCK

JONATHAN I

t is an indisputable fact that since the assumption of office

the military, this is not only a pleasant surprise, but also a landmark

of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, there has been no

achievement worthy of commendation.

single political detainee in any Nigerian prison.

For a country that recently came out of the jackboot of

Indeed, if this is considered alongside the fact that it is during this same period that the Freedom of Information Bill (FOiB) was CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 passed and put into use, there is no doubt that under the watch of Goodluck Jonathan, democracy in Nigeria has really blossomed.

Related to this is the non-interference in judicial and electoral issues since his administration came into being. Unlike previous administrations, Jonathan’s has declined to intervene in affairs of the judiciary and elections which has led to the emergence of more opposition state governments under his watch.

As a matter of fact, this attitude of tolerance has made President Jonathan stand out as a rare phenomenon in Africa’s political history and Nigeria in particular. It is not that there have been no provocations against his administration from political opponents, but unlike some of his colleagues in Africa who brook no dissent, President Jonathan has taken so much in his strides that we wonder if any president after him can be as tolerant and as civilised.

But it could not have been otherwise, considering Ebele’s pedigree --- having literally risen from grass to grace. From his lowly beginning as Deputy Governor in 1999 to President in 2010, a period of barely 11 years, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

3 GoodTimes Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 such a humbling start must have engendered in him a graciousness born gratitude to God who has lifted him to such a magnificent height.

And it is not mere coincidence that it is under Jonathan’s leadership, that Nigeria successfully celebrated its 100 years of nationhood (Centenary), and Golden Jubilee as an independent nation.

All these are pointers to the fact that the president is divinely ordained to lead this country and is poised to leave his footsteps on the sands of time in the coming years with landmark achievements.

One of the likely scenarios to be witnessed is the implementation of the report of the National Conference which he convened last year and which has started with its approval by the Federal Executive

Council

(FEC)

last

week.

The implementation of the report which will ensure the restructuring of the country which a lot of the Nigerians have been clamouring for will be instrumental to the success of Jonathan’s unprecedented

Transformation Daily Times Nigeria

GoodTimes 4 yielding Agenda which is already

Friday, January 30, 2015

results across the nooks and crannies of the country.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

3

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

4

5 GoodTimes

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

GoodTimes 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Without making unnecessary noise, President Jonathan has been transforming Nigeria from the era of underdevelopment to a 21st Century economic and political force thus making it the biggest economy in Africa. It is in this connection that Jonathan entered the books of history as the first Nigerian to have been given the privilege of ringing the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of Nigeria’s clout and performance under his presidency.

His silent revolution in the transport and aviation sectors remain unmatched. The automotive industry that has remained comatose over the years has been revived while the dead railways have been turned around with the coaches running again like in the “good old days”. The railroads are now transporting people and goods to, and from, different locations in the country, thus providing jobs and improving the means and livelihood of many Nigerians.

Giant automobile industries like Nissan, Peugeot, Nissan and Hyundai have started assembling or manufacturing cars and utility vehicles, including trucks, while Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Nigeria’s flagship indigenous automaker began the sale of its first made-inNigeria cars last August.

Power generation plants are coming up one after another towards ensuring adequate and uninterrupted electricity for Nigerians as promised.

In the educational sector, President Jonathan established nine new federal universities, especially in states that have no federal universities. He topped this with the establishment of Almajiri schools in the North to take care of this special breed that has been denied western education over the years.

The war against the Boko Haram insurgent is now being won by the Jonathan administration with more and more northern towns freed from the grips of the terrorists.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

7 GoodTim

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, March 26, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 26, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursady March 26, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 We want to conclude with these posers: Do we want our nation to continue to enjoy all these in a Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Presidency? Can the main opposition party’s candidate guaranty better alternatives than President Jonathan’s in a nation where true democracy thrives and continues to grow? Can the opposition party candidate, with the party’s lessthan-noteworthy track records, do better than what President Jonathan has done so far?

Though President Jonathan has been demonised by the opposition, is a known “devil” not better than an unknown “angel”?

Due to all these, we stick with President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan in Saturday’s presidential election.

We are confident enough to pray: May the best candidate win…

P

Celebrates 1,500th episode L5 Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde gets more accolades

Tinsel

TIMES L5

Wednesday, March 26, 2015 P

Life&

L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday March 26, 2015

www.bglgroupng.com

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday March 26, 2015

L3 Music Gist

Nigeria is a ‘single’ selling market for musician - Nwaokobia Ugochukwu Mutiat Alli

25 years old Nwaokobia Ugochukwu was one of the contestants of the MTN Project Fame academy, season seven competition. Even though he was not listed among the top winners, Ugovinna as he is fondly called has had his fair taste of the music industry; as a professional guitarist and a former back-up singer for some top Nigerian artistes like Ego, Djinee, MI amongst others. The Delta State born artiste began his musical career with the release of

emy than any other set. Jeffery just

ent set of project fame contestants this year.

Will there be any collaborations with them, in the nearest future?

which he featured Ice-prince. In this chat, the Rain on me crooner ing an album yet and other sundry issues.

-

the project fame team You were part of the winners of MTN project fame academy, season seven. How has it been since it ended?

It has been nice. It is good to have

and you are going to get different boxes of us with different branches because we

I have been in the industry for a coming out very soon before the new set of project fame academy where I was to a greater height. It is

from us.

You worked with several artistes in the past. How was the experience like?

You released your single, Rain on me, shortly after the competition ended. What

-

What was growing up like for you?

I grew up in Ojota area of Lagos in a face me I face you house. Music for me did not start

agement team as her PA. I have

towards the song?

It has been very good. I hear cians in Nigeria as my song is difartistes sing about and more impor-

est in music and I was determined to purse the dream and ever since

it up from where he stopped.

raining on me.

-

music? music. cian is not any different from what a good musician does when he sings

Rain on me

Where do you hope to see yourself three years from now?

Is your family another Michael Jackson family in the making?

MTN project fame came into the in-

the song. the church so it was easy for us What is your relationship with past winners? my with me from. They have been a

So what should we be looking out for from you?

the church so it was easy for me to

start coming by then.

And your album, when will you have it released? for now because in the Nigerian

Life&

T E A M

we have stayed together the most Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

voices.

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

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

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

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

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

Music Gists L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday March 26, 2015

Stories by: Opeoluwani Akintayo

Ubi Franklin, Lilian Esoro engaged!

How Davido met his new girlfriend

Davido and girlfriend, Sira Ubi Franklin, Lilian Esoro -

Shatta Wale has sex tapes?

-

MUSI alert!

Kcee out with Limba

-

-

-

Shatta Wale

Terry G: No Go Look Face “I honestly would love to appeal to politicians to respect the people , the position they occupy and the power they possess, if any. They the dignitaries who move with sirens, every single one of you, should consider the people that die on the roads you fail to construct , people that die in hospitals you fail to maintain, people that fail to understand the meaning of national pride because you gave them no reason to . Whoever gets voted in, all I beg of you, is to consider us, every hour you spend in power! God bless Nigeria ‘”

Sound Sultan

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday March 26, 2015

L5 Movie Gists

Stories by: Mutiat Alli

Tinsel celebrates 1500th episode

Monalisa Chinda, Desmond Elliot, others join kidney walk campaign

-

-

-

Tinsel casts -

OAP Yaw turns butcher in new flick closed that the actor cum comedian side Jude Orhorha and other Nol-

Kidney

actress Monalisa Chinda and Desmond Elliot teamed up to join Emmanuel Ugolee and the Juliet

awareness and to sensitize people -

-

the production were not disclosed, it

ered early, it can slow down its progression, adding that most times Yaw in a scene of new movie

Before 30 gets new airing date

Stanlee Ohikhuare drags Daniel, Kiki Omeli to Amiable Nollywood Filmmaker, Stanlee Ohikhuare has produced and directed an upcoming M-Net original said to parade stars like Kiki Omeli,

would start airing on Sunday March

talents including Dolapo Osungade, Victor Dinneya, Dolapo Dare and Daniel

-

-

Kiki

Women4Africa to honour Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Jalade-Ekeinde who is till sary as an actress is set to

-

industry in her two decades

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Music and Movie Gists L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday March 26, 2015

Mutiat Alli and Opeoluwani Akintayo

Rita Dominic plays The Guest Darey’s ‘Love

like a movie’ 3 postponed

-

-

-

-

Darey Art-Alade

-

Rita Dominic

Channel O Africa hands over its music reins to Africa Magic

Omawunmi prepares for traditional wedding -

-

Wangi

-

-

Omowunmi and family

What your favourite celebrities are up to on Instagram Compiled by: Mutiat Alli

Ibinabo Fiberesima, Actress and AGN president

Omoni Oboli, Actress and movie producer

Juliet Ibrahim, Actress

Waje, Musician

tographer -

-

-

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday March 26, 2015

L7 Music & Movie Review

Mutiat Alli and Opeoluwani Akintayo

Bad Belle

M.I Ft Moti

30 Days in Atlanta:

tched AY takes comedy to another level but needlessly stre

Produced by: Directed by: Cast:

Running Time:

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday March 26, 2015

L8 Television Showing on

Showing on

115 M-Net Series Zone

152 AfricaMagic Epic

02:00

00:09

Wed, 25 Mar | 16

Thu, 26 Mar | PG13

A young Catholic girl, who becomes pregnant, accuses an assistant catechist of being the father. Her home. Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Francis Duru.

(2005) Tchidi Chikere.

101 M-Net

118 Telemundo

120 BBC Entertainment

124 E!

00:00 Fearless Heart 00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Aurora 03:00 Fearless Heart

00:00 The Mentalist

05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart

01:25 Her

00:00 My Family 11:00 My Family 01:15 Call The Midwife 02:10 Come Dine With Me

07:00 MasterChef Australia 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart 12:50 The Impostor

02:55 My Family

13:10 Come Dine With Me

01:00 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami 05:00 Mr. Bean 05:25 QI

03:00 Dr. 90210

06:00 Miranda

13:00 MasterChef Australia

17:15 QI

15:20 Fearless Heart 15:00 Modern Family 15:30 Two And A Half Men 16:00 The Blacklist

17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 19:30 Fearless Heart

19:00 About A Boy 19:30 MasterChef Australia

19:15 Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond 09:35 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

135 BET

21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Aurora

21:30 Blue Bloods 22:30 The Mentalist

06:00 Bigger, Badder Celebrity Feuds

09:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The Hamptons 10:00 Keeping Kardashians

Up

With

The

128 SONY MAX 05:00 Primal Force

00:00 Being Mary Jane 12:00 Comics Unleashed

17:00 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami

12:30 The Family Crews

00:15 Unbeatable Banzuke 01:05 Freakshow

21:00 Christina Milian Turned Up 12:55 Top 20 Countdown: Most 16:00 Comics Unleashed 16:30 The Family Crews

22:30 Top 20 Countdown: Most 22:30 Top 20 Countdown: Most