Daily Times of Nigeria Newspaper - Tuesday, 27th of January 2015

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

NIGERIA

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

dailytimesng

N150

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.32

Buhari is next President – Kaita

Ï Akinjide: _Ƒ ƐƆ ƌƆè C Ɛ óƋƋ ƄƆ Ɛ ƈƌ ƈƋƋƕ

FROM PRO-OKOROCHA RALLY TO PROTEST: Imo students who spilled into streets over allegation that their N4 million largesse had been cornered by a few, in Owerri... on Monday.

INSIDE XT Exclusive

X4

IBENEGBU

NEYMAR

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

S DA SILVA SANTO

Poster!

NEYMAR

Unworried over Super 6 defeats X8

X4,5

X5

PERSONAL INFORMATION Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth:

Height: Playing position: Current team: Number:

Youth career 1999–2003: 2003–2009: Senior career 2009–2013: 2013–till date: National team 2009: 2011: 2012: 2010–till date

“Many of his individual actions result in a goal and often it’s a move that only seems to be happening with him on the pitch.”

–Former Barcelona Director Jorge Valdano

Júnior Silva Santos Neymar da 1992 (age 22) February 5, Brazil Mogi das Cruzes, 9 in) 1.74 m (5 ft Forward/Winger Barcelona 11

Portuguesa Santos

Santista

Santos Barcelona

QUOTES ON

“

NEYMAR

player with the best style be compared It is good to about Garrincha’s dad told me and Pele, but my up, attacked forward, went similar to as he moved style is more dribbled. Garrinchas’s Neymar’s. which boyhood dream, that it’s I’m living my Right now club. The fact for a European tremendous was to play makes it a like Barcelona the a huge club about the city: everything to Brazil, honour. I like quite similar people. It’s climate, the even a beach!. a lot. There’s which helps –Neymar

”

Brazil U-17 Brazil U-20 Brazil U-23 team Brazilian senior

“I see Neymar like a Ronaldo or a Messi, the type who appears and makes things happen.”

–Brazilian soccer star Zico

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

DROGBA S’

Gumel

EYES BLUE STAY

honoured!

AFFUL:

BAFANA, BLACK STARS IN TRICKY TIE X3

EURO LEAGUE

X2

X8

Odegaard, Messi incomparable – Fjortoft X7

Obasanjo attacks Oyedepo over Jonathan

We won’t deploy polls observers to North East, says EU 6 Ï d ƕ è ó ƍ Ɛ Ə ƅ ƐƆƋƋ Mƈ ƆƏƈ Ɠ Ɛ ƒ ƐƆ Ƈ Əô

Story on Page 5

INSIDE

Segun Adio

ÏÏÏFormer

President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday attacked the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, otherwise called Winners Chapel, Dr. David Oyedepo, over a comment attributed to the cleric

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tara on CNN My regrets L7

P

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Yuguda is APC mole in PDP – FCT minister alleges

6

L4

P

8

Daily Times Weekly movie/music chart

L6

P

-Nayo Soul Constipation L5 and food

P

2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Politics Page Three

3

s

Editorial

Why February polls should hold

T

he recent call by the National Security Adviser(NSA),Col. Sambo Dasuki for the postponement of next month’s elections has expectedly elicited various reactions from cross sections of people across the country.

Dasuki had in a question and answer session at Chatam House, London remarked that in view of inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to complete the distribution of Permanent Voters Card(PVC), it would not be out of place to delay the polls.

According to him, going ahead with the elections will invariably disenfranchise millions of voter who are yet to get their cards. His comment came in the wake of complaint by the Sultan of Sokoto, HRH,Siad Abubakar during President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit that he was yet to be issued with a PVC. Notwithstanding, Dasuki’s call is coming in against the background of numerous agitations by enraged voters demanding that the commission issue them with voters card in time for the February polls.

It would be recalled that INEC,recently admitted that it is yet to distribute more than 30 million voters cards still in its inventory three months into the exercise. Even at that,in making his call, Dasuki relied on the electoral law that provides for elections to be conducted not more than 90 days before and not less than 30 days to the end of an admin-

istration.

In as much as the furore is understandable, we make quick to caution against exploiting such innocuous remark for political ends. It has become a habit of politicians to always cry wolf where there is none. Much as the remark was a private opinion, we are opposed to any shifting of the election dates. This is because any change in the timetable would send a wrong message both to Nigerians and the international community of the country’s ability to conduct simple elections,which is one of the basic tenets of democracy.

This is why the assurance from President Goodluck Jonathan that the February elections will definitely hold is very welcome. Such assurance will help dispel any fear that the call for postponement is intended to elongate his tenure. Short of any total state of emergency in the country, we insist that nothing must be done to abridge the liberty and freedom of Nigerians to chose their leaders according to stipulated constitutional provisions.

This year’s election is too important to become a subject of unnecessary bickering and opportunistic politicking. In this regard we are calling on INEC to live up to its responsibility and promptly issue PVC to those eligible to have them. It would be a disservice to millions of voters who through no fault of theirs become disfranchised at next month’s elections.

More info: www.dailytimes.com.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

Where are states investing Sure-P money?

Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎAt the end of the pro-

tests that followed the increase in pump price in 2012, the Federal Government set up the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Sure-P, wherein a percentage of the then new price was set aside for intervention in critical areas of the economy. The percentage was shared among the three tires of government— federal, state and local.

Since then, several billions have accrued to the fund and shared on a regular basis by the three tiers.

However, while the Federal Government has from time to time come out to point to what and where it has deployed its share of Sure –P funds (even if the amount said to have been spent on the project(s) may not be commensurate to what is on ground), such hardly can be said of states, not to talk of local governments.

So, where are states and by extension local governments investing their shares of Sure-P funds?

Can all the state governors and local government chairmen in the country make public where and what they have invested their shares of Sure-P funds? Or has it entered “voice mail” as many al-

Words On Marble :

dailytimesng

leged?

It is important that state governors in particular show what they have used Sure-P funds to do since the programme began. It is not enough for the governors to accuse the Federal Government of diverting Sure-P funds (even though this is yet to be proven), they must come clean on this themselves.

And the way to show that they are clean is by coming out publicly to point to what they have used their share of Sure-P funds to do since 2012.

This way, they will be promoting accountability and transparency, two missing virtues among many public office holders in Nigeria at present.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Deputy Editors

Sports Editor

Head, Sales & Marketing

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head of Operations

Head ICT (Shared Services)

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Noel Anosike

Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Managing Editor

Bisi Abidoye

Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects Tunji Okegbola

Segun Adio

Editorial Page Editor Okay Osuji

Andrew Ekejiuba Innocent Nwankwo Adetayo Adelaja

Business Editor

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Moses Ebong

Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

Deputy Head Graphics Afeez Odeseye

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

Adams Oshiomhole We need a leader that will confront issues squarely, and not lament. Leaders don’t lament. This election is about our survival.

Isa Yuguda

Sullivan Chime

I feel very bad over the sad incident caused by Bala Mohammed and his group to discredit me and all that I have been able to accomplish in Bauchi.

If there is any way in which I have offended any church in the course of discharging my official duties, I hereby ask for forgiveness.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Nigerians urged to reject parties without environment on their manifesto Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏ

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), OILWATCH and the Host Communities Network (HOCON) have asked Nigerians to reject political parties and aspirants to political offices who do not have the environment and strategies of reversing livelihoods loss on their agenda.

In a release issued in Lagos, the groups said Nigerians must take their destinies in their hands by voting wisely in the upcoming elections or remain in perpetual servitude.

ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Ojo in the release said: “We believe that the elections present another great prospect for Nigerians to decide the course that the ship of state must take in the next four years. It is an opportunity to demand good governance and accountability, to check corporate misrule, corruption, total disregard for local livelihoods, and reckless degradation of the environment, violence, and theft which continue to plague our land”.

The groups said they are

particularly concerned about pockets of violence across the country as the presidential and gubernatorial elections slated for February 14, and 28, 2015 draw near, even as they urged government to ensure Nigerians in every part of the country are not molested or intimidated in the course of carrying out their civil duties as enshrined in the Constitution.

On the manifesto of existing political parties, the statement stressed that the environmental justice group is utterly disappointed that for all the hype, none of the parties discuss the environment or proffer solutions to the myriad of environmental challenges besetting the nation.

The groups said they stand in solidarity with well-meaning Nigerians who have resolved not to allow the status quo remain.

“We have resolved not to sit back and complain but will go out to cast our votes only for credible individuals with proven commitment to the environmental cause among a host of packages to get the nation out of the doldrums.”

Glo emerges one of Africa’s six most-admired brands ÏÏÏNational

telecoms carrier, Globacom has been named one of the six most admired brands in Africa.

This is the position of African Business, the continent’s most outstanding business magazines, in its latest ranking.

The report was published in the latest edition of the London-based magazine.

It said Globacom polled a total Admiration Score of 345, pushing it up on the scale as one of the six most valued brands on the continent ahead of many multinationals. Indeed, it is the only multinational in the ranking ladder that has its root in Nigeria.

A statement released by the organizers of the annual brand rankings added

that the results were arrived at after a rigorous, comprehensive exercise.

The statement signed by Rupert Kemp, Valuation Director, Brand Finance Africa, and Karin Du Chenne of TNS, the magazine’s partners on the project, said the process integrated consumer research and financial valuation.

According to the magazine, “In the research phase, Brand Africa’s partner, TNS Global, the world’s largest information research firm, in partnership with Geopoll, the leading mobile survey platform with a database of nearly 200 million users in emerging markets, set out to identify the most admired local and global brands in

5 News

L-R: EU Head, Mr Michel Arrion; member of the EU Parliament and Chief Observer EU Observation to Nigeria, Mr Santiago Fisas Ayxelà and APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, at a meeting in Abuja… on Monday.

Okorocha’s N4m largesse sparks off rampage in Owerri Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏ

Thousands of students from higher institutions operating in Imo State yesterday went on rampage destroying street lights along Bank Road, Owerri, the state capital.

The students, who had converged at the Imo International Conference Centre (IICC), as early as 8a.m. to adopt Governor Rochas Okorocha as their sole candidate for the February

Africa.”

They further explained that a representative sample of eight countries, covering the major Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions were selected for the survey.

These included Ghana, and Nigeria for West Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for East Africa, DR Congo for Central Africa, and Mozambique and South Africa for Southern Africa.“Collectively, these countries represent 51 percent (477 million) of SubSaharan Africa population and 67 percent ($1.065 trillion) of Africa’s GDP…Using Geopoll’s sophisticated mobile SMS technology for data collection, individuals aged 18 and older in these countries were asked to rank their top three ‘most admired global or local brands’ in order of first to third,” the organizers said.

elections, turned around to smash windows of the IICC venue of the rally.

Trouble was it said to have started about 6p.m. when it was alleged that the sum of N4 million released to them by the governor had been taken away by one of the governor’s aides.

Disturbed by the development, the aggrieved students went to the streets destroying every government property on their way. The rampaging students were rebuffed from entering

Okorocha into Government House by armed security agents at the gates. The students chanted “PDP we know!

PDP we know APC, Owelle na 419.”

Daily Times learnt that a combined team of armed security men, including army and police were quickly drafted and deployed to every entrance leading to the seat of Government House, as well as all strategy positions in Owerri, just as the campaign vehicles belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) inscription were withdrawn from the road.

Economy: PDP raps Soludo ÏÏÏ

Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) has reacted to the criticism of the President Goodluck Jonathan economic policies credited to former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Charles Soludo.

Reacting to Soludo in a release made available to Daily Times, Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, described Soludo as “is confused and conflicted.” Fani-Kayode also said that Chief Soludo “He seems to have lost touch with reality and this is what often happens when you spend too much time with the Buharists.”

Soludo The presidential campaign media coordinator, though claimed to respect Charles Soludo immensely, “but I believe that he got it quite wrong here. He is in error and he needs to sit up, reconsider his views and review his unsavoury and disrespectful

contribution. To say that the President should not run in this election and that he should throw in the towel is absurd and self-deprecating. It is a manifestation of the morbid fear of failure and defeat that the leaders of the opposition are all suffering from.

“Whether Soludo and his friends like it or not, not only will President Goodluck Jonathan run in this election but he will also win and he will do so convincingly,” Fani-Kayode said.

He also maintained that under the present administration, Nigeria has just won the prestigious award of being designated as the largest economy in Africa.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Buhari is next president – Kaita Ï _Ƒ ƐƆ ƌƆè C Ɛ ƓƈƋƋ ƄƆ Ɛ ƈƌ ƈƋƋƕè ƕ `ƈƅ ƏƗ Ɗƈ ƉƈƗƆ

Akintola Akinjide

ÏÏÏFormer

Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita said on Monday that General Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) will win next month’s Presidential elections.

Kaita, an APC chieftain told the Daily Times in a telephone interview that from all indications, Gen. Buhari is set to clinch victory in the February 14 polls.

But former Attorney General of the Federation and

Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide expressed confidence that President Goodluck Jonathan would beat Gen. Buhari “hands down.”

Akinjide, one of the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the brain behind the 12/2/3 formula that brought former President Shehu Shagari to power in 1983 said, from his thorough analysis of elections in Nigeria, Jonathan would defeat Buhari.

But Kaita rubbished the

analysis, saying: “That’s his own analysis, but from our own calculations, Buhari will win”.

According to Kaita, the APC is not relying on votes from the north alone but from the masses across the country who will vote en mass for Buhari.

He expressed confidence in Buhari clinching the victory, saying that the APC is getting more popular every day as a lot of people are demanding change at the centre.

But, Chief Akinjide in an

interview with the Daily Times thinks otherwise. His words: “There is nothing much between them, each of them will make political statements, campaigns and then will face the polls and then the results.

“I have a very strong belief that President Jonathan will win again. Really, I’ve made a thorough analysis of elections in the country and there is no part of the country I’ve not travelled to.

I don’t believe in what many magazines and many newspapers are shouting. But

when the time comes, you will be surprised that PDP will win hands down”, he stressed.

On claims by the opposition that Jonathan would lose on account of nonperformance in the last six years, Akinjide said: “Those saying that are talking rubbish. The opposition controls a lot of the newspapers and they are shouting all these. And they are telling lies but the public will not accept it at all. I have many reasons to believe that President Jonathan will win the elections hands down across the major part of the country”.

He said his projection is based on a thorough analysis of elections in Nigeria “and from my experience- I contested election into the parliament twice and I won both times; and on two occasions, I have served the federal government, first as Federal Minister of educa-

tion and later as Attorney General of the Federation. I have reasons to believe that people are more interested in peace than in violence”.

On claims that the north would use its numerical strength to sweep out Jonathan from office, Akinjide said there is nothing like a monolithic north again.

His words: “I say there is no north. They’ve created 36 states. You can no longer talk of north or south or east or west in that context, certainly not. So, forget all these old colonial mentality of north, south, east or west; that era is gone forever and will never come back”.

He also expressed confidence that contrary to fears of violence during the election, the polls will be peaceful all over the country with the winner and the loser accepting their lots.

FULL INTERVIEW TOMORROW

zƆ Ɠ ôƐ ƗƆƍƋ ƕ ƍ ƋƋ Ƅ ƆƏƒƆƏ Ɛ M ƏƐ & Ɛè ƕ &n ÏÏÏAHEAD

President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd right) being welcomed by PDP supporters in Jos on Monday. Right is Governor of Plateau Jonah Jang.

RƄ Ɖ ƐƐ ƅƊ RƕƆƗƆƍ ƒƆƏ C Ɛ Continued from page 1 on Sunday that the gates of hell would be opened for those who failed to support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Obasanjo in twitter.com/ segunObasanjo account on Monday said that no pastor could tell Nigerians who to vote for.

He tweeted: “We all want #CHANGE. Vote based on what you know not on religious or tribal sentiments!

No one has the key to hell!

Don’t be threatened!”

The former President added: “Has Bishop Oyedepo spoken out to condemn the legalised looting of bil-

lions of dollars taking place under the watch of President Jonathan?

“Did Bishop Oyedepo condemn the failure of the President to rescue the Chibok girls 9 months after they were kidnapped by the insurgents?

“Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out to condemn the manner in which the almost 300 Chibok girls were kidnapped?

“Did Oyedepo speak out when ASUU & ASUP were on strike twice in 4 years thereby leading to the loss of almost 2 years in the academic calendar?”

Obasanjo was not done.

He tweeted: “How many of

Oyedepo

Obasanjo

the Pastors that are telling you to vote for GEJ have children who are unemployed graduates sitting at home?

“A man of God that does not have the key to free our

beloved Chibok girls from captivity has the key to hell... GOD HELP US! President Jonathan had on Sunday visited Winners Chapel Church where the cleric praised him.

of next month’s general election, the European Union, EU, on Monday, said it would not deploy observers to the North East geo-political zone of the country in view of insurgency in the area.

Speaking at the Wadata Plaza, the national secretariat of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Observer of European Union Election Observer Mission in Nigeria, Ambassador Santiago Fisas, said “for security reasons, unfortunately, we can’t deploy into North East region.”

Fisas, who led members of the mission to the secretariat and was received by the PDP National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo, said that the EU Election Observer Mission has been in the country since November last year, and had monitored the primaries of the political parties. He said the Mission would not observe the general and presidential elections in the North East states of Adamawa, Bauchi,

Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Gombe.

The Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observer Mission in Nigeria who declared that over 90 Election Observers were deployed by EU to monitor the forthcoming election in all the states said they will not cover the North East because of activities of insurgents in the zone. He said: “We have been here since mid-November for observations. We followed the primaries, election propaganda, media and possible claims after the election.”

According to him, the number of EU Election Observers in the country was minimal, but they remain the best in terms of quality, just as he expressed support for the Abuja Peace Accord and disclosed that the EU has no favoured candidates or political party.

“We apply international rules for the election; that means we must be neutral, we don’t interfere at all as a mission,’’ Fisas added.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Delta opposition parties slam 85 cases on DSIEC Monday Osayande Asaba

ÏÏÏA

total of 85 cases have been instituted against Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) at various courts in the state.

Chairman of the commission, Mr. Moses Ogbe, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Asaba on Monday named it as “pre and post-election cases”.

Ogbe explained that his commission was dragged to court by the opposition political parties because they claimed the conduct of the last local government election ran afoul of the rules to favour the ruling party PDP that won the entire councils.

He further explained that, of the cases, 34 came from Delta Central, while others were from both Delta South and Delta North respectively.

DSIEC boss declared that he remains unperturbed despite the hordes of cases from the opposition’s parties, stressing that the commission fully observed the rules of the game when the election was conducted.

Hear him: “I think we have done a perfect job. The election was adjudged the best and one of the freest Local Government election conducted in the state in recent times.

“In any case, we are pre-

pared to defend all the cases as our lawyers are working day and night for our victory at the courts”.

He, however, appealed to Nigerian politicians to shun politics of do or die, or to cut corners during elections all in bid to win their opponents.

Moses Ogbe also tasked the electorate the need to know what is expected of them, their rights when voting their choice candidates.

Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

Uduaghan

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos House of Assembly candidate, Funmi Tejuosho; APC chieftain, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN; APC Gubernatorial candidate; Mr Akinwumi Ambode; his deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule and others at APC rally in Mushin, Lagos… on Monday

Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏ

Okorocha has sucked Imo dry, says Ohakim Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏ

The immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has finally opened up barely four years after he left office saying that the Rescue Mission government of Governor Rochas Okorocha has ran the state aground to the state of ‘coma’.

Ohakim, in a press statement issued in Owerri last weekend and made available to newsmen urged the people of the state, irrespective of their political leaning to join hands to

recover the state from the hands of fortune seekers and merchant adventurers.

According to him, the state is now much worse situation than ever before and had made zero progress in economic development and job creation.

He said, “while people are faced with extreme hardship and starvation, Imo state today has become a theatre of confused all corners road contractors, all screaming to be paid for the jobs they executed with zero design, zero bill of quantity, zero scope of works an zero time frame.

“Today in Imo, more than 100 local contractors have been liquidated from nonpayment. More than N5bilion lost to unscrupulous foreign contractors. More than 50 kilometer of substandard roads constructed

by Okorocha have been washed away. Three big sub-standard public buildings under construction including a hotel in Okigwe have collapsed”.

He, however, regretted that no less than 100,000 artisans and traders in the state have closed shops as money was no longer in circulation.

Jonathan promises to invest more in agric Ola Yekeen

Aregbesola, Osun farmers move to forestall spread of bird flu

In a move to avoid Avian Influenza, popularly known as Bird Flu, spreading to Osun State, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has been deployed to monitor control posts.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said this at a seminar organised by the state chapter of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in collaboration with Tuns Farms on prevention of bird flu in the state.

The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, added that approval for the purchase of chemicals to fumigate all farms in the state has been made.

Worried by the negative effects of the disease, he explained that efforts have been made to ensure that there was no single case of Avian Influenza in the state.

“You could recollect that when the disease became epidemic in Nigeria in year 2006, there was no single case of it in our state. In our bid to prevent the recent alerts in some states of federation, we have approved the purchase of chemicals to fumigate all farms in the State.

7 News

Okorocha The former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant further disclosed that over 800,000 persons in the state have lost access to clean water while 500,000 people have been affected by disease due to environmental degradation.

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to invest more in agriculture micro industries in order to create more jobs for the people if re-elected in February.

President Jonathan made the promise on Monday at the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, while addressing PDP supporters at the rally organised by the party to flag off the campaign in Kwara.

The President assured the people of Kwara that his government would not disappoint them if they vote for PDP candidates in all the elections.

Dr Jonathan also promised to create avenue for wealth creation where young graduates can key into.

He told the crowd that he was in Kwara state to work with the people of the state to ensure that Nigerians were free citizens and not in bondage.

Fayose suffering from cancer of the mouth – Ondo APC Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏ

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Monday lampooned the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose on his death wish for its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari as depicted by a frontpage advert published in some selected national dailies recently.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Times in Akure, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said the embattled Ekiti governor is seriously suffering from the “cancer of the tongue” and should also be made to undergo psychiatric tests to determine his state and mental condition.

News

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Police confirm beheading of ex-commissioner’s relation Sunday Nwakanma - Umuahia

ÏÏÏAbia state command of the

L-R: Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Director General, National Pension Commission, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu; immediate past director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, at the 50th birthday celebration of Oteh in Abuja, recently.

Nigeria Police on Monday confirmed the tragedy that struck the sleepy Umuokwe Umuhu Ezechi community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia state, when a man in his early 30s, Ahamefula Mba, was beheaded as he was fetching water at the community stream.

Confirming the report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, disclosed that the command was handling the matter, stating that efforts are on top gear to track the suspect.

Sources have it that the late Mba, who is a relation of the

former commissioner of Lands in the state, Chief Paul Mba, was said to have been murdered around 6 a.m. as he bent down to scoop water from the stream when the suspect, Chinedu Okorie, approached him from the back and cut off his neck with a machete.

Chinedu Okorie, suspected to have a mental problem, was said to have been having altercations with his victim over village issue that had to do with a cleanup exercise of the village stream path.

As Okorie was nowhere to be found, youths of the community later went on rampage and destroyed a building belonging to his family.

Yuguda working for probe Amaechi over failed APC, minister alleges I’ll contracts - Wike Segun Adio

ÏÏÏMinister

of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has said that Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State was a mole in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while working for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The minister accused Yuguda of sponsoring last Thursday’s attack on the campaign train of President Goodluck Jonathan in Bauchi.

Exonerating himself from the incident, Mohammed said it was irrational for Yuguda to allege that he (Bala) hired thugs to stone and embarrass himself while addressing the presidential rally in his home state.

In a statement signed by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Nosike Ogbuenyi, he said the question that Yuguda must answer quickly without equivocation is, why the thugs refused to stone him while he was addressing the same rally, on the same podium and on the same day.

The statement reads: “By this claim, Yuguda has proven correct the allegation that he has been hobnobbing with the APC at night and running with the PDP in day-

Emir calls for rancour-free elections

time.”

“Yuguda should also tell the world why he has suddenly turned into an APC spokesman, by exonerating the opposition party of culpability in the attack of the PDP presidential campaign team in Bauchi”.

According to him, “many Nigerians still remember recent media reports that Yuguda is the real godfather and sponsor of the APC gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi State and that he has not been campaigning for President Jonathan’s re-election in the state.”

He said history is there to expose the governor as an unabashed fifth columnist in the PDP. “It would be recalled that the first attack Senator Bala Mohammed received for wholeheartedly supporting Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (then Vice President) was in 2010.

“The same Yuguda, early in 2010, did everything humanly possible to recall and politically annihilate Bala Mohammed from the National Assembly as the Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District.

“Bala’s only sin was that he mobilized fellow lawmakers to invoke the famous ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to confer powers on the then

Vice President Jonathan to act as President while former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was away in Saudi Arabia receiving medical attention”, said Ogbuenyi.

He added that the second attack on the FCT Minister by Yuguda came later again in 2010, when he deployed enormous energies into creating all manner of obstacles to block Senator Bala Mohammed’s return and re-registration as a member of the PDP in his native Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State.

“Again, that attempt was futile as it failed disastrously for Yuguda. Since then, Senator Bala Mohammed has become a force to reckon with at the highest echelon of the PDP. “Furthermore, in 2011, political thugs who were protesting the victory of President Jonathan in that year’s presidential election razed a two-storey building belonging to the FCT Minister and nearly killed his mother and other relatives in Bauchi. The thugs touched none of the property of Governor Yuguda. The simple reason Senator Bala’s house was torched and his relatives traumatised was the unequivocal support and contributions to President Jonathan’s electoral victory.

Laz Okoroafor, Port Harcourt candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Nyesom Wike, has said he would probe Governor Rotimi Amaechi over failed and non-executed projects in the state, if elected into office on February 28.

He made the vow in Port Harcourt, on Monday, while speaking at the presentation of his 19-point development agenda for the state, tagged “The Blueprint,” before party chieftains and supporters.

He also accused Amaechi of having spent about three trillion naira within sevenand-half years in office, without anything tangible to show for the huge amount.

Wike said he would not only probe the contractors who were given jobs and were paid but failed to do the jobs, and those who gave out the jobs that were not executed.”

Accusing Amaechi of awarding contracts to those he knew would not execute them, because he needed their political support, the PDP

governorship candidate also alleged that vendors were handling projects that were not even in the state budget.

He said his 19-point Blueprint was in line with his vision “to build a state that is truly united, secure and prosperous with boundless opportunities for everyone, who lives in it peacefully to pursue their goals and realize their full potentials in dignity and happiness.”

The Blueprint, he said, included open, accountable and inclusive governance, security of life and property, efficient and speedy administration of justice, education, healthcare delivery, agricultural development, roads, drainage, transport infrastructure and housing development.

Others, he said, were provision of water, energy, security, jobs, wealth creation and economic empowerment, women and youth development, sports, recreation and tourism, environmental protection, urban and rural development and social welfare services.

DUTSE MOHAMMED

He also cautioned politicians on the danger of unguided utterances capable to jeopardizing peaceful co-existence of the country. Leaders should uphold their oath of allegiance with all sense of humility, while politicians should exhibit tolerance

with one another, and exercise their politicking with high sense of decorum.

He made the plea while receiving Governor Sule Lamido and members of his campaign team for the forthcoming general elections in his palace.

“Politics should not be regarded as a symbol of fostering dislikes or disunity among us, rather it should be a tool for establishing understanding, tolerance, and promotion of peace, progress, and even development to the people.”

ÏÏÏThe

Emir of Kazaure in Jigawa State, Alhaji Najib Husseini Adamu, has cautioned politicians on the need to have a rancour free general elections in the country.

ÏÏÏ Rivers State governorship

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

9 News JUSUN members resume in Abuja

Residents queue to buy kerosine at a filling station in Abuja... on Monday Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Gunmen kill Imo APC chieftain Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏ

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Commissioner III in the Imo State House of Assembly Commission, Chief Toby Onyekele has been shot dead by armed assailants.

The incident, according to an eyewitness, occurred

at Texaco Filling Station, along Okigwe Road, Owerri on Sunday morning when the gunmen, who were in a red Toyota Avalon saloon car, blocked the victim’s Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), dragged him out of it and shot him several times, before the assailants sped off in their vehicle.

The victim, a former

chairman of Ihitte Ubom local government, was, immediately, rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri where he was confirmed dead.

Onyekele, who was in his early 80s, was nominated as a Commissioner III in the State House of Assembly Commission by the Speaker of the House, Chief Benjamin Uwaji-

mogu.

Andrew Enwerem, DSP and state police Public Relations Officer, ruled out political assassination saying that it was a case of attempted kidnapping. He said the victim tried to escape being kidnapped and, subsequently, was shot dead.

According to him, police investigation continues.

Group criticises UNN VC, alleges shabby treatment of students ÏÏÏ

A group of lawyers, the Center for the Rule of Law, Nigeria, has criticised the authorities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, particularly the Vice Chancellor, Professor Benjami in Ozumba, over an alleged shabby treatment of the students after a peaceful protest.

President of the Center, Olasupo Ojo, in a release made available to Daily Times, condemned the lockout of students from the post-graduate hall of residence on the orders of the Vice-Chancellor.

The release read: “Our attention is drawn, irresistibly, to the eviction and lock-out of the students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from their post-

graduate hall of residence on the orders of the ViceChancellor, one Benjamin Ozumba, on the grounds that they protested, peacefully, against the 100% hike in hostel fees.

“The action of the ViceChancellor has occasioned a situation in which the students have been exposed to natural elements as they have been compelled to stay, cook, read and sleep on bare grounds, like war victims, in the open ground in front of the empty hostel, without light or water to take bath. All their properties, including books, are scattered all over the grounds.

“We have taken our time to examine the laws setting up the university and we find no single section

Ozumba that empowers the ViceChancellor to take such action against the students.

Considering that Nigeria is in the dry and cold season of the year, we view the action of the Vice-Chancellor against the students as degrading, crude, unfair, unjustified and unconstitutional, as it is a direct violation of the rights to dignity

of humanity of the affected students and threat to their rights to life as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is superior to the university laws. We believe that no sane human being should treat another in such beastly manner, hence, it beats our imagination that a Vice-Chancellor of a university can descend to such abysmal and uncivilised level of behaviour in this year, 2015.”

The group, therefore, demanded that the Vice-Chancellor tender an unreserved apology to the students via a publication in two national newspapers for the crude violation of the students’ fundamental rights, among others.

Onitsha park operators shut business over PVC Dilionye Dilibe Onitsha

ÏÏÏ

Park operators at Obosi Central Park, Owerri Road, Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have grounded business activities at the park over the collection of their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC).

The closure of the park, which lasted two days, was to enable park operators fully engage themselves in the voting of candidates of their choice during the forthcoming general election in the country.

Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) have reopened courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the Supreme Court that were shut down by them on January 2.

The union was protesting the nonimplementation of an Abuja-based Federal High Court judgment that granted financial autonomy to the judiciary.

The union had consistently stated that while the federal government had implemented the judgment, the state governments have refused to implement it and ignored their demand.

Daily Times gathered on Monday that, although, the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court situated at the Three Arms Zone were open, but, none of the judges and justices sat.

Workers were seen busy cleaning their dust-filled offices that have been locked during the threeweek strike.

Youths blame Akpabio for attack on Udom’s convoy Eno Obong Okon Uyo

ÏÏÏ

Youths from Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have blamed Governor Godswill Akpabio for the alleged attack on Udom/Moses 2015 Campaign Organisation.

It was learnt that the governor, in his comments at Oron Stadium last Friday, implored the crowd to observe a one minute silence in honour of former Commissioner for Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Ayong Asuquo, who

was assassinated on his way to Uyo from Oron on April 6, 2012.

One of the youth leaders in Oron, Mr. Etifit Okon, told journalists that the governor, having asked the people to remain silent added, “If Ayong Asuquo was alive; he would have fought for your course.”

Okon stated that the already tensed atmosphere emboldened the youths for an onslaught on the campaign team of Udom Emmanuel the PDP governorship candidate for the February election.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Group drums support for Kante APC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO (RIGHT) IN TETEA-TETE WITH GEN. INDIAN GARBA RTD, DURING HIS DECORATION AS HONORARY PATRON OF RAY OF HOPE CRUSADERS FOR GOODGOVERNANCE IN ABUJA… ON MONDAY

Ngige urges Ndigbo to support APC Doris Nnabyenyi Awka

ÏÏÏThe

South East Presidential Campaign Chairman for All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Chris Ngige, has stressed the need for Ndigbo to cast their votes for his party in the forthcoming general election.

According to him, votes by Ndigbo to another party would deny the geopolitical zone of a

favourable stake in the distribution of National cake.

Ngige, who disclosed this on Monday during his campaign tour at Dunkofia Local Government Area of the state noted that Nigeria is operating principally on two political parties, namely APC and PDP but added that his party would make the difference if voted into power.

“There are only two National Parties in Nigeria today and all meaningful aspirations to the

national Assembly should come from these two, any voting outside these two national parties is to deny Ndigbo a voice in the National legislature”, Ngige said.

The Senator, who is APC candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial zone said Ndigbo should therefore vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and all their candidates in the Senate and House of Representatives elections,

so as to jointly get themselves out of the lot they have found themselves in the 8th National Assembly. He also noted that as Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, he has been able to attract a lot of constituency projects, including transformers in every community in Anambra Central, injector station, health centres, boreholes, employment generation and scholarship awards among other things.

Olejeme to Nigerians: Don’t be deceived, Jonathan is the way ÏÏÏThe

Chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme has said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, if reelected in next month’s election, will make Nigeria prosperous.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Olejeme commended Jonathan for expanding the country’s infrastructure, developing agriculture, generating employment and advancing the cause of education. She advised Nigerians at home and abroad not to be carried away by the noise of some presidential candidates.

“If you desire something better, you have to vote for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. He will continue to work for the development of the country, make our economy buoyant, create more jobs, reduce unemployment and social tension, sanitize the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil industry and attract massive inflow of foreign investments through appropriate policies and a conducive environment” Olejeme, who affirmed her support for Jonathan quest to continue as president of the country said the PDP presidential candidate will continue to encourage

gender empowerment in his appointments.

“Mr. President is the servant of the people. He will never forget that. He will continue to act in the national interest. He will continue to ensure the security of persons, property and investments in our territory. He will continue to empower the security agencies to stem the scourge of terrorism in our country. He will continue to make the difference in the politics and development of the country” she said.

Drawing inspiration from the good governance model of Dr. Jonathan, Olejeme said Mr. Presi-

Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏThe

campaign rallies of the Social Democratic Party is gathering momentum as thousands of David Sabo Kante supporters are canvassing votes for him in the coming February elections.

A group under the aegis of Jalingo Youths for True Democracy last Sunday held a meeting in the state office of the association and said among all the political candidates, only David has been adjudged as the right candidate, having held a sensitive portfolio at the National Assembly and given tremendous help the people of Taraba, especially the unemployed youths in the state.

Jonathan supporters woo Kaduna women Sunday Isuwa

ÏÏÏDirector

General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Goodluck/Sambo, Kaduna State chapter, Alhaji Husaini Jallo on Monday inaugurated 35-women Campaign Committee that would mobilise more women in the state.

Speaking during the inauguration, Jallo charged the women to mobilise Kaduna women to turnout en-masse as President Goodluck Jonathan campaign visits Kaduna on Saturday, 31st January, 2015.

500 benefit from NACA/ SURE-P medic Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÏÏÏNo

Jonathan dent’s second term will go beyond providing critical infrastructure.

“President Goodluck Jonathan will ensure social justice and good governance in the country. He will promote economic development; help the masses develop a clearer understanding of the social, political and economic factors affecting their lives.

fewer than 500 peoples on Monday, benefitted from the ongoing four-day NACA/ SUREP sponsored free medical health services in Benin, Edo state. Our correspondent reports that the services, which comprised free medical consultation, free testing and free drugs were offered patients of different ages and sexes.

Our Correspondent reports that patients besieged venues of the medical expo, as early as 8 am to take advantage of the free medical services as health workers in public hospitals continued their strike over two-month old strike.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Thugs disrupt party rally in Gombe, vehicles destroyed ÏÏÏSeveral

cars were badly damaged on Monday by political thugs said to be loyal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the Northern Senatorial District Campaign launch in Dukku Local Government area of Gombe State.

Trouble started few minutes to the end of the ceremony when the party thugs realized that officials were not willing to offer money to the heavily armed thugs.

In the ensuing skirmishes, the wind screens of no fewer than ten

cars were destroyed by the thugs, who were wielding cutlasses, sticks, iron rods, and many other dangerous weapons. Many others, who least expected the violent turn of event, took their heels. It was gathered that the boys (thugs)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate for Ogun State, Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (middle) acknowledging supporters at Ewekoro Local Government during his consultation visit recently Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

were promised N50, 000 for each bus and their feeding, but that after the occasion none of the officials was willing to listen or even attend to their problems.

When contacted over the incident, the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Shuaibu Baba Sabulu, said he was unaware of the development.

Said he: “I can’t confirm the story, because I was not at the venue of the event, and no one has brought his damaged car to me. I have just heard of it through reporters. We left the venue of the event immediately it was over, but I’ve always warned my boys against trouble.”

Thuggery of such magnitude are not uncommon in Gombe politics, especially with the dreaded Kalare thugs, who always accompany politicians during such campaign and other political activities, where they harass, intimidate, injure and even kill innocent citizens.

11 News Enugu federal judiciary workers resume work ÏÏÏThe federal judiciary work-

ers in Enugu resumed work on Monday after the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) decided to call off the strike.

NAN correspondent who monitored the strike in Enugu, reports that the Federal High Court, Industrial and the Appeal Courts were all open for the business.

Some of the workers were seen discussing the situation, while some litigants and clients came to ascertain if the industrial action was truly over.

At the Federal High Court, the Registrar, who did not disclose his identity, told NAN that most of the workers were already in their offices while the remaining ones who had yet to report for work may resume on Tuesday.

Onitsha cleric empowers church members Dilionye Dilibe, Onitsha

Ogun RTEAN chairman sacked Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÏÏÏThe

Ogun State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Alhaji Mugisu Akinpelu has been expelled from the body.

His suspension followed a letter signed by the National Secretary-General of the association, Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Adeniyi.

It would be recalled that the Ogun State government had, since late last year, banned the activities of the RTEAN in the State.

In the letter with reference number RTEAN/NHQ/ADM/ OG/013 and address to the former Chairman, Alhaji Mugisu Akinpelu, copy which were sent to the State government and other relevant security agencies, the Chairman was accused of gross misconduct.

An investigative committee set up to look into the matter found no compensating feature to prevent the expulsion of Akinpelu.

The panel of enquiry set up by the association was headed by one Dr. Henry Ugwu Ejiofor.

The union disclosed that the

action was taken after considering the petition written by the State chapter to the National Executive Committee alleging grave allegations against Akinpelu.

It would be recalled that the state chapter of the Union had, on October 17, 2014, petitioned the National President of the Association,High Chief Musa I.Shehu over the action of its Chairman.

The petition which was titled:” Petition against high level corruption, marginalization and the high handedness of the administration of Alhaji Mugisu Akinpelu of Ogun State chapter of RTEAN...The Truth of the Matter”, listed eleven acts of gross misconducts against the Akinpelu.

He was said to been involved in illegal printing of the association’s tickets and other materials for his personal enrichment and selfish gains in contravention of Article 6d (vii) of the association’s constitution.

Other charges against Akinpelu read: “You, along with your cohorts and accomplices in the South-West zone falsely/maliciously accused the National

President of RTEAN to have collected a loan of N30billion from an unspecified bank with a view to destabilizing and to cause disaffection within our great association.

“That you informed the Government of Ogun State that the national leadership of RTEAN was forcing you to leave APC and join PDP to create enmity between the association and the Ogun State government, which led to the temporal stoppage of RTEAN operations in that state.

Amosun

Provost bemoans low number of qualified teachers Tunde `Atobatele, Abeokuta

ÏÏÏThe Provost, Federal College

of Education, Osiele Abeokuta, Dr. Adebayo Ayodele Ajayi, has lamented low number of qualified and certified teachers in both public and private schools in the country. According to him, this had been responsible for the decline in education standard in Nigeria.

Ajayi made this known while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up for the college’s 23rd convocation ceremony and 39th Founder’s Day, held at the college auditorium. Speaking further, the Provost explained that Colleges of Education were established to train and produce middle level teachers for primary and junior secondary schools in the country, pointing out that unless certified teachers are employed, education will continue to suffer unnecessary set back.

ÏÏÏIt was a day of jubilation for

beneficiaries, families and friends of 10 lucky recipients of an empowerment programme initiated by a Catholic cleric and parish priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Obosi, Anambra State.

The ceremony which took place at the church’s premises was in commemoration of the silver jubilee ordination of the parish priest, the Very Rev. Fr. John Emeka Okeke.

Okeke handed over the cheques of N50,000 to each of the lucky ten beneficiaries and said that the gesture was to encourage parishioners to continue to put in their best for the benefit of the parish.

Fr. Okeke, who narrated the criteria used in selecting the beneficiaries, reminded other parishioners that the aim was to encourage the less- privileged, active members of the parish to use the token amount to set-up a small business, which would also benefit their entire.

The cleric, who reminded Christians to use their privileged positions to enhance the living condition of the people, however, disclosed that he decided to replicate the directive given by the Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis that the church should also be at the fore front of empowering their faithful out of hunger and poverty.

Africa 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Zambia’s new president sworn into office Edgar Lungu, right, is sworn in as president at an inauguration ceremony in Lusaka, Zambia,on Sunday

ÏÏÏEdgar Lungu has been sworn

in as Zambia’s sixth president, following a closely fought election.

Zambians voted last Tuesday for a successor to President Michael Sata who died in October of last year. The new leader will take the helm of the copper-rich country for the remainder of Sata’s term before the country returns to the polls in September 2016.

Lungu, from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party, clinched the presidential seat by a slender margin (48.3 percent to 46.7 per-

cent), beating his closest rival, Hakainde Hichilema from the United Party for National Development (UPND).

As he was inaugurated in Lusaka, President Lungu said Zambia will maintain a new mineral royalty tax despite fears that it could lead to mine closures, reported Reuters.

Africa’s second biggest copper producer hiked open pit mining royalties to 20 percent from 6 percent and underground royalties to 8 percent from 6 percent in its 2015 budget, a move mining com-

panies have said could cost 12,000 jobs.

The metal accounts for about 70 percent of Zambia’s exports and 13 percent of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product), but at current prices the industry is barely viable. Speaking after being sworn in at a colorful ceremony at the National Heroes Stadium, Lungu said his government’s policies would remain consistent and predictable.

The tall, slim, former lawyer who describes himself as an “ordinary Zambian of humble begin-

Comoros votes ahead of 2016 presidential race

ÏÏÏVoters went to the polls on Sunday in the chronically unstable Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros in a parliamentary election seen as a test for former leader Abdallah Sambi, a Muslim populist poised to make a comeback.

The vote, which was reported to be peaceful, is the first in a cycle of legislative and local government polls culminating in 2016 presidential elections.

“Turnout has been very high, above 60 percent,” the Interior Minister told AFP before midnight local time. “The emerging indications show Juwa [Sambi’s party] in the lead.”

Ismael Saadi, the head of the election monitor in the Comoros, said voter participation had reached 60 to 70 percent.

Polling booths opened at 07:00, with voting slow off the mark in

the capital, Moroni, but with long queues snaking through small villages elsewhere.

Finance Minister and Vice President Mohamed Ali Soilihi, speaking as he cast his vote, told reporters the results would shape the political landscape over coming months and be a “barmometer” of opinion ahead of next year’s polls.

“If we have a hostile majority to the executive’s policies we will struggle to serve out our mandate in normal conditions,” he said.

Official results, however, were not expected before Tuesday or Wednesday.

Around a quarter of a million voters were registered to cast ballots for federal parliamentary members before a second round scheduled for February 22 when they will also elect local government councillors.

“We hope the new parliament will benefit the people,” said voter Ibrahim Attoumane in an apparent reference to the graft undermining the economically fragile group of tropical islands of 735 000 people.

Abdallah Sambi

nings,” helped form the PF with Michael Sata in 2001. When the party first came to power in 2011, he held a junior position in disaster management but climbed the ranks to become justice and defense minister, leading the country in Sata’s absence last year.

A lawyer, who requested anonymity, described his former colleague as the, “strong, quiet type,” telling VOA in Lusaka that Lungu was driven by his discipleship to Sata, which allowed him to stay in the inner circle of the Patriotic Front.

11 killed in South Sudan ambush ÏÏÏEleven people, including four

journalists working for South Sudan’s state-run media, have been killed in an ambush in the remote west of the war-torn nation, independent Radio Tamazuj reported on Monday.

A convoy carrying the journalists and local officials was ambushed in Raja county, western Bahr al Ghazal State on Sunday, leaving a total of 11 dead, state governor Rizik Zakaria Hassan was quoted as saying.

The journalists worked for South Sudan TV, Raja Radio and Radio Wau. The area where the attack took place borders Sudan’s troubled Darfur region as well as the Central African Republic. Several armed groups are known to operate in the area, although the report said no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mugabe must go demo ‘dents’ Zimbabwe’s image ÏÏÏZimbabwe’s

international image has been dented after President Robert Mugabe was heckled by protesters in Zambia’s capital Lusaka over the weekend, political analysts say, according to a report. Mugabe on Saturday came face to face with Zambian protesters who expressed their dislike for him over his continued 35-years grip on power.

A video showing the protesters waving their hands in the air and chanting “Mugabe must go” went viral on YouTube.

Mugabe flew out to Zambia for the inauguration of the country’s new president Edgar Lungu, well before the election results were announced.

The protest, according to the Daily News, was one of the rare cases of Mugabe being decampaigned on the continent at such a large and public scale.

News Day quoted Zimbabwean political analysts as saying it was an embarrassment for Mugabe to be told by the protesters that he was not welcome to witness free and fair elections.

Libya peace talks resume in Geneva ÏÏÏA new round of

peace talks between Libya’s warring factions resumed in Geneva on Monday as the country continued to sink into chaos.

During a first round of UNmediated discussions in the Swiss city earlier this month, warring factions from the strife-torn country agreed on a roadmap to form a unity government.

The UN’s envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, had warned as the talks first opened on 14 January that they were a last-ditch effort to prevent all-out chaos.

He warned that Libya was becoming a hotbed of Islamist insurgency, echoing concerns by Libyan officials and world leaders.

The north African nation has been wracked by conflict since the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 uprising, with rival governments and powerful militias battling for control of key cities and the country’s vast oil riches. Talks continued Monday with participants from a range of groups and representatives of civil society.

But the Islamist-backed Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) militia alliance, which took over Tripoli last summer, was not officially taking part.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Prince Philip recommended for knighthood by Australia

ÏÏÏAustralian PM Tony Abbott

has used the country’s national day to announce a knighthood for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Mr Abbott, who reintroduced the honour last year, said the Prince had lived a “long life of service and dedication”.

Opposition politicians described the decision as out-of-step with the times.

The leader of the opposition Labor party, Bill Shorten, said it was “anachronistic” to give the top award to a British royal on Australia Day. He told Fairfax radio he thought the news was a joke at first, adding: “Why would we give him our top Australian honour?

He’s already got a lot of them.”

Defence Force Chief Angus Houston (L) with PM Tony Abbott in March 2014 Angus Houston leads the hunt for the missing Malaysian plane MH370.

Mr Abbott said Queen Elizabeth II had also approved a

knighthood for retired Scottishborn defence force chief Angus Houston.

He was involved in the investigations last year into the missing Malaysian Airlines plane, MH370, as well as the MH17 jet that was

brought down over Ukraine. Australians were killed in both incidents and Australia is heading the operation to find MH370.

He said it was “a great honour to be recognised in this way but I’d like people to still call me An-

gus”.

Mr Abbott said that “throughout his life, Sir Angus has put Australia first”.

“He immigrated to Australia as an adult, he chose Australia and we are much the better for it.”

President Obama watched the parade with Mr Modi inside a bullet-proof glass enclosure

Philippine police commandos killed in clashes with militants ÏÏÏDozens of police commandos

have been killed in heavy fighting with Islamist rebels in the southern Philippines province of Maguindanao, say officials.

Several rebels were also reportedly killed as police entered a village held by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) early on Sunday.

Reports say two key terror suspects were the targets of the operation.

It is the worst fighting since the government and Milf signed a peace deal last year to end decades of fighting.

Assad dismisses US plans to train rebels

There was conflicting information about Sunday’s fighting, but reports from the Philippines suggest police commandos launched a surprise raid on a village near the town of Mamasapano, in the Maguindanao province of Mindanao island.

They were reportedly seeking to arrest members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (Biff), a Milf splinter group which opposes the ceasefire.

But the mayor of the town, Tahirudin Benzar Ampatuan, said police had not warned the Milf of

ÏÏÏSyrian

President Bashar Assad said the US’s plans to train vetted rebels to fight ISIS were “illusory” as they would eventually defect to the jihadists, in an interview published on Monday.

The Syrian leader also questioned talks to be held in Moscow this week, telling foreign affairs magazine that his government would attend but was not convinced the opposition figures taking part represented Syrians on the ground.

the raid, as they should have under the peace deal, so its members fought back.

The gunfire reportedly went on for several hours.

The number of casualties remains unclear. Local and international news reports citing various officials put the number of commandos killed between 40 and 50.

Milf leaders confirmed the violence but the number of rebels killed and their affiliation was not clear. The violence ended when ceasefire monitors intervened, said local officials.

The military was not involved, but peacekeeping reinforcements have since been sent to the region.

Washington has backed the Syrian opposition since early in the uprising and has unveiled plans to train more than 5 000 vetted rebels in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to fight ISIS. Assad said the planned US-trained force would be “illegal” and would be treated like any other rebel group.

“They are going to be fought like any other illegal militia fighting against the Syrian army,” he said. “Bringing 5 000 [fighters] from the outside will make most

of them defect and join ISIS and other groups. “The idea itself... is illusory.”

The Pentagon has itself acknowledged that identifying and vetting potential rebel recruits for training is a difficult task that cannot be accomplished quickly without significant risks.Assad questioned the seriousness of the US-led campaign against the jihadists. “What we’ve seen so far is just, let’s say, window-dressing, nothing real,” he said.

Aquino

13 World Anti-austerity party wins Greek election

ÏÏÏA radical leftist party and its

40-year-old anti-austerity leader have swept to power in Greece, outdistancing the conservative New Democracy party led by outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

The results of Sunday’s elections make Alexis Tsipras, the chief of the Syriza party, the country’s youngest prime minister in 150 years.

He has pledged to end years of austerity polices. However, the outcome of the election likely places Greece in conflict with the European Union and international creditors.

“In the last year Greece was chosen to be the guinea pig of austerity in order to exit the crisis. This was proven to be a failure and catastrophic,’’ he said.

Syriza fell just two seats in parliament short of the 151 needed to rule on its own without forming a coalition government.

Device, possibly drone, found on White House grounds ÏÏÏA

device, possibly an unmanned aerial drone, was found on the White House grounds during the middle of the night while President Barack Obama and the first lady were in India, but his spokesperson said on Monday that it posed no threat.

It was unclear whether their daughters, Sasha and Malia, were at home at the time of the incident with their grandmother, Marian Robinson, who also lives at the White House.

The White House had said before the president’s trip that the daughters would remain in Washington so as not to miss school.

The Secret Service had no immediate comment on what it found.

Obama’s press secretary, Josh Earnest, speaking in New Delhi, did not deny that the object found at the White House was an aerial drone. Drones come in various sizes, some quite small, with purposes ranging from surveillance to recreational toys.

“There is a device that has been recovered by the Secret Service at the White House,” Earnest said when asked if a drone was found. “The early indications are that it does not pose any sort of ongoing threat to anybody at the White House.”

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

2015 Elections: Mobilising ‘Dogs and Baboons’

T

Iyoha Darlington

he drama has again begun as the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s mainstream opposition party is already spoiling for another bloody brawl by mobilising its foot soldiers to unleash mayhem on defenseless Nigerians ahead of February 14 presidential poll. It is a thousand pities that the Abuja Peace Pact that was co-signed by all the parties presidential standard bearers is being thrown to the winds by supporters of the opposition party.

What, if one may ask, gives or makes them so confident that APC will eventually carry the day to warrant the ongoing attack on the President’s convoy in the north? This is politics of hate and bitterness at play, which is very dangerous for Nigeria.

Anyone who denies that the ”tea party” is built on a foundation of hate is either lying to the public or to themselves. As things stand, it is not in dispute that almost all their leaders are protagonists of violence who do not mean

The APC is a party of self-styled grandees who want to see another round of bloodbath in the coming years if its candidate is again defeated at the polls. well for Nigeria considering the repeated violations of the Abuja Peace Pact in Katsina and Bauchi states.

No single region can lay claim to monopoly of violence and the unwarranted attack on the President’s convoy is the highest display of barbarism, which has cast nothing but very gloomy atmosphere around the forthcoming general elections.

The country can not move forward with politics of hate and bitterness like the such APC is displaying.

Report has it that the Jonathan/Sambo campaign minibus was attacked and set

ablaze in Jos Plateau State. All the ill-conceived attacks are being sponsored by politicians in the mainstream opposition to foment unrest even before the elections are held, knowing full well the President is already cruising to victory.

Here in the Diaspora, it is on good authority that the lives of PDP governors in the north are being threatened on account of their avowed support for President Jonathan re-election.

One is appalled at their leaders cowardice for displaying such reprehensible levels of ignorance and hate. In fact,they comprise the fringe reaches of true progressives who do not drive the party’s policy.

They are none other than leftwing radicals filled with absolute hate and this is very dangerous for the nation’s nascent democracy.

APC leaders together with their supporters do not really care about being factual or truthful. Their primary goal is to peddle as much propaganda to their voters as possible in an attempt to make them believe practically anything. At that point no amount of factual information presented to these people will matter because

their minds have already been consumed by hate and fear.

It is an open secret that media platforms have been set up everywhere that basically tell viewers the truth and anything to the contrary qualifies for nothing but ‘terminological inexactitudes’. Anything beyond that amounts to conspiracy to cover the truth.

That is what presently obtains in Nigeria’s mainstream opposition which is fighting by employing every form of illegality to shoot its way to power. The All Progressives Congress as a ‘tea party’ has been built by the politics of hate. I think it is fairly obvious that this writer does not agree with them on many issues and has never seen such vile fear and hatred like he has seen since President Jonathan assumed the reins of power after the death of President Umaru Yar ‘Adua.

The APC is a party of selfstyled grandees who want to see another round of bloodbath in the coming years if its candidate is again defeated at the polls. It is time we joined forces with every true Progressive and Democrat to read them the Riot Act.

Dokubo as a cowardly terrorist

A

Peregrino Brimah

s widely reported in the press, Asari Dokubo was quoted to have said “We are going to war. Everyone of you should go and fortify yourself.” In a meeting of terrorists and associates held in Yenagoa last Saturday, the enemy of the state and other desperate folk, threatened Nigeria that if their premiere didn’t win the February 14th presidential elections, they will go to war.

Asari Dokubo is a terrorist; and a cowardly one. If he were not and really believed he owned the oil underneath his father’s house, he would have taken what is his and not preoccupied himself being a loud, empty barrel.

If you’re a terrorist, be a terrorist. Real terrorists don’t make noise. Why has Asari waited so long? If I believe something belongs to me, I will take it, legally or otherwise, I will not wait and

If Asari is not a coward, why did he not go to Sambisa and rescue those missing girls? That would have made him a national hero and he would have even been made President of Nigeria keep making loud empty threats.

Dokubo’s brother in Sambisa forest is not a coward. Shekau believes he owns the land in the northeast and he’s going for it, come rain, come shine. The National Security Agency boss, Dasuki said in UK last week, that Shekau is linked to Idriss Deby.

Shekau is going for the land every day and is not waiting, making empty threats. He’s a

real terrorist, not ashamed of his evil profession. Though Shekau doesn’t do the fighting, he relies on recruiting and forcibly conscripting Kanuri, Shuwa Arab and Fulani youth to do his dirty bidding.

Asari did not accept the amnesty. He didn’t sign it, which means he is still an active terrorist and still at war with the state.

So question is, why has he not been fighting? What has he been waiting for? He is a coward. He should be thankful to Jonathan, whose number one (and only) legacy is freedom, for thieves, for killers, for terrorists, and of course for cowards.

But yet, I must commend Asari, because he is honest. He has told us clearly that he only supports Jonathan because he feels Jonathan is from his hometown. He has stated unequivocally that he is sure that General Buhari would have done more for the Niger Delta than Jonathan has done. He’s honest enough to say that he only supports Jonathan out of his desperation for

cash and because of his village.

Many people are not as honest as he is. The president for one isn’t.

The barbarian Shekau also isn’t.

They hide their true purpose and goals, and pretend, enshrouded in lies. Asari says it as it is. He says the president is clueless and I am hungry.

Of what use is it that a man gains the riches of the world and loses his soul?

Asari is unarguably intelligent and clownish. He could have been a respected figure not just locally and nationally, but globally. Had Obasanjo picked an at least manageable candidate from the Niger Delta, he would have been able to get his bread and keep his name. But now he has become an object of ridicule.

If Asari is not a coward, why did he not go to Sambisa and rescue those missing girls? That would have made him a national hero and he would have even been made President of Nigeria.

Asari can only be a disgrace to the Kalabari kingdom and the brave Amachree kings.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

15 News

What does Femi Fani-Kayode really want?

F Jude Ndukwe

emi Fani-Kayode has been in the news in recent times not only because of his role as Director, Media and Publicity of PDP’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, but also because of his antecedents which a few consider to be unstable and laced with allegations of corruption, therefore, unfit to hold such a sensitive position as he currently does for Mr President.

Since, as Director of Media and Publicity, he is bound to speak to the press on a regular basis on behalf of his Principal, Fani-Kayode is naturally bound to receive reactions from all and sundry who are politically concerned for our great nation. Men are bound to do a check on who this man who speaks with the confidence of an angel is. What is the force driving him? Why does he speak so courageously when he has a case with the EFCC hanging around his neck? Why did he jump ship from PDP to APC and then back to PDP? Could that be attributed to his search for pecuniary gains and parochial considerations? People are bound to ask, did he run back to the PDP just to get the protection of the powers that be? Or did he do that as a matter of strong personal conviction? And so many other issues which appear controversial and seem to put the Osun Stateborn former Minister of Aviation on the wrong end of the stick.

Yet, he has not relented, and against the tide of the whirlwind, he seems to be climbing higher and cutting for himself the image of an icon who can neither be cowed nor tamed.

Yes, Fani-Kayode cannot be tamed, nor does he look tamable.

He has defied every attempt at demystifying him and shown uncommon courage where men dread while standing with the last iota of strength in his vein at any point in battle, no matter how ferocious. This has been Fani-Kayode’s lot since he was a boy. He was well known in his university days as a young man who stood for what he believed in and so spoke to those concerned without batting an eyelid no matter whose ox was gored.

That is why one of his friends, Araba Ayodeji, once described him back then as “…a combination of the Great Gatsby and Steve Mcqueen. Rebellious and learned, wrapped up in one energetic combustible engine”. This declaration by Ayodeji about Fani-Kayode was made when the Presidential Campaign Organisation spokesman was in his late teens/early twenties. That shows that FaniKayode did not just pick up any of his virtues for political reasons or financial patronage as some may

want us to believe. It is simply that the man is courage, and courage is the man. He seems to have been born into it and bathed with it until he was grown enough to fend for himself. These are virtues that have been with him from when he was a boy, virtues he has nurtured to maturity by the constant exercising of them.

Agreed that FFK as he is fondly called is courageous and outspoken, the questions many are still asking are, what are his motivations for deploying his God-given gifts in situations? In short, what does Femi Fani-Kayode really want? Why did he go from PDP to APC and then back to PDP? What was his scorecard as Minister of Aviation in terms of the financial running of the ministry? Did he use his position to corruptly enrich himself ?

An attempt will be made in this piece to try and figure the motivation behind his political roundabout drive and other issues in order to put the records straight.

Let us begin with his case at EFCC. Some have alleged that he went back to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as an easy way out of the corruption charges leveled against him by the anti-corruption body.

But that assumption is not only wrong and merely presumptuous, but also very preposterous. Going by his antecedents, Fani-Kayode does not need anybody’s protection to prove his innocence in a case that he is very sure he has done nothing wrong. If he was to be looking for such protection, he would not have contemplated leaving the ruling party in the first place. He left because he was convinced it could be better at the other side. And that’s human.

Leaving the party that could give you protection from a life-threatening case is suicidal. To pursue his convictions, Fani-Kayode was ready to commit suicide, figuratively speaking, he was ready to die. If he rejoined PDP to have the corruption case against him quashed, the question then is, why has the case not been quashed since his return? Why has he been made to pass through the troubles of defending himself with its attendant cost in time, money and efforts? He has submitted himself

to the investigative and court processes, and PDP, as a law-abiding body, too, has allowed the process to run its full course without let, hindrance or influence. By the way, if FFK was corrupt as APC apologists would want us to believe, why did they welcome him warmly when he defected to their party?

However, on getting to the APC, he observed as an insider, the insidious plans of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) to field a Muslim/ Muslim ticket for the forthcoming presidential election. He knew that the plan was very thick and that it could take only a miracle to have it aborted. Knowing that the plan had reached an advanced stage, almost to a point of no return despite all attempts for the party to see reason, and since that would offend the religious sensibilities and convictions of a majority of Nigerians (a fact FFK has never hidden), he had no choice but to leave for a party that would be more tolerant and more sensitive to the realities of religious biases in our nation even if it meant going back “home” to PDP. But for his relentless and vigorous campaign, working together with other stakeholders of likeminds against such ill-advised move by the APC, the opposition party would have committed political hara-kiri by fielding an absolutely unsellable Muslim/ Muslim ticket. The APC, if for nothing else, rather than vilify him, should be thankful to FFK for preventing them from self-induced political implosion as they eventually heeded his advice and allowed some reason to prevail.

Apart from this, FFK was also miffed by the tactless determination of the powers that be in the opposition party to make Muhammadu Buhari their presidential candidate in spite of the baggage of political liabilities he was coming to the table with. As a man who had made statements unbecoming of an elder statesman and has shown his incurable knack for publicly promoting one religion and its tenets over another, Fani-Kayode repudiated that idea and would call the party to work for the emergence of a more moderate Muslim as their presidential candidate, a

Muslim who would be tolerant and accommodating to all religions in the country. Knowing full well long before the party’s presidential primaries that the system had been set up to favour the emergence of Buhari as the preferred candidate of the opposition, the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, had no other option but to just walk away. So, rather than denigrate him for his outspokenness, FaniKayode should be commended. The seemingly endless controversies trailing Muhammadu Buhari today is an eloquent testimony to the fact that Fani-Kayode saw deep into the future, and he saw well. In fact, what he saw while sitting, others could not see even while standing on the long PHCN electrical pole.

Furthermore, the allegation of corruption leveled against the former Minister, has gone from prosecution to persecution. This is a man who was slammed with a frivolous 47-count charge and eventually reduced to 40 counts all in a desperate bid to nail him.

Although Fani-Kayode had all the opportunity to run away from the shores of the country just like some who were facing corruption charges had done in the past, he has rather chosen to stay put and clear his name in the court of law.

That is the right thing any sensible man who has no skeleton in his cupboard should do. After all, the courts have already quashed 38 out of the phantom remaining charges. Those who are persecuting him on the pages of newspapers should know that court cases are not won that way but on the strength of evidence proven before the courts. In our land, everyone is deemed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. To deny anyone his/her rights or appointment into public or private offices because of any case yet to be concluded in any court of law is the height of corruption and injustice.

To criticize anyone who appoints a Nigerian into any office based on any on-going case is an act of wickedness and man’s inhumanity to man. It is on this basis that men of goodwill have roundly condemned Festus Keyamo’s recent statement on Fani-Kayode’s appointment by President Jonathan into his Campaign Organisation. Like Femi himself said recently, the February 14, 2015 presidential election is not just another election; it is a battle for the soul and future of our nation. What Femi wants is nothing but the safety of our nation, the continued restoration of her soul and the guarantee of her future, and for this, he is ready to do battle.

No more, no less.

Jude C. Ndukwe Transpharm Plaza, Jabi, Abuja +2348023140065 jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Today in History

s

1967 New state, a must to peace in Nigeria – Gowon Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola 1967 New state, a must to peace in Nigeria – Gowon The head of the Federal Military Government, Lt.-Col. Yakubu Gowon, made it clear in Lagos that his Government would see to it that new states were created in the country “for those who want them” in accordance with the criteria laid down in his nation-wide broadcast last November.

The main criteria he outlined were that: - No one state should be in a position to dominate or control the central government - Each state should form one composite geographical area.

- Administrative convenience, the facts of history, and the wishes of the people concerned must be taken into account.

- Each state should be in a position to discharge effectively the functions allocated to regional governments.

- It is also essential that the new states should be created simultaneously.

1918 Workers prepare to strike in Germany

1944

1944 Siege of Leningrad is lifted On this day, Soviet forces permanently broke the Leningrad siege line, ending the almost 900-day German-enforced containment of the city, which cost hundreds of thousands of Russian lives.

The siege began officially on September 8, 1941. The people of Leningrad began building antitank fortifications and succeeded in creating a stable defence of the city, but as a result were cut off from all access to vital resources in the Soviet interior,

Plagued by hunger and increasingly frustrated with the continuing Great War, hundreds of thousands of long-suffering German workers prepared for a massive strike in Berlin.

Although the year 1917 had brought a string of military triumphs to the Central Powers— Kaiser Wilhelm, on a visit to the Western Front in December, told his troops that the year’s events proved that God was on the side of the Germans—it had also seen hunger and discontent on the home front rise to unprecedented levels. There were a total of 561 strikes in 1917, up from 240 the year before and 137 in 1915. Real wages—or the ratio of wages to cost of living—were falling, with disastrous effects for industrial and white-collar workers alike.

War with Russia had cut Germany and Austria-Hungary off from a crucial supply of food and the Allied naval blockade in the North Sea, in effect since early in the war, had exacerbated the resulting shortages.

At the beginning of 1918, the thorny negotiations between

Siege of Leningrad is lifted Moscow specifically. In 1942, an estimated 650,000 Leningrad citizens perished from starvation, disease, exposure, and injuries suffered from continual German artillery bombardment.

Barges offered occasional relief in the summer and ice-borne sleds did the same in the winter.

Slowly but surely a million of Leningrad’s young, sick, and elderly residents were evacuated, leaving about 2 million to ration available food and use all open ground to plant vegetables.

Russia and the Central Powers at Brest-Litovsk promised to delay a much-needed influx of food and resources even longer.

Discontent flared first in Austria, where flour rations were cut in mid-January. Strikes began almost immediately in Vienna and by January 19 there was a general strike throughout the country.

Food shortages were even worse in Germany, where some 250,000 people had died from hunger in 1917. On January 28, 1918, 100,000 workers took to the streets of Berlin, demanding

1951

an end to the war on all fronts.

Within a few days, the number was up to 400,000. The Berlin strikers enjoyed support in a string of other major cities, including Dusseldorf, Kiel, Cologne and Hamburg. By one estimate, more than 4 million took to the streets across Germany.

The reaction of the German government and the army— frightened by visions of Bolshevik-style revolution and worried the workers’ revolt would further delay the peace talks at Brest-Litovsk—was swift and

decisive. On January 31, a state of siege was declared and the ringleaders of the strikes were arrested and court-martialled.

One hundred and fifty were imprisoned, while 50,000 more were drafted into the army and sent to the front.

1926 Baird demonstrates TV On January 27, 1926, John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor, gave the first public demonstration of a true television system in London, launching a revolution in communication and entertainment.

First atomic detonat ion at the Nevada test site

1951 First atomic detonation at the Nevada test site Forcefully marking the continued importance of the West in the development of nuclear weaponry, the government detonated the first of a series of nuclear bombs at its new Nevada test site.

Although much of the West had long lagged behind the rest of the nation in technological and industrial development, the massive World War II project to build the first atomic bomb single-handedly pushed the re-

gion into the 20th century. Code named the Manhattan Project, this ambitious research and development program pumped millions of dollars of federal funds into new western research centres like the bomb building lab at Los Alamos, New Mexico and the fissionable material production center at Hanford, Washington. Ironically, the very conditions that had once impeded western technological development became benefits: lots of wide-open unpopulated federal land where dangerous experiments could be conducted in secret.

After the war ended, the West continued to be the ideal region for Cold War-era nuclear experimentation for the same reasons.

In December 1950, the Atomic Energy Commission designated a large swath of unpopulated desert land 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas as the Nevada Proving Ground for atmospheric atomic testing. On January 27, 1951, the government detonated its first atomic device on the site, resulting in a tremendous explosion, the flash from which was seen as far away as San Francisco.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Politics

s AYINDE

Tayo Ayinde

17

No need pacifying defeated Lagos aspirants

Tayo Ayinde, is one of the aspirants that lost out in the last Lagos State governorship primary. of the All Progressive Congress (APC). In this interview with KAYODE ADELOWOKAN, he said there was need to pacify any of the defeated aspirants, amongst other aspirants. Exerpts: Some people believe that Tinubu’s over bearing influence in APC may cost the party its victory in 2015 general elections especially in Lagos.

What is your opinion?

First of all, our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not have over bearing influence on APC. It is a national party and no one can claim to have any overbearing influence on the party. APC is the most democratic party in Nigeria. This was clearly shown to the world during our recently conducted state and national primary elections where our candidates at the general elections were democratically elected. Over bearing

NDOMA-EGBA

influence is when voices of others are not heard, when opinions of other people are not respected or agitations of other people not being considered. If Tinubu had over bearing influence on the party, there wouldn’t have been any reason conducting primary elections. He would have come up with a list of party candidates to be presented to the INEC. All aspirants were given a level playing ground to test their popularCONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Divisions within PDP has strengthened opposition Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), recently bared his mind to some journalists on a number of issues concerning the Central Senatorial District of Cross River which he represents at the national assembly, Cross River and the nation at large. EMMA OBI was there. Excerpts: You boycotted the last primaries elections. So where are you now? Are you still in PDP? Well I am still in PDP because it gave me the platform and the opportunities. I am thankful for the opportunities the PDP gave to me.

The fact that I have issues right now is not enough for me to forget that, it is the party that gave me the opportunities and visibilities.

So I remain a committed member of the PDP family and fully in politics.

Last week when PDP flaggedoff their campaign, the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke called aggrieved members, though your name was not mentioned, that they should return back to the fold because the posts they are holding was given to them by the PDP. What is your reaction?

Certainly, he couldn’t have been referring to me, because I never left the party. I am still in the party. I was aggrieved, yes. Not happy, yes. But in spite of my grievances,

“I am expressing my grievances by staying back within the party, to advocate that things should be done properly within the PDP” I still remain the committed and loyal member of the PDP. It was directed at those who have moved to other parties, because some of our members, after the primaries, moved to APC, some to Labour. I have not moved.

As a key stakeholder of PDP in the state, would you want to, may be initiate any move to reconcile the factions in the party?

That move is usually done by the party itself. Because I am involved, I was dissatisfied and one who is dissatisfied cannot be the one to initiate that. It is the party.

Because it was the process that caused the dissatisfaction. It is the person who handled that process who should also handle the process for redressing peoples’ grievances and the process of rec-

onciliation. So it is only left for the party to do that.

What’s your message for those who have defected to other platforms?

Well, they have a right to express their grievances in different ways. I am expressing my grievances by staying back within the party, to advocate that things should be done properly within the PDP. That’s my own way of reacting to my grievances. Others would react by moving away to go and explore or express their ambitions. And those with such have since moved.

Are you not worried that the mass defection from the PDP to other parties might mar the chances of Mr. President winning in the general elections?

Of course. This would have implications. Let me start with the state here (Cross River). If you recall, apart from 1999 and 2003 elections, where the opposition parties fielded candidates for every political position. In 2007, the opposition did not fill any candidates in most positions. In 2011, they did fielded candidates in many positions. Today, we have gone back to a situation where as a result of the disaffections arising from the primaries, we have fed the oppositions with enough CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Ndoma-Egba

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

‘PDP has always contested and lost election in Lagos’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

ity and level of acceptability among our party members. That is why we were able to grow from a one party state, to zonal, regional and now a national party. This was as a result of our being democratic in nature. That is why APC has naturally become the most preferred alternative party and that is the more reason why God fearing and progressives minded individuals and groups have come together to work for a common goal of providing a better platform for Nigerians to effect their desired change of government at the national level.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a blessing, not only for our party, but the entire Nigerians. He is the agent of change that we seek to have in the country.

After the APC governorship primary election, the defeated aspirants in Lagos including you have not come out to let Lagosians know why all of you at the primary election venue left angrily. Is it that you have all decided to result to fate on the scientific imposition of Ambode?

Lagos governorship primary election was conducted among individual aspirants and not as a group. We arrived at the venue of the election at different times, and same way we left. We never had a joint nomination form. We contested and campaigned individually. I do not know where you got information that we left together angrily. We met ourselves at the venue and did not leave the venue together. In any election, there is always a winner and losers. Do we need to explain to Lagosians what never happened? I do not know what you meant by scientific imposition of Ambode. The primary election that ushered him as candidate of

Tinubu

the party was free and fair. The result has not been contested by the aspirants or do you mean online voting by delegates or what do you mean by scientific imposition? If he was imposed on us, there will not have been primary.

develop Lagos?

All loyal and committed members of the party are charged with the responsibility of developing the state in one way or the other. Without being the governor of the state, nothing prevents me from working in my capacity and or with the governor to develop the state. What some people do not realise is that the development of Lagos has multiplier effect on other states. Lagos state dictates the pace of development in Nigeria. APC is using Lagos as a point of reference for development of Nigeria.

With the emergence of Jimi Agbaje as the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, some people have been saying that the end of APC rule in Lagos has come. Is this true?

PDP has always contested and lost elections in Lagos. Jimi Agbaje was a candidate during the governorship election in 2007. While PDP is losing value both at state and national levels, APC is waxing very strong. The giant strides and laudable achievements of APC led government in Lagos are our selling points. Lagos government under APC has become a reference point among other states. Lagosians are happy with our party. They have always voted for the party of their own. APC belongs to them. They will do it again come February 14 and 28.

At the governorship primary election venue, in the speech delivered by Mr Joe Igbokwe on behalf of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tinubu said the party would pacify the losers. Are you relying on the statement for your next political decision?

There is no reason pacifying anyone. All governorship aspirants are stakeholders of the party. It is our party. My next line of action, which I have always done is to work for the interest and development of Lagos state. The victory of our party come February is paramount to me for now.

With the way things are going on in the country, do you think 2015 general elections

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a blessing, not only for our party, but the entire Nigerians. He is the agent of change.

Ayinde

“An average Nigerian cannot eat one meal a day. To pay school fees of children is a problem. There is serious poverty in our land”

will be possible?

2015 general election is possible and feasible. The show of incompetence being displayed by the federal government, the unusual things which are characteristics of bad leadership such as the insurgency, abduction of Chibok school girls, bad roads, incessant power supply, unemployment and corruption have become very unpopular in the society.

Before the governorship primary, we learnt that you have been meeting with foreign consortiums on Lagos development, with your loss at the primary, would you still continue with the meetings to

PDP has always contested and lost elections in Lagos.

Jimi Agbaje was a candidate during the governorship election in 2007

How much can you say of President Goodluck Jonathan, considering the various problems facing the country?

I am bitter with the way he is governing us. It is painful to emphasise here that other African countries have overtaken Nigeria socially and economically. He has not come out to tell us how he intends to give us relief in this austerity period. Because of insecurity, lack of regular electricity, unemployment, bad roads and other social vices some Nigerians prefer a country like Ghana to this great country. Some Nigerians spend their Christmas and New Year holiday in South Africa and Ghana. It is a shame. It has never been this bad. I am happy for one thing. Nigerians are wiser now. We have had enough of this retrogressive government of PDP. An average Nigerian cannot eat one meal a day. To pay school fees of children is a problem. There is serious poverty in our land. God has answered our prayers in this country with the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari and Prof Yemi Osibajo as APC candidates for the February 14 election. With them, Nigeria will be totally out of the poverty that President Jonathan has inflicted on us over the last six years.

Agbaje

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

members. These people are capable and viable members to have vied for reasonable positions.

They were until recently in PDP. So, one immediate implication of the recent injustice in PDP is that, it has revived the oppositions. So, we on our own have succeeded in reviving the opposition. This means that, we would now need to work far, far harder. Because we are now facing these same people who were deliberately injured. It won’t be easy to beg them to come back. Now if you deny somebody a platform which they were not even asking for it, but they have demanded for a level playing field. They are asking for equity and justice. And you said no, and he goes somewhere. And saying someone should swallow his injustice or to go ahead with his ambition. So, now we are going to do far more work than we needed to do.

19 Politics

‘PDP will have to work harder to win’

What’s your relationship now with Hon Owan Enoh, the man the PDP allegedly used to rig you out?

I have no issues with him. I know that, he was not the one that was fighting me; we know who was fighting me.

But do you intend to campaign for him or against him?

I remain a loyal PDP person.

INEC said Permanent Voters’ Cards for all those who registered last year are not ready. Should all these Nigerians be disenfranchised or that the elections be postponed?

I do not see reasons why INEC won’t be able to issue out all the PVCs. Because this election is an opportunity for INEC to elevate the processes involved in elec-

Ndoma-Egba tions. If nothing is done, then, we would run into credibility problems. Because the processes involve issues with the parties especially the PDP. If INEC does not conduct a credible election, then the parties would suffer. INEC must do everything to give those that registered, their PVCs so as to be able to vote. INEC, must also ensure, that all the card readers are available and presented to the political parties in good time

and should also demonstrate the use of the card readers ahead of time so that parties can begin to take their supporters on what to expect on election day. INEC have the responsibility to elevate the threshold of the forthcoming elections.

On insurgency; the president has always been telling us that he would resolve the problem but he seems not to have. Don’t

you think bringing him back to power would portent danger?

The problem of insurgency did not begin with President Jonathan. In Iraq today, we have the ISIS. In Syria, you have insurgency. This is a region that has attracted the best of international collaboration and contributions and they have still not been able to solve the problem. Insurgency is not a problem you solve with a golden bullet. It is a very, very

“Today, we have gone back to a situation where as a result of the disaffections arising from the primaries, we have fed the oppositions with enough members” complicated problem. So to say he has not been able to solve it is not true. The Americans, France, Britain, are all attacking ISIS, how come they haven’t succeeded in stopping the ISIS. So, it is a very complicated problem, it is not something you say, a wish as a solution.

But the opposition is using this to campaign against his government?

Of course, opposition need to.

Any party in power, they would throw everything at the party.

The PDP remains, the only ‘PanNigerian’ party. No individual or individuals can lay claims or ownership to it. You won’t hear PDP belongs to A, B and C. You can’t say so for APC or Labour party. Yes, in spite of the challenges, in spite of the gaps between what we could have done and what we have done, the PDP especially under Jonathan have delivered the dividend of democracy. The fact that we are able to abuse Jonathan. That every Nigerian can abuse him, is a dividend, an intangible one at that.

One of the dividends of democracy is free speech. He has elevated free speech. The fact that he had not disobeyed any court judgments is something.

Nasko’s pact with the people of Niger Dipo Laleye The Launch of the governorship campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kontagora recently was the best opportunity the gubernatorial standard bearer of the party in next month’s election, Umar Mohammed Nasko had to unveil himself and his plans for Niger State.

Though some political observers saw the flag off of the campaign in Kontagora as ‘taking the battle to the lions’ den’; Kontagora being the hot bed of politics in Zone C and the strong hold of the

opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), the venue turned out to be the proper market for Nasko to sell himself to the people of the state and in particular the Kontagora.

He did it in style Going by the massive turn out of the old and young from different parts of the state and even those from outside at the Kontagora open Field, the occasion turned out too to be the most ideal place for Nasko to release ‘My Pact with the People of Nigerlites’.

‘My Pact with Nigerlites’ is an

improvement on Vision 3:2020 launched by the administration of Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu in 2007 which has continued to serve as the guide for the implementation of the policies and programmes of the outgoing administration.

Vision 3: 2020 is designed to make the state one of the top three economically developed states in the country by the year 2020 which is why the improvement on the document by Nasko is tagged Vision3:2020plus. The plus is to fill the gap created by the implementation of the programme by Governor Aliyu’s

administration and the addition of those plans Nasko has for the transformation of the state.

The philosophy of his government from May 29,2015 is ‘to advance all frontiers of developing the State and stepping up the implementation of Vision3:2020 document creatively transparently, ambitiously, intellectually, diligently and with unwavering quality through capacity building, participatory democracy and grassroots involvement in governance where the people and their needs are primary determinants of our actions and commitCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

“The philosophy of his government from May 29,2015 is to advance all frontiers of developing the State and stepping up the implementation of Vision3:2020 document”

Politics 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

UK ELECTION 2015

New format proposed for TV debates The 2010 election had the UK’s first prime ministerial TV debates Broadcasters have put forward new proposals for the TV election debates in UKwhich would include the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens.

It comes after David Cameron refused to take part unless the Green Party was included.

The BBC and ITV would stage debates involving the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, Greens, UKIP, SNP and Plaid.

Sky and Channel 4’s plans to host a head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Ed Miliband remains unchanged.

The move comes after discussions between the broadcasters following a political row over the proposed format for the debates to be held during the election campaign.

The initial proposals only included the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP. ‘Good for democracy’ Reacting to the news, Green Party in England and Wales leader Natalie Bennett told the BBC she had not received official confirmation of the revised proposals “but if it’s correct, we are obviously absolutely delighted”.

“We have really seen the acknowledgment that we are in multiparty politics in Britain, the politics of 2015. This is good for British democracy as well as good for the Green Party.”

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood also welcomed the news, saying it was important for democracy for voters to be presented with “a clear picture of the choice that they face on polling day”.

The SNP’s Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, said the revised formats being reported was “very welcome progress”, saying the case for the SNP’s inclusion was “unanswerable”.

“We want these debates to happen, and they need to include the SNP so that the diversity of politics and our democracy across the UK is reflected,” he said.

The Democrat Unionist Party has indicated it will be writing to the BBC and other broadcasters to ask why it is not being included when it has more seats than the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the broadcasters’ new proposals seemed designed to call Mr Cameron’s bluff.

He said Mr Cameron faced a choice to either accept seven-way debates which could “split the left” or continue to resist them on the grounds they could “dominate the campaign”.

‘Unacceptable’ The live prime ministerial debates featured for the first time in the UK at the 2010 election.

They proved popular with the British public, being watched by 22 million people.

The initial proposals for the 2015 general election campaign included: Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband Cameron, Mr Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg the Conservative Party, Labour,

Cameron

Miliband

Lib Dems and UKIP. But Mr Cameron raised a number of objections to the proposals, principally that Green Party leader Natalie Bennett should feature.

He said it was wrong to include UKIP leader Nigel Farage in one of the debates but not “other national parties”.

This prompted Mr Clegg, Mr Miliband and UKIP leader Nigel Farage to write to the prime minister saying it would be “unacceptable” for him not to appear - and urging the broadcasters to press ahead without him.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage accused the PM of being “chicken”, and Mr Miliband claimed the way Mr Cameron was using the Greens as a “pathetic excuse” to avoid the debates.

But Mr Cameron said the La-

bour leader was scared of debating with Ms Bennett for fear he would lose votes to the Green Party.

Ms Bennett has argued that the polls and public opinion support the case for the Greens to be included.

Last week Mr Clegg suggested the broadcasters should come up with new proposals for the debates, saying he was “not wildly happy” about the offer on the table “because it excludes me as a leader of a governing party”.

The suggested schedule is for debates to be held on 2 April, 16 April and 30 April, ahead of the UK-wide poll on 7 May. Mr Cameron has previously suggested that if the debates do take place they should be held before the official general election campaign begins.

Clegg

“Reacting to the news, Natalie Bennett said, she had not received official confirmation of the revised proposals “but if it’s correct, we are obviously absolutely delighted”

‘Nasko will consolidate on gains of Aliyu’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

ment to service justice, equality and development under global watch and the eye of God’ Specifically the administration that Nasko will head will sustain a robust economic blueprint that will be anchored on comparative advantage as a state with the largest arable landmass in the federation meaning that mechanisation of agriculture with the Aliyu started will be sustained not neglecting the animal husbandry and the creation

of grazing reserves to check the frequent clash between nomads and other farmers.

The pact voluntarily entered into with the people by Nasko is to also sustain and consolidate on the value chain in rice, Yam, Cereals, fisheries and livestock development across the state which invariably will lead to job creation because the youths will be encouraged to go into farming with financial and other assistance to be given to them by the administration.

One major problem which is

confronting virtually all communities in the state which has also defied solution proffered by successive administrations is the unhygienic manner in which cattle are slaughtered for consumption because of dilapidation of the various abattoirs in the local government headquarters. This, Nasko intends to confront with a view to solving it once and for all.

The plan is to on assumption of office begin the construction of standard abattoirs in major cities and provision of slaughter

slabs in other towns and villages which will lead to the presentation of clean meat for people to eat which will also translate to healthy living by old and young in the state.

It is the intention of Nasko administration to introduce mobile health checks for the early detection of potentially endemic and epidemic diseases while also giving more impetus to primary healthcare service delivery through the establishment of rural based health care facilities.

Another hindrance to health

Nasko

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Law BENSON

Only stupid lawyers don’t retire

21

s He is the Otun Asiwaju of Ikorodu, Lagos. Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson, a Senior Advocate, former General-Secretary and later President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), was also a former Chairman, African Bar Association (ABA). Chief Benson, a philanthropist has helped educate many less privileged through his education foundation. Besides, the octogenarian spoke on his choice of career, life after retirement, plea bargaining and sundry other issues.

PETER FOWOYO met him.

May we have an insight into your background?

I am 83 years of age. I qualified as a lawyer in 1959, I practised law with my uncle, T. O. Shobowale Benson and Co. I practised for 50 years and at the age of 70 I retired. Since then I have not been handling any case. I attend to some other things like religious activities and also community services that was what I went for yesterday. We have been trying to see if we can get Lagos another state which will be called Lagoon

state, I am the Chairman of that committee and it is taking my time, apart from that, I am still physically sound. I am happy and my children are happy. I am from Shobowale Benson family of Ikorodu.

You said you retired at the age of 70. Do lawyers retire?

Yes of course, my answer to that usually is that only stupid lawyers don’t retire because if you look at those who are before CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Benson

1999 CONSTITUTION

Lawyers differ over Section 131

Section 131 (d) states: He has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent Agbakoba

Should Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution be deleted?

Some lawyers think so, while others believe that removing it from the constitution may pave way for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to take undue advantage of candidates seeking electoral offices.

PETER FOWOYO reports.

Although, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), might have been able to clear the air over the allegation by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that he did not possess the minimum requirement by law to be Nigeria’s president, lawyers on Monday disagreed on whether section 131 of the constitution should be expunged or not.

To those lawyers who want the

section removed, all these controversies surrounding Gen. Buhari’s qualification as an eligible candidate would not have arose if such provisions were left out of the constitution.

But those opposing this view are of the opinion that the office of the president is too important to be left in conjecture as there ought to be basic qualification for those who aspire to be in that office.

Section 131 of the constitution says: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of a pres-

ident if (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty years; (c) he is a member of a political party and he is sponsored by that political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

First to fire the shot was a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, who stated that qualification requirement is not necessary in the constitution noting that it is not by certificate that one can rule the country.

His words: “My view is that section 131 in the constitution should be deleted. We don’t require a constitution to tell us what qualification our president should have, I think it is anti-people. It is the voters who should determine the eligibility or ineligibility of a candidate irrespective of his qualification. It should be deleted. It empowers me as a voter to say who my president should be. Why should a presidential candidate be 40 years and above? What if a presidential CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Law 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

‘Plea bargaining not good for our system, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

us, I will give you an example of Chief F. R. A. Williams SAN, who refused to retire and I will let you know if you don’t know that he sat down in court for over 20 years because he was not capable of standing up to address the court and my last cases were against him. When I saw it, I was not so happy, I mean, I had a lot of respect for him but then when it gets to the stage of my being assisted into court physically, I saw it on the television and I wasn’t happy.

There was an occasion I had a case at TBS and I met him at the steps, he couldn’t go up, I sought to help him but he refused and so I left, when I came back I drove away. Apart from that, only recently I was talking to someone, I used to have correspondence in Paris whom we handle arbitration together, he was 60 years of age, a French man he just phoned me and said, “Tunde, look I am retiring.” I asked him, “What is the matter with you?” He said, “I have done it for 30 years, that is good enough, why shouldn’t I?” So he bought first class tickets for himself and his wife and they went on world tour. That is a good example of someone who wants to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

I don’t see any reason why one should not retire. Well, I have retired now over 14 years. Apart from that I have my children who are lawyers, my son who is a law-

yer is handling my chambers, my chambers is still there, it’s not dead, my daughter is a Judge of the High Court, isn’t that enough?

In fact, the day before yesterday when I was going to this Lekki side, I just told my wife that I was going to sleep at Bunmi’s place and I went to her house, we chatted till 12 midnight, the following morning i traveled to the point of the conference. In the morning, i woke up, took breakfast before leaving so, what do I want to go and do in court? I am going to carry burdens of other people; I have carried it for 50 years that is enough.

Like you are doing now, when I retired, journalists rushed here saying they understood lawyers don’t retire, asking why I was retiring, do lawyers retire? What are you going to do now? I said oh, that is a good question. I have built this house over 30 years ago and I have been driving to Lagos and back.

I have nice swimming pool and above that I have enjoyed living in this house. I have never been a tenant to anybody for 30 good years since 1974. So if I retire, I can tell you people are coming here, they want me to handle their cases for them but, I am not handling any case again. I travelled all over the world. I have prepared my biography or autobiography. I have nine children, 20 grandchildren, they are enjoying me and I am enjoying them so, why shouldn’t I retire?

I have my God to serve, my God

Benson

“I think that was what Mrs. Ibru did, see how many properties they recovered so for recovering that it is good but, it is not nice for our system because it encourage fraud”

allowed me to be over 70 which the bible says is enough in Psalm 90 or 91, it says three scores and ten. He has showered me with too much of blessings so why shouldn’t I serve Him? I had no time to serve him, you know in Lagos I had no time whatsoever to serve my neighbors, my first house was in Surulere. First thing in the morning I jumped into my car, drive to court and will not get back until 8 or 9pm.

I hadn’t served even my community that is two.

The third one is that I am from a very big family. Benson family we are very big family, my last

count we are over a thousand, my grandfather was somewhere there and as at that count, there were several Bensons and like I said before, how do I attend to them? Those who don’t have post graduate qualifications have two degrees so how do I serve the extended family? What I first did was to establish a foundation, B. O. Benson Education Foundation, no Benson family, that is, my immediate family should enjoy from there, several people have enjoyed from it. I have an archbishop who came through me, through that foundation, I CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Section 131 is anti-people – Agbakoba CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

candidate is 39 years and he is the best? Do you mean he is disqualified? So this whole issue of qualification in the constitution should go. It should be for the electorates to choose who their president should be. I am sure no Nigerian would vote for a 16 yearold boy as president.”

But a Kwara-based legal practitioner and also senior advocate, Mallam Yusuf Ali, disagreed with Dr. Agbakoba, stating that “there must be some basic qualification for anybody who aspires to be president of this country otherwise, the danger is that if there is nothing stated in the constitution as to that regard such powers would be for the electoral body to do what it likes. So, there

must be some basic provisions in the constitution that will set out one who qualifies for what office and what makes you to be qualified. It is quite desirable that we should have something like that in the document.

Apparently miffed by Dr. Agbakoba’s submission that nobody will vote for a 16 year-old boy as president, Mallam Ali asked: “Who told you a 16 year-old cannot come forward? They are not coming out now because there is age limit. We should not leave these things to uncertainty, it is better we are certain. One of the qualities of a good constitution is the certainty of its provisions and the office of the president of Nigeria is too important to be left in the whims and caprices of oth-

ers as to who is qualified to be in that office.”

Also, an Abuja-based senior advocate, Chris Uche said rather than deleting that provisions from the constitution, it should be strengthened to make it more effective than it is noting that “In any leadership position, there must be a cut off mark in the sense that there must be a qualification, it cannot be all comers affair and most specifically with the position of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is a very critical position not only in Nigeria constitution but constitutions all over the world set minimum requirement for election into such an exalted office and this is understandable.

“For instance the one of Nige-

ria in section 131 I think there are four sub heads; one, the person must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth that is understandable; two, he should attain the age of forty years even though I think that should be increased to at least fifty years and then the third is, he should be a member of a political party and sponsored by a political party, the constitution of Nigeria didn’t allow for independent candidacy; then I believe the one that has now become relevant now is the last one that says he must have up to school certificate level or its equivalent and I think this is because of the issue related to the papers of one of the presiCONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Ali

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

23 Law

Haram, terrorism and it encourages corruption’ Boko fundamental human rights:

The challenges that confront us

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

have doctors, I have lawyers.

If not law what would you have studied?

Medicine, as my first cousin, Professor Bolaji Akinsanya, we all went to the pathology department because he is a medical doctor, he is a professor now. What I love most was to be called Dr. Babatunde Benson but I was staying with my uncle, TOS Benson when I was in secondary school.

He had already qualified as a lawyer and he was going into full politics so he wanted some of us to take over from him. He didn’t tell me not to, then we had jobs, he said, “Tunde why don’t you go to the High Court?” if you see him then there were few lawyers, he was riding a Pontiac, his friend, Honorable Justice S. O. Lambo was also. Now I went to court, worked as a clerk there, you will want to become a lawyer. I now wanted to become a lawyer. J.I.C. Taylor will go into his sports car so when he suggested it, he was responsible for my education in England so that was why I changed to law but, that ambition of becoming Dr. Benson was crystallized sometimes ago when Lagos State University called me and conferred on me a honorary doctorate degree because I was there external solicitor but I don’t use it because it is honorary. Okay like my aunty now, Chief Dr. Oprah, it’s just honorary.

Do you have any regret?

Regret? Oh, none whatsoever. I recall a number of my colleagues who haven’t done as well as I have so, why should I regret it. Like I said this cousin of mine here is 82 years now, he is a professor. He is the husband of the controversial Honorable Justice Akinsanya. I have no regret whatsoever. In fact, I thank God for making me a lawyer.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has dared a former governor, Rashid Ladoja to sue him over his claim that the latter refunded N500 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a form of plea bargaining to get off the anti-corruption agency hook. What is plea bargaining? Is it known to our laws?

Well, plea bargaining is clearly America, it is not done in England where I studied but you get into that mess and what is called tracing, the fund is traced into your purse and you can’t get out of it and then the Americans would say let’s get this money out of this man and then we would allow him to go, that is pure plea bargaining and I think one of the people who brought that about was Professor Osinbajo and other professors, they believed that take for instance the fellow who was prosecuted on the pension fund, several millions and the law in the

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN

Benson north says fine him and he was fined about N700, 000.00 perhaps if they have done proper plea bargaining they would have got the money back.

I think that was what Mrs. Ibru did, see how many properties they recovered so for recovering that it is good but, it is not nice for our system because it encourage fraud. Alright, if I steal N12 billion they would take one of these houses, I still have some money. So if Ladoja did that and he was not prosecuted or convicted, governor Ajimobi will have a very high task because that is libel, he can go to court for libel, he can’t show evidence but sometimes they never liked to wash their dirty linens in public and so he will not sue.

‘131 should be strengthened’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

dential candidate.

“As a matter of fact, when you look at the complexities of such position, a man who should be the president of this country in this century must be an educated man, he should be able to understand world economy, he should be able to understand the dynamics of power, he must understand economics, he must understand government, he should be able to go out there in the world and interact with world leaders, he should be able to understand even if he has advisers all over he should be sufficiently educated to even understand what his advisers are saying and the least expected of him is a school certificate, in fact this has been a

qualification that has been there for over 30 years now since the return to civilian administration in 1979.

“Left to me, I think that the minimum requirement for the present day Nigeria should be a university degree. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it is discriminatory because if you look at the country of over 180 million and I am sure we have more than 30 million graduates so, I think rather than removing it, it should be increased to a minimum of university degree, it is very important for a man who has not undergone such a training, how can he understand the demand of present day education so, I don’t subscribe to the removal rather, I think it should even be strengthened.”

“Left to me, I think that the minimum requirement for the present day Nigeria should be a university degree”

The accomplices of the assassins of Rabbi Kahave struck again on February 26, 1993 when they drove a yellow ford Econoline under the World Trade Centre basement, detonated a bomb and 6 people were killed. A new world order had begun. Battle lines were drawn but such lines were not clear or visible. Terror attacks which were not new to the World but which were treated as local events or unfortunate attempts by fundamentalist groups to make a deadly point to the world. By the time of 9/11/a new consciousness had enveloped the world. The United States and its allies re grouped and fought back. War was declared on Saddam Hussein and the famous weapons of mass destruction were never found.

Osama Bin Laden was hunted and eventually killed by American forces while their Commander in Chief Barrack Obama and his aides watched the operation unfold and succeed on camera. Suspected terrorists were arrested all over the world. Other persons were profiled and arrested even when they had no connection with any terrorist group. Air travel and border crossings became laden with high security procedures and no one could deny that the world had indeed changed.

Our Country Nigeria has had a long history of religious disturbances. In the 1980s the Maitatsine sect unleashed violence in several parts of North Eastern Nigeria. The leader of the Sect was also named Maitatsine.

Wikipedia says that: “He was originally from Marwa in north eastern Nigeria at one time part of Cameroon. After his education he moved to Kano, Nigeria in about 1945, where he became known for his controversial preachings on the Qur’an. Maitatsine claimed to be a prophet, and saw himself as a mujaddid in the image of Sheikh Usman dan Fodio.

Although a Koranic scholar, he seemingly rejected the hadith and the sunnah and regarded the reading of any other book but the Koran as paganism. Maitatsine spoke against the use of radios, watches, bicycles, cars and the possession

of more money than necessary.

In 1979, he even rejected the prophethood of Mohammed and portrayed himself as an The British colonial authorities sent him into exile, but he returned to Kano shortly after independence. By 1972 he had a notable and increasingly militaristic following of Yan Tatsine.

In 1975 he was again arrested

by Nigerian police for slander and public abuse of political authorities.

But in that period he began to receive acceptance from religious authorities, especially after making hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. As his following increased in the 1970s, so did the number of confrontations between his adherents

“Osama Bin Laden was hunted and eventually killed by American forces while their Commander in Chief Barrack Obama and his aides watched the operation unfold and succeed on camera” and the police. His preaching attracted largely a following of youths, unemployed migrants, and those who felt that mainstream Muslim teachers were not doing enough for their communities. By December 1980, continued Yan Tatsine attacks on other religious figures and police forced the Nigerian army to become involved. Subsequent armed clashes led to the deaths of around 5,000 people, including Maitatsine himself. Maitatsine died shortly after sustaining injuries in the clashes either from the wounds or from heart attack.

According to a 2010 article published by the Sunday Trust magazine the military cremated Maitatsine’s remains, which now rest in a bottle kept at a police laboratory in Kano.

CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Abuja File Keffi-Nyanya Road commuters decry daily endless hold-ups

Andrew Orolua Thousands of commuters last Wednesday, January 14, 2015 decried the replica of the suffering that they went through on April 14, 2014 when soldiers first mounted roadblocks along the road following bombs blast that left 100 people dead.

Beside those two lingering bad experiences, they said Nyanya road had been known for its notoriety, for its daily long queues of vehicles, fatal accidents, impa-

s tient and rough drivers who used this gateway out of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Malam Ahmed Abdullahi, 60, who lives in Karu, a suburb of Abuja recalled that about 14 years ago, commuters’ outcry forced the then Olusegun Obasanjo administration to improve on its narrow single lane. The government reconstructed the road to its present double carriage ways.

That effort, as commendable as it was then, has proved to be shortsighted as far as majority of

workers who ply the road daily are concerned.

On a daily basis, residents of satellite towns and districts like Jikwoyi, Karu, Nyanya, Kpegi, Kereshi and Kurudu, all in Abuja; and Mararaba, New Karu, New Nyanya, Gwandara, Masaka and Keffi in Nasarawa State, commute through this road struggling for a passage with thousands of other commuters from the North East zone of the country and some states in the middle belt. Needless to say that

it is the only link to the central district of Abuja.

A truck was said to have last Wednesday caused a road jam.

It blocked two lanes and aggravated the slow movement streaming from military check points which were said to have been deliberately narrowed for effective monitoring, following two important national events that took place last week.

The action left commuters stranded for hours and many of CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

FCT road

Fast-tracking development in FCT through land swap policy Augustine Aminu and Mathew Dadiya Nigeria’s seat of power, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, which is described as the window through which the world sees the most populous black nation, is again witnessing a new dimension in infrastructural develop-

ment and global recognition.

This comes to the fore with the implementation of the Land Swap Policy that is adjudged world over as a more reliable strategy for providing mass infrastructure and affordable housing to any city with a massive population growth.

The policy, initiated by the Sen-

ator Bala Mohammed administration as FCT Minister, involves the granting of greenfield lands to competent real estate developers who will provide infrastructure – such as roads, electricity, potable water, drainages, and sewer lines, communication dots to residents – without any financial or technical demand on the government.

The policy is born out of the necessity to fast-track the provision of infrastructure and to stave-off pressure on public utilities and housing in FCT because of its rapid growth in population. It is expected to bring in billions of naira from banks in and outside the country and also generate over one million jobs for Nigerians.

This policy was said to have been adopted in countries like France, Japan, USA, China, Germany, Egypt, India and Denmark during periods of rapid urban development as it is currently being experienced in Abuja. It is equally a policy that has been endorsed by the World Bank as suitable for CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

25 Abuja File

Development will not compromise aesthetic beauty of Abuja

One of the fast-tracked developed road in FCT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

any country experiencing budget crisis like Nigeria, especially with the current dwindling oil prices resulting in a drastic drop in our revenue generation and allocation.

The objectives of the Land Swap Model include ensuring comprehensive development of districts in line with the Abuja Master Plan and the scope and specifications issued by the FCDA. The government, under this policy, will not put any money into the provision of infrastructure as the investors are expected to source for over N300 billion to finance the projects some of which are ongoing.

While assuring Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to the protection of the environment in the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the FCT; Sen. Mohammed insisted that the indigenous people in Abuja have a right to choose whether to be integrat-

ed or be resettled at any appropriate resettlement camp.

Worth noting is the fact that the Land Swap policy has, since its inception, attracted huge interest from both within and outside Nigeria; attracting over N500 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government from investors. Indeed, this wonderful initiative deserves commendation because, the objective according to the minister, is to ensure comprehensive development of districts in line with the Abuja Master Plan. It is expected to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing in the FCT. While traditional rulers in the FCT have unanimously endorsed the initiative, the Minister reassured that any square meter of land taken would be adequately compensated for in tune with the best world practices; insisting that no investor will be allowed to commence work without inputting the cost of compensation.

All developers or investors participating in the land swap model

are to deliver business plans showing their technical capacities, financial capabilities and managerial competences.

Each investor has paid a commitment fee of N350 million on presentation of business plan to fund physical plan, preliminary design, detailed engineering design, survey plan, feasibility studies and preparation of agreement.

Interestingly, a high-powered delegation of the FCT Administration under the leadership of the FCDA Executive Secretary, Engr. Adamu Ismaila has begun extensive tour of those areas that could be affected by the opening up and provision of infrastructure for the 10 new districts under the land swap model.

The tour was to carry the aborigines along with regards to compensation and resettlement.

Sen. Muhammed reaffirmed that the FCT Administration would never take over land from the Abuja natives without paying adequate compensation for all their

“Each investor has paid a commitment fee of N350 million on presentation of business plan to fund physical plan, preliminary design, detailed engineering design, survey plan, feasibility studies and preparation of agreement�

economic trees and farmlands.

The initiative, according the minister, will unlock the capital by freeing up land with issuance of title documents globally acceptable for business activities; and encourage the development of big time real property developers as obtained in developed countries. Perhaps, about 17 communities that would be directly affected in the Land Swap programme are Azhata, Ketti, Dagaja, Anaknayita, Gofe, Kowyizihi, Burun, Takalafiya, Takushara 1 and 2, and Maraba 2.

Others are Sabon Burun, Maraba 1, Anguwan Mamuda, Waru, Yiyimuttu and Burum Gbagy.

Senator Bala Muhammed who has said that Abuja remains the window through which the world sees Nigeria; is leaving no stone unturned to see to it that the FCT Administration under his leadership did not compromise the aesthetic beauty of Abuja as he strictly implements the Abuja Master Plan.

Abuja File 26

Daily Times Nigeria jƑƆ Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ ƾƣè ƾƠơǀ

Metro News L ë RƇƇƈƅƈ Ƌ Ɛ Ɗ Ɖ ƑƏ Ƌƈ Ɛ ƗƆƒƆƋ ƍƌƆ Ɛ Ƌ Ɖ ƑƏ Ƌƈ ƌ Stories: Sunday Isuwa

ÏÏÏ The Special Assistant,

Media & Publicity to the Executive Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Ephraim Audu, has called on media professionals to be largely apolitical and employ the tenet of development journalism in the reportage of events in the society.

Audu who made the call at a forum in Abuja at the weekend frowned at what he described as the incidence of intimidating and highly simulative publications being promoted by some section of the press (Not Daily Times) which are capable of undermining the integrity of persons and institutions.

The AMAC chairman spokesman said as the fourth estate of the realm, the contemporary media practice should align itself with progressive journalism to develop an indivisible country devoid of any form of bias.

The media aide specifically cited an example of an Abuja based tabloid which reported in early October that AMAC raked in N3.5 Billion from the Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) as its statutory receipts in seven months amid

‘Road expansion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

them began to ask questions similar to those raised in the late 90’s about the road.

Mr. Lawrence Ayuba, a civil servant who after spending two and half hours on the road jam between his Nyanya bridge residence, to army checkpoint, a distance of about one and half kilometer, asked who benefits from the waste of resources – fuel, time, man hours – that are being lost on a journey that ought to take not more than 10 minutes?

His colleague, Adamu Ibrahim who works with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, questioned the rationale for the military checkpoint, while adding that the traffic gridlock created by the military was enough reason to call for its cancellation.

According to him, the long queue of vehicles created by the gridlock is potential targets of terrorists who derived pleasure in creating fears among the populace. He said that people in the holdup are exposed to attack like other vulnerable spots.

He wonders why the military’s bomb detecting devices, scanning vehicles at the checkpoints, could not be sufficient enough to allow vehicles to move faster on the road.

Several workers who could not bear the traffic went back home and abandoned the day’s job.

Joseph Okoh, a salesman who recently secured employment

resident’s lamentation over lack of amenities.

He further said that the report clearly inferred that in spite of the high revenue taking from both FAAC and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources, nothing or little has been done to ameliorate the infrastructural lack in the few communities the report captured, out of the over 186 villages that represents the 12 electoral wards that make up the area council.

He observes that “such report is typically retrogressive and misrepresentative as the present council administration under Hon. Micah Jiba’s tutelage has executed over 300 physical and verifiable projects cutting across all social needs of the electorate. Some of them are sited within the capital city/ municipality.

The less than ten villages that said tabloid selectively surveyed remains a microcosm and it is not enough to judge an administration.”

Audu stressed that Hon. Jiba is ready to further build a better relationship with the press, urging all media houses to be supportive to AMAC as the leadership struts to discharge its statutory mandate.

Passengers on queue for buses as a result of the traffic gridlock

0 jô d#^ dƆ Ɛ Əƈ Ƌ ƅ ƗƈƗ ƐƆ ƍƏ ƌƈ Ɔ ƈƌƍƏ ƒƆƗ Ƌƈƒƈ ÏÏÏ The only female Senatorial

flag bearer in the FCT, Dr. Olu Usim-Wilson has said that if voted into the red chamber, she would ensure absolute delivery of necessary amenities that will improve the living condition of the people.

Dr. Wilson who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) stated this during her campaign tour in some communities.

She said: “I am resolute to ensure that all the necessary and deserving amenities are allocated to all areas of the councils with particular emphasis on the native communities whose privileges must be enhanced by the law.

“I will ensure the provision of soft loans to market women, as well as enforce a bill that will ensure a special educational

scholarship fund for the indigenes. I will legislatively effect the FCT leadership to create good road networks to enhance relationship and connectivity between the urban and the rural areas” she said.

Wilson also pointed out that she would not hesitate to inaugurate constituency project committee to specially supervise the FCT senate project activities.

She however called on all good people of the FCT to come out en-mass to vote for her as their next senator , just as she reassured that she will not disappoint them if voted as Senator. them in the FCT, calling on the FCT people to co-exist peacefully with one another irrespective of religion.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

ƌƌƑ ƈƐƕ ƋƆ ƗƆƏ ƅƅ ƌƌ Ɨ ƐƆ ƢƠ 9#^ ƈ L Ɗ Sunday Isuwa

A displaced person with baby

The problems of insurgency ravaging the North Eastern part of Nigeria, has forced a community leader, Ambassador William Yaji to accommodate 30 Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) from Adamawa in his home.

It was gathered that Yaji accepted the IDPs who came to his resident from Adamawa State, over 600 kilometers. He is the community leader of Angwun Mission, Masaka, a Nasarawa State community close to FCT. Speaking to Daily Times at the weekend, Yaji appealed to government and None Governmental

Organizations (NGOs) to assist those he accommodated.

He said as a retired civil servant, he has been trying his best to ensure that the IDPs leave comfortable life as they continue staying with him.

“I am calling on government, NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians to send their support for the children, women and men that are with me. They are people that have their home. They are people that cared for their families before but today, we ought to help them,” Yaji said.

The community leader advised the IDPs to take their condition as a temporary.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

is the solution’

27 Abuja File

2015 election: Hawkers, beggars in FCT count losses....

Idu Jude Abuja

Traffic gridlock along Keffi-Nyanya way CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

with a super market, could not risk missing the day’s work. He got to his office located at Wuse 11, after spending three hours on the road.

It is not only the civil servants who are suffering from the holdup along Nyanya - keffi road.

Market women lose perishable goods due to delays.

A cross-section of Mararaba residents who spoke with Daily Times narrated how they were being adversely affected by gridlock. Hassan Ibrahim, a landlord in Mararaba said he had lost good tenants because they could not cope with the traffic.

According to him, the only group that is benefiting from the adverse effect of the daily road jam are the commercial motorcycle riders who engage in extortion of stranded passengers.

Ibrahim wonders whether the federal authorities would one day expand the road or create alternative route.

As if the cries of commuters on Wednesday had reached the authority, the Minister of Works, Arch Mike Onolememen told reporters that the Federal Government had secured a loan from China to expand the road.

He said that work on the road would commence this year.

“The long queue of vehicles created by the gridlock is potential targets of terrorists who derived pleasure in creating fears among the populace”

FCT Minister donates cars to Police Zone 7 Andrew Orolua, Abuja The outgoing Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 7, AIG Mbu Joseph Mbu has expressed gratitude to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Bala Mohammed for providing the Deputy Commissioners of Police serving at the Zonal headquarters Abuja with official vehicles.

Mbu spoke while presenting 206 Peugeot saloon cars to four deputy commissioners of police who head separate departments at the zone 7 headquarters in Abuja as their official cars. The AIG who was posted last year to

the zone said that he met a situation where the deputy commissioners of police used their own cars for official duties, a development he said does not augur well for the service.

Stating that the cars would add dignity to their offices, Mbu advised them to maintain it so that their successors would inherit serviceable vehicles. He also urged them to eschew acts of indiscipline by ensuring that the cars are solely for official use.

Mbu who also stressed the importance of discipline said that the police force is up to its task of ensuring safety of persons and property. He urged the officers and men under the zone to

ensure that the welfare of their subordinates is taken care off at all times adding that by so doing they build confident and discipline which the force requires to triumph.

Mbu who would soon resume in Lagos as the AIG in charge of Zone 2, said that zone 7 is grateful to the minister of Federal Capital Territory as “so many things were achieved with the intervention of minister”.

He said that several criminal challenges bordering on land, such as cases of people parading the city with forged land certificates and people using state house’s car plate numbers were curbed within the short period.

The saying that one man’s delicacy, is another man’s poison has, over the years, remained true. The major sources of livelihood of roadside beggars and hawkers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been subtle approach of good and charitable motorists along Abuja urban city and connecting routes to suburbs.

Counting from the current attack by the Abuja environmental agencies, on its efforts to clean Abuja up and make it hoodlums free in readiness to the forthcoming February General election, most of the hawckers, are begining to lose this sense of belonging and Societal inclusivenes.

Daily times can report that the Federal Capital Authority, incharge of environmental cleaniness, and the social development Department, since January 10th, deployed joint task force of all security agencies, including the Military, the immigration, police, civil defence corps as well as other private security operatives, to issue a thorough clean up.

The Federal Road Safety Corps and the Verhecles inspection officers VIO’ are not left out in cautioning verhecles on road worthiness.

Speaking to most beggars, hawkers as well as road users, to some, Government, have actually encroached on their source of livelihood hence the biting and seemingly economic recession.

Mr. Amodu biu moroufu, left Borno state, while escaping from the dreaded Boko Haram, and met a heaven in Abuja, which its enjoyment has been short lived by the street cleaning exercises embarked upon by the FCT authority in preparation for its 2015 generation. “ You see, I decided not to go into the camps of the internally displaced persons, just to help myself. I know that Iam disabled but was not a beggar back home I only came here because of the insurgency, having lose members of my family. And I cannot go to the IDP camp at the airport road Abuja because the life there can be so hostile, the characters there to mix up with can be dangerous so I decided to be on my own so that when things settle down the I can return to my town and continue My business.

According to physically challenged mourufu, the source of his supply, has been cut off and not only that the joint task threat-

ens to arrest every street beggar including hawkers who look for daily bread and sent them to Kuje Prison for the violation of its enviromental laws. “We now hide from any slightest sight of motorists and it bad for business. We just hope this election come and go soon so that supply bounces back” Umaru Tanko, operating from Lugbe popular airport road, highlighted his ordeal having spent three months behind bars, which is the maximum jail term for hawkers who violates the Abuja environmental law. He said, “anyone who never felt the heat, may not know what I am saying, most of the security men goes out of their way in arresting people discreminatly and the thing now is that it has increased, some of us are now thinking of travelling home untill the election is over” “ I am still running around to bail my brother and my husband from this Abuja environmental Protection Agency, they arrested my brother, who went out to sell his goods in the Keffi, Abuja express way” That was the voice of subbing Miss Grace Usman, a mother of three, who was running from pillar to pole looking for money for the release of the her younger one jacob Yakubu and her husband Mr. Samuel Usman, who together, were arrested while selling their goods in Abuja traffic gridluck.

According to Mr. Grace who spoke to Daily times in Abuja, the family members, were given two days to come up with the mentioned amount of money, which must be brought to the court during seating to bail them or the two should be given three months jail term each.

Abuja hawkers

28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Money

s

NCS issued 273,148 PAAR in 2014 – Dikko

Pump price slash positive for business -NACCIMA

Augustine Aminu, Abuja

Charles Okonji

The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, on Monday, said the service issued 273,148 Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) documents out of 291,156 applications received in 2014.

Abdullahi disclosed this during the celebration of 2015 International Customs Day with the theme: “Coordinated border management, an inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders”.

He said that PAAR had delivered on promise of generating revenue to government within the first of its implementation by the service.

The Comptroller-General said the successful implementation the PAAR scheme resulted in the collection of N977.09 billion revenue into the federation and non-federation accounts in 2014.

He said the revenue represented an improvement over the N833.39 billion collected in 2013.

Abdullahi said the year 2015 coincided with the milestones anniversary of the PAAR, which in its conception and implementation, represented a bold statement in forging an all-inclusive approach to stakeholders’ management.

“Within the first year anniversary of PAAR, we have succeeded in bringing all stakeholders together in management of in-

Dikko ternational trade.

“Exporters, importers, duty collection banks, customs agents, DTI operators,terminal operators, shippers, air carriers as well as other partner agencies of government are all connected to the PAAR platform.

“In 2014, we received 29,156 applications, out of which a to-

tal of 273,148 was issued while a total of N977.09 billion was collected into federation and nonfederation account, an improvement over the 2013 total revenue of N833.39 billion,” he said.

The CGC, while commending the cooperation of all stakeholders, solicited further cooperation from them to attain a full

coordinated border management.

In his goodwill message, Secretary General, World Customs Organisation (WCO), Mr Kuniyo Mikuriya, urged border agencies to unite, to strengthen connectivity among all border stakeholders.

Mikuriya said that Coordinated Border Management (CMB) would result in better service delivery, less duplication, costsavings through economies of scale and fewer but better targeted interventions.

He said that customs administrations had long supported the notion that applying the principle of CBM would enable the multiple public service functions undertake at borders to be successful.

According to Mukuriya, successful border management will lead to an improved investment climate, an enhanced trading environment and increased economic growth.

He said: “Under the umbrella of the WCO, customs administrations have produced numerous instruments and tools to support better CBM such as coordinated border opening hours, performing joint control and setting up of juxtaposed customs offices.

“Integrating stand-alone border agency systems into one unified single window system is a core principle of CBM.

N26bn earmarked for 2015 dry season farming Augustine Aminu, Abuja

Akinwumi Adesina, Agric Minister

As part of his transformation agenda to improve national food production in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan over the weekend in Abuja announced the approval for the release of N26 billion for 2015 dry season farming in the country.

The President disclosed this at the AGRIFEST 2015 organised to mark the four years of aggressive agricultural reforms and

implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

He said the approval was to appreciate the contribution of rural farmers to massive food production in the country and to encourage the farmers to crop thrice a year to boost food production and eliminate hunger and poverty. ``To further boost your efforts to produce more food for our nation, I am pleased to announce to you the release of another

N26 billion toward the 2015 dry season farming programme. ``I am here today as your President. With your support, I hope to be here next year as your President and then I will do even more for you, for our farmers and for our dear country.’’

The President said the nation was proud of Nigerian farmers as thousands of jobs were being created for the youth through agriculture, which called for celebration.

SHORT NEWS

The recent reduction of pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government has been described as a welcome development by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) as it would ease part of the burden being faced by the private sector operators on the cost of doing business.

Speaking at its First quarterly Council meeting held in Abuja last week, Acting National President of the association, Chief Bassey Edem, expressed optimism that the slash in fuel pump price would have a positive impact on businesses and the general price level as cost of doing business will relatively drop.

Bakers want early distribution of cassava bread equipment Charles Okonji The Masters Bakers and Caterers Association of Nigeria (MBCAN), Lagos chapter, at the weekend, appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the distribution of cassava bread equipment to bakers.

Mr Jacob Adejorin, Chairman of the association, said in Lagos that only few bakers had benefited from government’s grants for the equipment.

He said that the equipment grant was made available through the Bank of Industry (BOI) to guarantee success of the ten per cent cassava flour inclusion in bread-making.

Adejorin said that members of the association had completed documentations for the grant as mandated by BOI but that the fund had yet to be disbursed. ‘’The grant is supposed to be a 50-50 arrangement between the government and the bakers,’’ he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

29 Real estate

Needed: Innovative finance strategies for housing

This, is however, not too far from the estimation of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria which had put it at about N56 trillion to be able to adequately meet the housing needs of Nigerians.

Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, said the figure is based on a conservative cost of construction at N3.5million per unit.

“Fundamentally, the nation needs 16 million housing units to bridge the housing deficits in the country, and providing these houses will cost N56 trillion at a conservative cost of N3.5million per unit. This is a colossal

amount which cannot be funded only through the NHF, but requires urgent injection of funds from both the government and the private sector. That is why we are as well exploring offshore funding to boost financing for mass housing which the nation urgently needs,” he said.

Experts have however identified the Land Use Act of 1978 which resides ownership of land in state governors, and a cumbersome property registration process as major barriers to housing development and homeownership, leading to the country’s huge housing deficit.

According to Fortune Ebie,

former managing director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), until the Act is reviewed or amended, improved housing development will continue to be a pipe-dream.

Two weeks ago, while reconstituting the new executive management board of the FMBN, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, noted that the essence of reconstituting the new team of the FMBN was to reinvigorate the Bank and effectively reposition it to meet the present and future challenges.

“This is in view of the bumpy and stormy nature of the eco-

nomic climate in which only the pro-active, adaptive and innovative organisations will have the absorptive capacity to survive its harsh consequences. In particular, the challenges facing the FMBN and other housing finance and mortgage institutions in Nigeria are real. Indeed, they will not be overcome easily. The good thing, however, is that they are not insurmountable. This is the whole purpose of bringing in fresh minds, hands and intellect to take the FMBN to a new height of glory as the market leader in the housing finance/mortgage sub-sector,” she said.

Eyakenyi stressed that organisations which continue to offer excuses for not delivering on their respective mandates, visions and impacting positively on the society by failing to offer diligent services to their customers have no place in the new Nigeria that is gradually evolving.

“Such organisations are like walking corpses which are actually dead while pretending to be alive. They tend to rely on past activities and achievements which are no longer relevant for the requirements of today’s forward-looking enterprises. As the market share, revenue growth and profitability of such organisations take a downward slide almost to a breaking point, with their faithful customers becoming appalled by their inefficient services, they continue to bask in self-glorification that all is well until they realise, quite unfortunately, that they are gone for good,” she said.

Zhang Xin, chief executive of Soho China, the property company, has differed with Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, on the country’s urbanisation drive.

“By now, most of the cities in China are built,” she said on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos. “Even small towns are quite built. So I think the intense urbanisation has come to an end.”

Ms Zhang is sometimes called “the woman who built Beijing” because of her company’s extensive developments in the capital.

Other people attending the dinner included George Osborne, UK chancellor of the exchequer; Sheryl Sandberg, Face-

book’s chief operating officer; Tony and Cherie Blair, Britain’s former first couple; and chief executives including Ellen Kullman of DuPont and Güler Sabanci of Sabanci Holding.

Asked about China’s slowing growth rate. “With urbanisation coming to an end, it’s slowing down,” Ms Zhang said.

However, speaking earlier in the day at the forum, Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, had a different message for attendees.

“The potential demand for real estate will remain huge for quite a long time in China, given the large number of rural residents moving to urban areas every year,” he said, according

to an official account of his remarks.

About 10m people moved into the cities from the countryside last year, bringing China’s urbanisation rate close to 55 per cent, according to official figures released last week.

China’s economy last year grew at its slowest pace in 24 years and last week the IMF lowered its forecast for Chinese growth this year from 7.1 per cent to 6.8 per cent, citing an ongoing slowdown in property and investment.

Many analysts believe the pain has only just begun in China’s real estate sector.

Keqiang

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Reducing housing deficits requires a number of essential ingredients to be in place to ensure a well-functioning housing finance system. This means achieving macroeconomic stability, effective legal and regulatory infrastructure, and ensuring appropriate levels of government intervention and support.

In Nigeria with its underdeveloped housing finance systems or systems that only provide access to finance for high-income households, forcing low-income households to self-build over long periods of time, or to settle for inadequate housing that does not comply with planning and building regulations, the need for a change in approach becomes a task that must be seriously addressed.

Economic growth within urban cities across the country is exacerbating the problem, coupled with increased land and construction costs, which make it harder for low-income households to purchase housing via the formal market. This is then amplified by the private sector which only cater for higher income households, thus leaving low-income households to selfconstruct.

Nigeria is contending with a housing deficit of over between 16-18 million, the World Bank has estimated that the cost of bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit is N59.5 trillion, underlining the vast and untapped investment potential of the country’s real estate sector.

China’s property tycoon, Premier differ on urbanisation drive

An estate in Asokoro, Abuja

Real estate 30

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Small space,

Brilliant garden Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Be inspired to create your very own urban garden oasis with this collection of clever design ideas for modern outdoor spaces. Gardening in small spaces is generally overlooked in garden design manuals. Garden design is often presented as a list

of principles or rules, and there is value in the key elements of garden design, but they are too often illustrated on a grand scale. Most of us do not have acres of land on which to carefully calculate the width versus length of our perennial borders.

Many of us don’t have the time or the inclination to undertake the maintenance these acres of gardens

would need.

Gardening in a small space has its limits, but it need not be limiting. In a small garden, the gardener can pay attention to detail. You can keep top maintenance, while still having time to sit and enjoy your small garden.

In fact, many small space gardens are designed around entertaining and sitting areas, rather than the

need to nurture plants.

Whatever your reasons for having a small garden, there is no reason it cannot be a well designed show stopper. Virtually any plant or garden style can be worked into a small garden space. The principles of good garden design still apply, but you’ll need to tweak them slightly.

Clever planting and positioning can create a high impact yet low maintenance garden seen in this coastal garden.

The horizontal and vertical rods are welded and drilled into the frame to support the collected weight of the terracotta pots filled with herbs in this vertical garden.

This antique mirror, from Elements i Love, brightens up a corner and reflects the vivid greenery.

Well-placed mirrors will increase the ‘size’ of the space and the sense of greenery.

Hedges work well to cover blank or unattractive walls. Timber panelling provides extra privacy and can be used to create seating with hidden storage.

Vertical Gardening For Tricky Idea In Limited Space , Grande Ideas of Small Space Gardening for Creating Green Spot in Limited Place In Outdoor Category.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

31 Mangement suite

The management, leadership distinction Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Key leadership success secrets set great leaders apart from the so-so leaders in today’s organisations. Leadership style is learned from mentors, learned in seminars and exists as part of a person’s innate personal leadership skill set developed over years, and existing possibly, from birth. Nature or nurture is a question often asked about leadership.

Leadership differs from management and supervision although some people and organisations use the terms interchangeably. While the definitions of the terms differ, an individual may have the ability to provide all three.

Supervision means that an individual is charged with providing direction and oversight for other employees. The successful supervisor provides recognition, appreciation, training and feedback to reporting employees.

Management means to conduct the affairs of business, to have work under control and to provide direction, to guide other

employees, to administer and organise work processes and systems, and to handle problems.

Managers monitor and control work while helping a group of employees more successfully conduct their work than they would have without her.

A manager’s job is often described as providing everything his reporting employees need to successfully accomplish their jobs. One famous quote from Warren Bennis, Ph.D., in ‘On Becoming a Leader’ distinguishes management from leadership: Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing.

Leadership and management must go hand in hand. They are not the same thing. But they are necessarily linked, and complementary. Any effort to separate the two is likely to cause more problems than it solves.

Still, much ink has been spent delineating the differences. The manager’s job is to plan, organise and coordinate. The leader’s job is to inspire and motivate.

While a supervisor and a manager may also exhibit leadership skill or potential, true

leaders are rare. This is because the combination of skills, personality and ambition essential to leadership are difficult to develop and exhibit.

According to Don Clark, on his excellent leadership resource, Big Dog’s Leadership Page, Bernard “Bass’ theory of leadership states that there are

three basic ways to explain how people become leaders. The first two explain the leadership development for a small number of people. These theories are: Some personality traits may lead people naturally into leadership roles. This is the Trait Theory.

A crisis or important event

may cause a person to rise to the occasion, which brings out extraordinary leadership qualities in an ordinary person. This is the Great Events Theory.

People can choose to become leaders. People can learn leadership skills. This is the Transformational Leadership Theory.

Youssoufou

Minnaar

Olaniyan

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

She is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Institute of Directors (IoD), Member of the Great Britain Clinical Pharmacists Forum. ….. Names Mrs Christianah Olaniyan, its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Christianah Olaniyan, until her appointment as Chief Financial Officer of Chams Plc was the General Manager, Special Projects of the company and is expected to play a far reaching financial risks management role for the Chams Group comprising of Chams Plc and subsidiaries that include ChamsAccess and Cardcentre Limited.

Olaniyan holds a degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford

Brooks University, UK and is an associate member of the institute of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA, UK).

Olaniyan worked with Supercard Limited, a subsidiary of Chams Plc, for three years as Assistant General Manager, Corporate Services, where she was responsible for formulating and managing policies on the company’s Finance, Accounts, Human Capital Development and Administrative functions before joining Chams Plc as Group Head, Internal Audit and Risk Management.

General Manager - Debbie Minnaar MTN Group has appointed Debbie Minnaar, a former executive at IBM South Africa, as General Manager for Products and Services within its Group Enterprise Business Unit.

Minnaar in her new role will be responsible for determining MTN’s ICT offering to enterprise customers across the MTN Business footprint in Africa and the Middle East. She will also help the company to identify key partnerships around Cloud and other services.

“To adequately support our enterprise customers with their ICT requirements, we need to offer them relevant solutions that don’t only enable their businesses, but inspire their growth as well.

I believe that in Debbie, we have someone with a clear understanding of what is required to achieve that. She has the relevant experience, calibre of talent and skill set to give MTN Business and our customers the edge,” MTN Group Chief Enterprise Officer, Mteto Nyati, said.

Executive appointments Chief Executive Officer - Ms. Zouera Youssoufou The Board of Dangote Foundation has announced the appointment of Ms. Zouera Youssoufou as its Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer. Dangote Foundation was set up by Africa’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, as a vehicle of giving back to the society especially the less privileged.

A statement from the Board said, “We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new MD/ CEO Dangote Foundation. In this role, she would be reporting to the Board of Dangote Foundation.

Zouera Youssoufou will provide overall management oversight for the Foundation, crafting the short, medium and long-term strategic plans and executing same with guidance from the Board”.

According to the statement, “Zouera joins us with a wealth of experience after working as the World Bank Country Manager for Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tomé and Principe where she worked as the front-line person in the relationship with all three

Governments and conducted dayto-day dialogue with all levels of Government, donors and civil society”.

DirectorDr. Josephine Awosika Chams Plc has announced the appointment of Dr. Josephine Awosika to its Board of Directors Awosika is a technocrat with extensive and meritorious public and private sector experience having served on the board of Access Bank Plc and Capital Insurance Nigeria Limited as non-executive director. She is expected to bring her wealth of experience to bear on the business of Chams Plc. Awosika was the pioneer national coordinator/chief executive of the National Programme on Immunization; Director ( Parastatals) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Director (Department of Community Relations and Youth Development) in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior; Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; and

Extra

Features

News

P12 Development How talking Zambia’s new 25 will not president too much got compromise me into trouble aesthetic beauty sworn into -Nayosoul L4 sworn intooffice office of Abuja TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.32

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

ÎÎÎBayelsa State recently

played host to a meeting of ex-militants with some stakeholders to discuss issues that participants find pressing. Among these issues are the follow up on post-amnesty, peace of the country, anti-poverty agenda for the region, progress of the Niger Delta Region and securing the environment in the face of dwindling oil revenue accruing to the country.

The State Governor, Seriake Dickson must be commended for this initiative of bringing the ex-warlords together in an atmosphere of dialogue. It is a departure from the past where things were allowed to go pear shaped before efforts were made at restoring peace with the attendant human and material cost of any crisis as well as the rebuilding that must follow.

The recent threat to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan by the Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa, Bayelsa Youth Vanguard via SMS and press briefings is an

N26bn P 28 earmarked for 2015 dry season farming

HowPrice: talking N150

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

Philip Agbese

Business

got me into dailytimesng

The gathering storm and the Nigerian state after 2015 indication that there is need to continue engaging the youths of the region in the aftermath of a government amnesty to militants.

Dickson must thus be commended for giving a local touch to the programme with this latest round of engagement through the meeting he hosted.

However, the calibre of attendees of this should be of interest to anyone who is keen on monitoring development in the region once known for its volatility that was then driven by these ex-militants who made the creeks a no-go area to operative of the Nigerian state.

While the Yenagoa meeting discussed progressive issues, one should rightly be worried about the other potentials that such gathering can be put to. Given the ceaseless fireworks of divisive and inflammatory comments that have been flying around the Febru-

ary general elections, one should ask if this meeting of ex-warlord signals a kind of regrouping of the fiery men, who not too long ago laid down their arms to embrace a Federal Government Amnesty Programme.

The likes of the leader of Niger Delta Volunteers Force, Mujahid Asari Dokubo have been engaged in war of words with the north with constant threat of instability to the nation if President Goodluck Jonthan, one of their own, is thrown out of Aso Rock even through an election.

The widespread response has been for people to dismiss Asari’s position as mere ranting but this could prove to be a costly mistake.

It will now be a costly mistake going by the calibre of ex-warlords like Tompolo, Atele Tom, and all the high profile names in the creek who came out to attend this meeting at the instance of

Gov Dickson for anyone to think that they cannot unite in one second in one second at any call for brouhaha. A cursory look at the past will reveal that prior to the granting of amnesty to militants, the reach of these groups had spread beyond the South-south geopolitical zone to other areas.

The riverine areas of the South-west have embraced militancy while the kidnappings that spread to the South-east have not let up even after the originators of the dastardly laid down their arms for amnesty.

This clearly demonstrates that the dangers to the nation go beyond the sabotaging of oil infrastructure but also touch on the stability of the entire country.

Those, particularly my siblings from the north, angling to cause trouble in this case should beware of the existing armies in the Niger Delta. Our rhetoric around the election would suggest that we are kind of geared for a showdown but we must not delude ourselves into thinking that any one region has the monopoly for violence. It is

certain that the ex-militants handed over their arms for the amnesty programme, no effort was spared to confirm that in a country of mutual suspicion and unfortunate alliance of diverse ethnic groups. But we must not forget that these warlords already have experience with arming their militias so it could be easier for them to do again.

What we must not give to them again is the excuse to get angry but this is exactly what we are doing with the endless barrage of inflammatory comments and actions. For instance, our uncle, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari was able to freely campaign in Rivers state and even had a conducive atmosphere in Bayelsa, president Jonathan’s home state. In both instances he Buhari and his entourage were recipients of the southern hospitality. However, the campaign buses of President Jonathan could not even move from one city to the other as no driver was willing to drive one of them for a fee. Youths were insti-

gated to chant against him in Sokoto, so called hoodlums stoned his convoy in Katsina and his billboards have to be under 24 hour surveillance in Gombe.

The way we treated our president is already yielding negative consequences as we have succeeded in belittling him on the international scene and yet we expect respect from foreigners as Nigerians.

These acts of intolerance are what we must collectively speak against as a block from the north. If Nigerian electorate want to exercise their right to sack a government through the ballot, it is crucial that the decision of the people does not come out not just like an ethnic agenda particularly when it is apparent that the north does not have the wherewithal to prosecute any resulting crisis from such misadventure. These guys have the militias and they have the oil resource.

Comrade Philip Agbese is National President, National Democratic Front and contributed this opinion piece from Abuja.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TUESDAY 27-01-2015 POTISKUM

ONITSHA

WARRI

YELWA

OSHOGBO

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

Thunderstorm

Clear

Partly Cloudy

35 |16 °C 95 |61 °F

37 |24 °C 98 |75 °F

32 |23 °C 89 |74 °F

40 |20 °C 104 |68 °F

37 |23 °C 98 |74 °F

0% Chance

20% Chance

80% Chance

0% Chance

10% Chance

Precipitation

Precipitation

Precipitation

Precipitation

Precipitation

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

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tara L on CNN My regrets P

L4

P

Daily Times Weekly movie/music chart

L6

P

7

-Nayo Soul Constipation L5 and food

P

Hair ways L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXCLUSIVE

My mood, my hairstyles

Stories by: Mutiat Alli

Olagbagi

Dandruff and cure

Lemon Juice Lemon juice will help treat an itchy and dry scalp because of its antiseptic properties. It is particularly useful when dealing with dandruff You can simply apply fresh lemon juice thoroughly on the scalp. Leave it on for five minutes and then shampoo your hair. If you do not have dandruff, dilute the lemon juice in water.

Alternately, you can mix lemon juice

with yogurt and apply it on your scalp for a few minutes before washing your hair with a mild shampoo. Repeat at least daily until itchiness and dryness disappears.

Baking Soda Another readily available ingredient that can relieve an itchy scalp is baking soda. It helps relieve itching by exfoliating the scalp and controlling dandruff caused by overactive fungi.

Make a paste with baking soda and water and apply it directly onto your scalp. For best results, rub some olive oil on your scalp before applying the baking soda paste.

Allow it to soak into your scalp for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse well with water.

Aloe Vera Aloe vera gel contains moisturizing properties, which may relieve excessive

experiment with my hair.

Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, from Ondo State. She had her primary and secondary education in the United States of America, where she bagged a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Master’s degree in Media Communications.

A popular on-air personality, she had worked with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Cool FM before joining the Beat 99.9FM, she is our celebrity guest on Hair Ways.

That means you can wear loud colours with your hair?

No! I’m a public figure, so, I can’t experiment with lousy colours. I prefer black or brown.

Celebrities are, readily, in love with extensions. What does your natural hair look like?

Wearing of extensions comes with this line of profession, but, that doesn’t mean we don’t take care of our natural hair. My natural hair is long and black.

Gbemi Olateru Dandruff often causes itchy scalp and this can be embarrassing especially in public. Dandruff can also lead to hair loss!

Some of the most common causes are dandruff, dry scalp, sebaceous cysts, excessive anxiety, poor hair care, fungus and viral infections, and poor diet.

There are many ways you can treat an itchy scalp without spending a lot of money. You can use some common kitchen ingredients to treat itchy scalp.

Opeoluwani Akintayo

dryness and itching. If fresh aloe vera gel is not available, you can purchase the gel.

Spread some fresh aloe vera gel onto your scalp using your fingers.

Allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash your hair with a mild shampoo.

Coconut Oil Coconut oil creates a barrier that helps keep skin moisturized and hence it is an effective way to treat an itchy scalp.

Rub a little coconut oil onto the scalp after washing your hair your scalp when it is clean. Leave it on for at least half an hour and then wash it out with a perfume-free shampoo. Follow this simple remedy three times a week.

Another option is to gently heat coconut oil so that it melts, add it to your shampoo before washing your hair.

Would I be wrong to assume you can’t be caught wearing your natural hair out?

Yes, you would be wrong to make such an assumption. My natural hair is long and black, so, what on earth will stop me from flaunting it?

Sometimes, I could decide to rock my natural hair for two weeks after removing my extension. And it’s not all of the time that I wear hair extensions. Sometimes, I decide to make the local Didi (weaving) and then wear wigs so that my hair can breathe. I also braid because I love to

How do you maintain your natural hair?

I make sure it’s not dry by oiling it, wash it regularly, and wear a silk scarf when going to bed at night.

Which hairstyle is your best?

I don’t know which one, because I look good with any hairstyle I choose.

I once tried the Sun hairstyle and everyone liked it on me. I’ve also made the long wavy weave-on and people still liked it. So, I don’t have favourite.

Does your mood dictate your hairstyles?

Yes. For example, whenever I’m travelling, I like to go on short weaveon or braid so it won’t irritate me.

Long weave-on can be a problem, sometimes. So, if I don’t want to be bothered, I go for hairstyles that soothe my mood.

What type of hairstyle do you prefer on different occasions?

The last time I had my birthday, I made the short, but, normal Rihanna.

It was a bit long and curly at the tips.

If I want to wear an evening gown, I could pull my hair into a ponytail or bond it, so it doesn’t touch my back.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

L3

Society

Meet most experienced Lagos female lawmaker Isaac Oguntoye

i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng

She is a lawyer by profession and was equally called to Bar in 1993. She is currently writing her doctorate degree (Ph.d) at the University of Lagos. Her incursion into the esoteric world of politics was in the mid 90’s.

Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso owns the record of the most experienced female lawmaker in Lagos Stateam It might interest you to know that she is spending her third term in the Lagos State House of Assembly LAHA. Hon. Tejuoso was elected into the Lagos Assembly in 2003, being her first term in the House. She later emerged the deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2007 after her re-election into the Legislative House. It will interest you to know that in the history of Lagos State House

of Assembly, no female has been elected three terms consecutively; a feat Hon. Tejuoso achieved in 2011 when she was re-elected for third term by Mushin Costituency 1 where she represent.

And as a female, if you think she’s in politics for the fun of it, you might be wrong. In one of the interviews granted recently Hon. Tejuoso said “ I’m in politics basically to care about the needs of people. The whole idea of professional like me running for election is to try and improve the environment around us by ensuring that we make laws that will impact positively on the lives of the people”.

A check on her records of service revealed that Hon. Tejuoso who is saddled with the responsibilties of been the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance has collaborated with gender activists and non-governmental organizations in the

Poju Oyemade Picks Feb. 7 Wedding Date

If everything works as planned, we the Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, Poju Oyemade will be tying the nuptial knot with his heartthrob of many years, Toyin Fajuyigbe, known as Toyin Fajj come February 7, 2015.

According to information, the wedding was initially planned for December last year, but was postponed because of the annual West Africa Faith Believers’ Convention in January. In case you don’t know her, Toyin is a media personality and gospel musician. Findings also proved that Toyin Fajj is the Founder/ Chief Executive Officer of Story Teller Media, a media outfit with interests and focus on production and presentation of media contents across various platforms (electronic and print).

Mosun Filani supports husband, Kayode Oduoye’s campaign For the past few weeks now, star actress, Mosun Filani has been moving all around with her husband, Kayode Oduoye to make sure she plays her primary role as a good wife to support her husband’s political career. It will also interest you to know that the sexy actress is throwing all her weight behind him by inviting colleagues from the Nollywood circle to support her jewel. Those present at the campaign ground attest to the fact that the star actress is not leaving any stone unturned to make sure her husband win the seat. Kayode Oduoye is vying for the post of House of Representative in Ikire.

area of women empowerment, and has also been working assiduously towards raising the awareness of women about their social and political rights. She sponsored Domestic Violence Bill into law (a private member bill).

She has also supported and contributed immensely to the passage of other bills into laws, spanning from Education, Health, Infrastructure, Youth Empowerment and Development, Security, Appropriation and theChild’s Right Law. Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso is contesting in the forthcoming election to return to the Lagos State House of Assembly for her 4th term.

She is a leading contender for the speakership seat of the Lagos State House of Assembly when the 8th Legislative Assembly kicks off in June this year.

Princess

Adenrele Ogunsanya endearing personality

Still looking dashing at her age, former Secretary to Lagos State Government, Princess Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya is still very dynamic in nature, her carriage and poise stand far tall ahead many in the political and society circle in the State, little wonder her overwhelming popularity in Ikorodu Town especially among the political juggernauts. A Chieftain of APC , well respected woman in the society, Princess Ogunsanya who is the Secretary General of Lagos State Women Forum in the last few months seems to have reaffirm her leadership role in the Political structure of Lagos East, through Ikorodu town was not

given the Governorship slot, the beauty was at the forefront clamoring for the axis before it was given to Epe. Her family home in Oke Ota-Ona, Ikorodu, has become mecca of a sort with political bigwigs in the Senatorial district paying homage and holding strategic meetings with her. Many will recalled that father of the amiable woman, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, was a front-line politician in the First Republic as a chieftain of the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC) whom Princess looks to have directly took her endearing social and political traits from.

Extra L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

How talking too much got me into trouble Nayosoul Odunayo Ayorinde, a.k.a, Nayosoul, may be new in Nigeria’s music industry, however, she’d pitched her tent with the superstars already. A lawyer by training, a firm person and a gogetter, Nayosoul debuts clutching the horn of soul. She opens up on her journey into the world of music and how she hopes to claim her crown.

How was growing up like?

I grew up in a family with four girls.

My parents were very strict considering the values they set. I grew up with a very strict Christian background and it still affects most of the decisions I take, even as an adult. My grandmother, mother and aunts were all in the choir and because I was very close to my maternal side, singing became part of me.

Soon, my sister and I also joined the choir and the whole thing just flowed from the oldest to the youngest. My sisters and I have always been close, but, we also fought a lot. If I were to rate, my father was very strict, unlike my mother, who was a bit lenient, but, never spared the rod. But I started doing serious music during my university days at the University of Lagos, while studying Law between 2003 and 2008.

Why Law, in the first place?

While growing up, I used to talk a lot and nobody could shut me up. I always had my own opinion about everything. I’m still that way, but more matured and I also know when and what not to say. So, when people saw how much I could talk, naturally, they started saying I would be a good lawyer. I also watched a lot of legal series back in the days and somehow, I started thinking I was perfect for it.

But it was after I started studying Law that I realised that being a talkative and being a lawyer are two different things. It took me a while to adjust but when I did, I started enjoying it. I love

books, I love school and I love exams, so I’m happy I studied a professional course. One day, I’ll go back to study music too.

I’m sure talking too much would have gotten you into trouble, sometimes…

Many times! Even now, that I’m older and more matured. I know there were things I should have kept to myself, but, they found their way out of my mouth.

Like what?

I remember a time I overheard a conversation and went ahead to tell my friend, but, had no idea my mother overheard me talking from the balcony. I can never forget the long conversation we had about it afterwards.

But she thought I hadn’t learnt my lessons, so she grounded me for days and made me do all the cooking and cleaning. My sisters made it worse for me because they were allowed to go out and play. And anytime they returned they would make jest of me.

Although, I can’t remember whose story I told my friend about, but, I remember feeling horrible afterwards.

So what happened after you joined the choir at a young age?

After joining the choir when I was 14 years old, there was a day the teen choir was to minister, so I took the solo. My choir director noticed me and by the time I joined fully, I was already a soloist. Soon, I fell in love with music and started writing my own songs.

Then, when I got into the university in 2003, I started singing alone on stage as an artist. I sang in the Christian fellowship choir and started growing with music. To be honest, I didn’t think I would end up in professional music because, at a point, I stopped singing in 2007 to focus on my final year in school. I just thought that I’d had enough fun with music and it was time to face real life.

So why return to it?

It was between 2009 and 2010 when I felt something was missing in me. Although, I wasn’t sure what it was, but, later, my friend, who became my manager, Ijeoma Evander Aniemeke, kept talking about how I used to do music while in school and kept asking me why I wasn’t doing it anymore. Then he took me to a producer friend, Effiok and then to Cobhams Asuquo. Being around music made me realise how much I missed it. That’s when I started writing inspirational soul music. It took me almost a year to write a song that I was happy with it because I wasn’t in love with my first single. My team pushed me to release the song and I’m so grateful I did.

That’s what the like of Iyanya said, but now, he’s dumped R&B for Hip-Hop and Dancehall. I’m sure you will soon do same…

I don’t think I will. I’m not saying it’s wrong to change your style of music, Iyanya wasn’t wrong to have rebranded. But, I’m not sure I can do his kind of music But soul artistes hardly get shows in Nigeria…

Nneka and Asa have had endorsement deals and have shows in Nigeria and abroad. Same thing goes for Bez. I have come to accept what and where the market is and that’s where my shows come from. If you don’t accept that as an alternative artiste in Nigeria, your market is limited to a certain people, then, you will get increasingly

frustrated.

some months ago and, hopefully, another one will drop any moment.

So how do you intend to compete Hope your boyfriend supports you, with the like of Cobhams, Lami, because some guys get jealous whenAsa, Bez, Waje and Nneka? ever they see guys coming around Bez, Cobhams and others have their girlfriend… put in much work. It didn’t happen overnight for them and I’m willing to work harder too. Hopefully one day, I How do you know I have a boywill become a reference point to other friend? artistes too. My music is great and So you are denying him in public!

I’ll keep pushing until it goes internaLet’s just say I’m in a happy place. tional.

That means you are with a guy that treats you well and doesn’t get jealous I can imagine the look on your parI won’t be with a jealous guy. ents’ faces when you told them you wanted to abandon law for You know, most female entertainmusic… ers have issues maintaining relaMy dad and I used to argue about tionships. That’s why they remain music, two or three years ago. But I single for a long time… think they have both seen my persisEntertainers, generally. I’m not tence and that their fear that I would sure it’s a gender thing. Nothing in life become a different person is unfound- comes easy, especially, when you are ed. To be honest, my mom seems to in a relationship. It’s hard work. Both be coming around a little more than parties have to be willing to work hard my dad. My extended family and sis- at the relationship. ters on the other hand, completely, That means you will soon get marsupport me. ried. That’s nice!

Soon, eventually, now, next month, So what are you working on now? next year! It will happen when God Ultimately, the album, but right says it will. I don’t stress myself about now, I’m starting work on an extended it, especially, since I have so much goplay (EP). I’m recording the first single ing on in my everyday life, but, you’ll of the EP, it was released in November. hear about it when I am to get marI released my first video for the song, ried.

Go Where You Are, starring OC Ukeje

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

L5 Nutrition

Do you have constipation?

2

1

3 4

Try these yummies!

5

Many of us, sometimes, experience full stomach and what we need at that particular time, is a way to ease off.

The cause of constipation is our bad choices of food. The only way out is to stock our meals with better food choices and plenty of fluid.

1

Fruits, Vegetables, Beans, and Whole Grains

As fibre travels along the large intestine, it absorbs fluids to bulk up and soften waste materials. That helps stool pass more easily through the colon, where muscle contractions move it along. Fibre is, particularly, dense in the skin, stems, and leaves of fruits and plants, so peel off their skins, if you want effectiveness. Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli, etc., work wonders, because of their high magnesium content.

2

Prunes Prunes or dried plums act as a mild laxative. They stimulate muscles to push waste through the large intestine. Five prunes provide about three grams of fibre, but, because

prune juice is, equally, effective as a laxative, researchers doubt that fibre is the key. More likely, the effect is due to prunes’ high content of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol.

3

Coffee and Other Hot Liquids Part of the reason why hot liquid is good is that it helps move the bowels. Coffee may also trigger intestinal muscles to contract. It’s not a good long-term solution, especially, because coffee is a diuretic (so drink plenty of water as well), but in the short term, it should help do the trick.

4

Water Fibre needs water to work its magic. When we don’t drink enough water, our bodies pilfer it from our waste, leaving stools hard

and difficult to pass. Make water more enticing by adding sliced seasonal fruits, like strawberries, peaches, watermelon, or citrus fruits.

5

Flaxseed and Psyllium Try drinking a cup (250 millilitres) of warm milk with a teaspoon (5 millilitres) of ground flaxseed mixed in it before bedtime. Sprinkle two tablespoons (25 millilitres) flaxseed over cereal or in a fruit smoothie in the morning. And look for cereals that list psyllium as one of the first ingredients.

6. European-Style Salad In Europe, many people eat their salads at the end of the meal. Adding that crunchy fibre as a finishing touch can help push the rest of the food through the digestive tract. Eating fruit one hour before or after a meal can also be helpful.

6

Chart L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

movie and music chart

The Daily Times weekly movie and music chart, started last week. It’s our pleasure to bring you top exciting Nollywood movies and Nigerian music, straight from the hearts of Nigerians, and of course, an experienced panel of judges.

Our weekly chart include movies and music/music videos getting the highest attention to TV, radio, You Tube, Vevo, etc.

So as to create fair play, this forum will divide the movie section into Yoruba and English.

Feel free to participate by sending movies and music, videos inclusive, that you think can stand the heat.

Send to- o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng

Top 10 movie chart (English) 1. 30 Days in Atlanta 2. October 1st 3. Alanpoza 4. Two Bride and a Baby 5. Holding Hope 6. Weekend Gateway 7. The Meeting 8.On Bended Knees 9. Being Miss Elliot 10. Unforgiveable

Top 10 movie chart (Yoruba) 1. Mufu Olosha Oko 2. Kofo De First Lady 3. Alakada 4. Ipe 5. Oyenusi 6. Arinzo 7. Komfo 8. Aroba 9. Ewatomi 10. Bella

Top 10 m usic chart Pix- tima ya, damm y, tizzle 1 Timaya – Sanko 2 Damm y KraneAmin 3 Sean T izzle- Lok e Loke 4 P-Squa re- Shek in i 5 Iyanya - Finito 6 DJ Nep tude Ft. S arkodie & 7 D’Princ Phyno- B e- OYO elieve 8 DJ Nep tud Oritsefem e Ft. Sarkodie & i Ft. D’ba Phyno- B nj- Doub elieve 9 Skukile Wahala Peteru ( Remix) 10 Ice Pri nce- Tha t Could B e Us

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

L7 Buzz Byte

Vector Tha Viper releases new video, “KingKong” Rap act, Vector Tha Viper has dropped the visuals for his new single, ‘King Kong’.

The song, King Kong, is filled with tribal rhythm laced with hip hop punch lines and heavy Afro beats. The single video is from his third album, to be released later in the year. In this new video, Vector is depicted as the king in rap music, in a very unconventional style.

The single video opens to an urban side with Vector connecting to his hood and pulling off some

street swags.

The streetwise video is produced by Liciouskracki of G.R.A.P and it was mixed and mastered by Indomix. The single video pushes Vector to a new level in hip hop as he continues to validate his ability to blend different sounds with Yoruba and English Language.

The video was directed by DuksArt. It was shot in different parts of Lagos and styled by Jekwu, the stylist.

, a b a b i l A , w a Y storm Cowlso others #DJFaceOff la il V t n e m re ti e R

‘Heaven’s Hell’ premiere postponed

wlso Retirement conjunction with Co in , w Ya P, OA FM luding Ali Baba, Wazobia list performers, inc Aer th ge to t pu ests at DJ FACE Villa, has d others to thrill gu an ro ro po Ak , llo Korede Be .

January 24, 2015 m OFF on Saturday, activities, ranging fro ing cit ex ith w ed ck pa s, is ce h an hic w rm t, l perfo The even and thrilling musica y ed m 2, co e , as ion Ph tit i DJ compe ent Villa, Lekk at Cowlso Retirem will hold by 12pm gos.

La anya Estate, Ajah, DJ Bella, DJ Young off Abraham Ades Bo including DJ nd, ys ke joc c dis n ve Xray will spin the About se yal, DJ Indo and DJ Ro DJ e, Te bi Ga DJ Money, ove their mettle. transport guests turn tables and pr free BRT buses to ed nis ga or o als d am on Saturday, Yaw ha be available by 11 ill w s se Bu e. nu ns: UNILAG Gate, to the ve e following locatio th at 15 20 , 24 January d Jakande (Ajah).

Obalende, TBS an

Mutiat Alli

CEO of House of Tara, Tara Durotoye on CNN’ African Voices Tara Fela-Durotoye, Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s leading beauty brand, House of Tara, the first make-up studio and progenitor of Nigeria’s first make-up school in 2004, was on Saturday, January 24, 2015, profiled on CNN’s African Voices, a weekly show that highlights Africa’s most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who are shaping change in Africa.

There, she talked about the Tara brand being Africa’s leading beauty brand, her passion for empowering young women to build businesses and blazing a trail for young Africans and young African women, especially, to believe in themselves and to build their communities.

House of Tara opened up its Kenya store in the last quarter of 2014.

The star-studded anticipated movie, Heaven’s Hell could no longer be premiered on January 23, 2015, as earlier announced.

Katung Aduwak, director/producer of the movie, said the delay was due to the explicit and inciting content portrayed in the movie.

“We received advice from a member of NFVCB to re-edit some scenes in the movie, which were considered too explicit and inciting. Well, the scenes are being worked on and, in due course, the highly expected movie will be ready. My sincere apologies to all Nigerians who have shown interest in the movie, since the announcement. We won’t be able to premiere it in January, but, as soon as we are set to hit the cinemas, details will be available”.

Heaven’s Hell is a psychological drama, set in Lagos, that tells the story of two housewives and best friends; the loquacious and miserable Alice Henshaw, the pleasant and compliant Tsola Aliu and their husbands, the affluent and kind Edward Henshaw and the egotistical and brilliant Jeff Aliu, whose lives are held together by rocksolid friendship and unwavering love, yet laced with betrayal, deceit and a lurking darkness.

The movie features talented actors like Nse Ikpe Etim, Bimbo Akintola, Damilola Adegbite, OC Ukeje, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Chet Anekwe, Kalu Ikeagwu, Femi Jacobs, Gideon Okeke, Treasure Obasi, Bimbo Manuel, Wole Coker, Waje, and Sarah Majekodumi.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Showing on 103 Movies Premiere

Showing on 113 M EDGE

02:00

00:05

Tue, 27 Jan | 18 VNL

Mon. 26 Jan | 16 VL

‘S6/E6- Live Free Or Die’. Get your does of mobster drama with this iconic series starring the late James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, who debates whether to give a top earner a second chance. (2014)

Oscar- winner Forest Whitaker stars in this gut-wrenching and uplifting drama about a White House butler who served eight American presidents over three decades.

101 M-Net West

118 TelemundoTelevision

00:00 The Real Housewives Of Atlanta 00:30 The Spectacular Now 01:59 Behind The Scenes: Katy Perry: Roar 02:30 City Slacker 04:00 The Wedding Chapel 05:27 Behind The Scenes: Transformers Age...

06:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 07:00 Masterchef Junior USA 08:00 The Millers 08:30 Mind Games 09:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:30 Holidaze 12:30 The Middle 13:00 Masterchef Junior USA 14:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:00 Elementary 16:00 Blue Bloods 17:00 The Lottery 18:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 2 Broke Girls

00:00 The Queen Of The South 00:30 Aurora 01:20 Fearless Heart 02:10 The Queen Of The South 03:00 My Heart Beats For Lola 03:50 Broken Angel 05:20 Where Is Elisa?

06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart 07:50 My Heart Beats For Lola 08:40 Broken Angel 09:30 Where Is Elisa?

10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart 12:00 My Heart Beats For Lola 12:50 Broken Angel 13:40 Where Is Elisa?

14:30 Aurora 15:20 Fearless Heart 16:10 My Heart Beats For Lola 17:00 Broken Angel 17:50 Where Is Elisa?

18:40 Aurora 19:30 Fearless Heart 20:20 My Heart Beats For Lola 21:10 The Queen Of The South 22:00 Broken Angel 22:50 Where Is Elisa?

130 MTV

L8 Television

120 BBC Entertainment

00:00 Total Wipeout UK 00:22 Top Gear 01:14 New Tricks 02:06 Come Dine With Me 02:53 EastEnders 03:24 The Weakest Link 04:08 Top Gear 05:00 Fool Britannia 05:25 QI 05:55 Spy 06:20 EastEnders 06:50 Antiques Roadshow 07:50 The Weakest Link 08:40 The Cube 09:25 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

10:15 Deal Or No Deal

10:55 My Family 11:25 Hell’s Kitchen USA 12:15 Top Gear 13:15 Come Dine With Me 14:10 Total Wipeout UK 15:10 The Weakest Link 16:00 EastEnders 16:30 Deal Or No Deal 17:10 The Cube 18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

19:00 Rev. 19:35 QI 20:05 Would I Lie To You? 20:40 The Graham Norton Show 21:35 Miranda 22:10 Live At The Apollo

253 AIT 128 SONY MAX Pix- sony 00:00 Cheaters 00:20 LFL USA 2013 01:30 Fresh 03:15 Unbeatable Banzuke 03:40 Unbeatable Banzuke 04:05 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

05:00 Confessions Of An Action Star 06:20 Cheaters 07:10 World’s Most Amazing Videos 08:00 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

08:55 I Bet You Will 09:20 Killer Karaoke 10:15 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

11:05 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

11:55 Cheaters 12:50 World’s Most Amazing Videos 13:45 World’s Wildest Police Videos 14:45 Chameleon 2: Death Match 16:10 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

17:05 World’s Most Amazing Videos 18:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 19:00 Killer Karaoke 20:00 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 20:30 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 21:00 Rude Tube 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Kenny vs Spenny 22:30 World’s Most Amazing Videos

00:00 AIT Midnight News 00:30 Movie: 02:00 Da New Live Beats 02:30 Sports Today 03:00 Focus Nigeria 04:00 What Life Took From Me 05:00 Oremus 06:00 Kaakaki 09:00 Golden Footprints 09:30 Studio 10:00 Focus Nigeria 11:00 The Money Show 12:00 AIT Reports 13:00 Sports Extra 13:30 Echoes

14:00 Inside The Parliament 15:00 Matters Arising 15:30 Policy On Track 16:00 World News 16:30 Nickelodeon 17:30 Oil And Gas Forum 18:00 Shakatawa 18:30 One Mic 19:00 Allison’s Stand 19:30 This Life 20:00 AIT News Hour 21:00 Prime 21:30 MTV Base 22:00 What Life Took From Me

124 E! Entertainment

00:00 Live From The Red Carpet: The 2015...

01:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 02:00 The Drama Queen 03:00 Dr. 90210 04:00 Dr. 90210 05:00 E!Es 06:00 The E! True Hollywood Story 07:15 Celebrity Style Story 08:00 The Drama Queen 09:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 10:00 Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills 10:30 Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills 11:00 E! News 12:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The Hamptons 13:15 Fashion Police 14:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 House Of DVF 16:00 Live From The Red Carpet: The 2015...

18:00 E! News 19:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The Hamptons 20:00 Kourtney And Khloe Take The Hamptons 21:00 Fashion Bloggers 21:30 Fashion Bloggers 22:15 Celebrity Style Story

XT Exclusive

X4

IBENEGBU

NEYMAR

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

TOS DA SILVA SAN

Poster!

NEYMAR

Unworried over Super 6 defeats X8

X4,5

X5

ONALTION PERS INFORMA Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth:

Height: Playing position: Current team: Number:

Youth career : 1999–2003 : 2003–2009 Senior career : 2009–2013 2013–till date: National team 2009: 2011: 2012: 2010–till date

“Many of his individual actions result in a goal and often it’s a move that only seems to be happening with him on the pitch.”

–Former Barcelona Director Jorge Valdano

Júnior Silva Santos Neymar da 1992 (age 22) February 5, Brazil Mogi das Cruzes, 9 in) 1.74 m (5 ft nger Forward/Wi Barcelona 11

Portuguesa Santos

Santista

Santos Barcelona

QUOTES ON

“

NEYMAR

player with the best style be compared It is good to about Garrincha’s dad told me and Pele, but my up, attacked forward, went similar to as he moved style is more dribbled. Garrinchas’s Neymar’s.

which boyhood dream, that it’s I’m living my Right now club. The fact for a European tremendous was to play makes it a like Barcelona the a huge club about the city: everything to Brazil, honour. I like quite similar people. It’s climate, the even a beach!. a lot. There’s which helps –Neymar

”

Brazil U-17 Brazil U-20 Brazil U-23 team Brazilian senior

“I see Neymar like a Ronaldo or a Messi, the type who appears and makes things happen.”

–Brazilian soccer star Zico

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

A B G DRO ES’

Gumel

U L B S E EY STAY

honoured!

X2

BAFANA, BLACK STARS IN TRICKY TIE X3

EURO LEAGUE

AFFUL:

X8

Odegaard, Messi incomparable – Fjortoft X7

X2

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

Drogba

A B G O R D

G N I T E G R A T

A E S L CHE FA Cup:

STAY

Anichebe

D

idier Drogba has underlined his desire to stay at Chelsea beyond the end of the current season, when his contract expires.

The Ivorian enjoyed a stellar eight years at Stamford Bridge in his first spell, winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups before sealing the UEFA Champions League with the decisive penalty in

the shootout against Bayern Munich in the 2012 final.

Many thought that spot-kick would be Drogba’s last act in a Chelsea shirt, but, following brief stints at Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray, the 36-year-old returned to be reunited with Jose Mourinho at the start of this campaign.

And the striker, who signed a one-year

deal, says he would like to remain in London for the foreseeable future.

“When you have achieved so much and won so many trophies like we have done in the past 10 years, that creates something special,” he said.

“I hope, and the club makes me believe, I am part of this big family, so we are going to find the best thing for both of us to promote the club in the best way.

“When I left this club (the first time), I was saying that I had done everything I wanted to do, but I think now that I did not do everything, I think there is more to do.

“I love this club and would love to be part of this club for the future, with the new players.”

Ex-Juve star Foster hails Anichebe’s heroics Trezeguet retires!

W

est Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster lauded the qualities of team-mate Victor Anichebe following his FA Cup heroics against Birmingham City at the weekend.

Anichebe netted both West Brom goals in a 2-1 win at St Andrew’s, twice using his strength in holding off Paul Robinson to fire home.

And Foster, who was called upon in the second half after starting goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was forced off with a hand injury, believes Anichebe can act as a focal point for West Brom’s attacking play.

“He was unplayable at times on Saturday,” Foster began. “If you get the ball into his feet with one defender marking him, then that is trouble.

“I don’t care who you are, you will not be able to stop him bulldozing his way through.

“Vic has shown that if you can get the ball into his feet he will turn defenders, he is fantastic at doing that.

“It is what he does regularly in training and the gaffer has noticed that, it is an incredible strength to have.

“We need to play to our strengths, it is as simple as that.”

F

ormer Juventus and France international striker David Trezeguet has confirmed he has retired from playing after a 20-year career.

Over the weekend, reports in the Argentine media had claimed Trezeguet had retired, and the 37-year-old verified that on Sunday.

Trezeguet played for Pune City in the inaugural Indian Super League in 2014, scoring just two goals in nine matches as his team finished sixth out of eight teams, but he revealed he had already started to consider retirement before heading to India.

“Before going out to play in India, I had the idea to move on,” Trezeguet said.

Trezeguet played for eight clubs in his career but is best known for his 11 seasons with Juventus, where he played 245 league games and scored 138 goals in Italy’s top-two tiers of football.

The World Cup and European Championship winner with France wants to return to the Turin-based club now that he has hung up his boots.

“The idea is that I will participate in the promotion of Juventus’ image in the world,” Trezeguet said.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

AFCON 2015

I QUENCHED GABON’S FIRE, GOALKEEPER

Tango! Action recorded during Ghana, Algeria clash at the ongoing AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.

: L U F F A

O N O V O BOASTS

, A N A BAF KE

BLAC N I S R STA Y H C N RU C W TIE ith backs against the wall, Bafana Bafana will face Ghana today with fire, Afful. n riso says Har defender has featured in na Gha The 5 AFboth games in the ongoing 201 be not will ca CON and knows South Afri

with a while South Africa are bottom point. like “They also play good football, just he ” , side h toug very a us, so they will be e enc influ the ut abo talk said, going on to Gha the in ers play d ase ca-b of South Afri na team. ed Edwin Gyimah and Awal Mohamm play in the PSL. good “They (South Africa) have a guys e thes s nce league and so the experie by red sha be will will bring to our team

walkovers. rest“This game is going to be an inte easy be to g goin not is it ing game and the at said man ce eran Esp for us,” the . day Sun on nce fere con s pres ch pre-mat all.” ns mea to The Group C finale is by no Bafana must have to win for them lify. qua still . done, as both teams can ugh thro g goin of nity ortu opp points have the Ghana are second with four

Soudani to lead Algeria’s attack against Senegal

A

lgeria head coach Christian Gourcuff will depend on the Dinamo Zagreb striker, El Arbi Hillel Soudani, who replaced Sporting Lisbon Islam Slimani in today’s AFCON crucial game against Senegal.

The Desert Foxes will miss the services of Slimani due to injury after he picked up a muscle problem in the first game against South Africa.

According to Algerian media, the French coach will use Soudani from the

Soudani

start of today’s match against Senegal after the striker has watched happenings at the AFCON from the bench in their first two matches.

Soudani has found it hard to win a starting place in the Algerian team since Gourcuff took the charge of the Desert Foxes last summer after the departure of former coach, Vahid Halilhodzic.

Media reports also suggest that the Algerian head coach will leave out midfielder Medhi Lacen from the clash against the Teranga Lions of Senegal.

The Algerian delegation arrived in Malabo, venue of their must-win clash with Senegal, on Sunday.

No way! Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper, Felipe Ovono (right) makes a dare-devil save against Burkina Faso. quatorial Guinea 21-year-old goalkeeper Felipe Ovono has been one of the best so far at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, as he proved it once more against Gabon in Group A final match day on Sunday, when his side overcame the Panthers 2-0 to stroll into the knockout stage of the competition.

Ovono told superport.com he was responsible for stopping Gabon from levelling the two goals which the Nzalang Nacional held onto until final whistle.

“After Gabon conceded the first goal through penalty they multiplied onslaughts towards our defence line but I was able to cease all their shots and keep our goalmouth impenetrable. You know we have never beaten Gabon before in an official competition and so they didn’t want to swallow that. However, I was able to keep our lead unscathed until the final whistle,” he said.

Ovono, who bears the same surname as the opposing goalkeeper Didier Ovono of Gabon, said he learnt a lot from the Gabonese guardian and will continue to take his lessons.

“Didier Ovono is a great goalkeeper and I have been watching and learning from him. Our victory over them doesn’t mean I’m a much better goalkeeper. He is the main man, I’m only a starter,” he enthused.

Ovono plays for local side Deportivo Mongomo but believes he could be spotted by foreign scouts if he maintains his form in the knockout stage.

“There are a lot of scouts from Europe and Asia in this tournament and they are observing us. I want to do my best to get spotted and hopefully move abroad to learn more.”

Close to 40,000 people were in attendance at the Bata Stadium to push the Nzalang against Gabon. The huge support yielded dividends according to Ovono.

“We just couldn’t afford to fail all those young and old people who trekked from far and near to watch us against Gabon. It buoyed us and we are happy they did not return disappointed.”

Ovono won the Fair Play award of the match.

AFCON RESULTS Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon Zambia 1-1 RD Congo Tunisia 1-1 Cape Verde Ghana 1 - 2 Senegal Algeria 3 - 1 South Africa Cote d’Ivoire 1 - 1 Guinea Mali 1 - 1 Cameroon Equatorial Guinea 0 - 0 Burkina Faso Gabon 0 - 1 Congo Zambia 1 - 2 Tunisia Cape Verde 0 - 0 RD Congo Ghana 1 - 0 Algeria South Africa 1 - 1 Senegal Cote d’Ivoire 1 - 1 Mali Cameroon 1 - 1 Guinea Gabon 0 - 2 Equatorial Guinea Congo 2 - 1 Burkina Faso

TODAY’S MATCHES South Africa v Ghana 19:00 Senegal v Algeria 19:00 Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Cameroun v Cote d’Ivoire 19:00 Guinea v Mali 19:00

X3

X4

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

Y E N

DA

“Many of his individual actions result in a goal and often it’s a move that only seems to be happening with him on the pitch.”

–Former Barcelona Director Jorge Valdano

“I see Neymar like a Ronaldo or a Messi, the type who appears and makes things happen.”

–Brazilian soccer star Zico

R A YM Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

X5

S O T N A S A V L I AS L A N O S R PE INFORMATION Full name: h: Date of birt h: Place of birt Height: sition: Playing po : Current team r: be um N er Youth care 3: 00 –2 99 19 9: 2003–200 er Senior care 3: 2009–201 te: 2013–till da am National te 2009: 2011: 2012: te 2010–till da

Júnior Silva Santos Neymar da ) 22 ge (a 1992 February 5, , Brazil es uz Cr s Mogi da 9 in) 1.74 m (5 ft ger in W d/ ar Forw a Barcelon 11

Santista Portuguesa Santos Santos Barcelona Brazil U-17 Brazil U-20 Brazil U-23 nior team Brazilian se

QUOTES ON

NEYMAR

“

st player with the be compared be cha’s style to in od rr go Ga It is out told me ab d da y m t cked and Pele, bu ent up, atta forward, w ed similar to ov e m or he m as e is chas’s styl in rr Ga . ed dribbl Neymar’s. , which ood dream ing my boyh liv that it’s I’m ct fa w e no . Th Right ropean club us Eu a r fo em a tr endo was to play a makes it e Barcelon e lik th : ub ty cl ci e ge th a hu about azil, e everything similar to Br honour. I lik . It’s quite le op pe e h!. ac be a en climate, th e’s ev s a lot. Ther which help ar –Neym

”

X6

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

English Premiership

L

Balotelli

BALOTELLI’S LIVERPOOL CAREER NOT OVER!

iverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has defended striker Mario Balotelli and insisted “it is not the case” that his Anfield career is over.

Rodgers admitted after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bolton in the FA Cup that he had overlooked the striker following below-par displays training and urged the summer signing to step up if he wanted to be involved.

While the Reds boss accepts his striker has struggled to impress since his move to Anfield, he is not prepared to give up on the Italy international yet.

“It’s been a difficult period for Mario but he wants to fight for an opportunity here,” he told reporters. “The opportunity is there.”

Liverpool battles Chelsea in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final today, with some suggesting Daniel Sturridge could be involved but Rodgers is not looking to rush the striker back.

“We’ll see how it is today,” Rodgers said.

“He trained very, very well yesterday. That was as comfortable as he’s looked, he looked back to normal.

“We won’t risk it that’s for sure, he’s been out for a long time and we need to make sure he’s ready.”

Chelsea suffered a shock 4-2 home loss to Bradford City in the FA Cup on Saturday, but Rodgers does not feel that result will serve to help his side though does expect “trepidation” from Jose Mourino and Co.

–RODGERS Mourinho

PIRES TIPS

J

TO REPLACE WENGER

not dwelling on Bradford’s defeat

ose Mourinho is glad to have Chelsea’s League Cup semi-final second leg so soon after their surprise FA Cup exit to Bradford City.

Chelsea took a 2-0 lead against the League One side on Saturday, who then fought back brilliantly to score four goals without reply and stun Stamford Bridge.

But with just three days separating that defeat - labelled “a disgrace” by Mourinho and today’s clash with Liverpool, Mourinho is quick to move on to the League Cup semi, which is finely poised at 1-1 after last week’s meeting at Anfield.

“The next game is the most important one,” he said. “At the end of May, beginning of June, we don’t go to Wembley to play the FA Cup final, that’s for sure. The FA Cup is finished for us.

“We don’t go there even to play the FA Cup semi-final. It’s over for us.

“To go there - and I think that should mean a lot to everyone - the last chance we have is this one, to play there in the Capital One Cup final.

“We need to forget this one (Bradford) and start the next game in a different competition, and I know we are one victory away from playing a final.

“It’s the good thing about playing consecutive matches without many days in between. It’s the good thing that, when you lose, you have to focus immediately on the next game.

“You don’t have a lot of time to be moaning or analysing what happened in the bad one. Let’s move and let’s think about the next one.”

Henry

HENRY, ANCELOTTI R

obert Pires has tipped Thierry Henry or Carlo Ancelotti to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in the future.

The 41-yearold spent six years at the Gunners between 2000 and 2006, winning the Premier League twice and FA Cup three times, only to see the club go

nine years without a trophy until the FA Cup last season.

Pires does not think Wenger needs to call time on his spell in north London yet, but feels either the legendary striker or Real Madrid manager would be perfect candidates to replace him.

When asked if Wenger could leave Arsenal soon, Pires said: “Not this time. Beside that, Wenger still has a contract with Arsenal.

“Who is the perfect replacement? Thierry Henry? He understands football and Arsenal.

I don’t know, but I like Carlo Ancelotti. But that’s my opinion, it doesn’t mean that Arsenal need

Ancelotti at this time.”

Wenger has long been criticised for failing to strengthen his squad, particularly in defence following the exit of Thomas Vermaelen in the summer.

When asked if fellow Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette, who has scored 21 goals in 22 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon this season, could join Arsenal, Pires added: “Why not? His characteristic style of play will suit Arsenal.

“Although he doesn’t have big posture, he’s quick, can dribble, and has great skill. He also scores many goals. Perhaps he will be an Arsenal best buy in the future.”

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

X7

EURO LEAGUE

Don’t compare ODEGAARD to MESSI, says FJORTOFT Former Norway international Jan Aage Fjortoft feels it would be wrong to compare new Real Madrid signing Martin Odegaard to Barcelona star Lionel Messi and has warned that the 16-yearold should be given time to develop.

The youngster is regarded as one of the most exciting talent around and Madrid beat off stiff competition from clubs such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool and Ajax for Odegaard’s signature.

The attacking midfielder has even been compared to Messi by some due to his style of play, but Fjortoft has moved to downplay expectations following his compatriot’s transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu this January.

“Comparing Odegaard to Messi is nonsense from the media. Messi is a player who can make the difference and Martin can do the same, but any comparisons should not be taken seriously,”

Frey survives injury scare

Fjortoft said.

“Martin is only 16 years old and he should be allowed to behave like someone of his age. He should be able to develop gradually and one step at a time.

He has already shown that he is ready to take on new challenges.

“Martin does not feel any extra pressure. Let’s compare his situation to that of established stars like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Toni Kroos. They were all cheered by the media at some stage and they are role models now. The footballer of the future does not only need talent, but he should also work hard, be disciplined and put in more effort than others. You have to follow your goals and stay professional.”

Fjortoft believes Real Madrid was the right choice for Odegaard and feels the presence of Zinedine Zidane at the club could prove to be a major advantage.

Kroos: No difference between Bayern, Real

Kroos

Frey

Chievo defender Nicolas Frey was discharged from hospital on Sunday after suffering a cut to the head in his team’s 2-0 loss to Juventus in Serie A. Frey was stretchered off the field just before half-time at Juventus Stadium after clashing heads with the hosts’ Patrice Evra.

A “lacerated wound” on the right side of Frey’s forehead immediately started bleeding and Chievo medical staff sent him to a hospital in Turin, where the Verona-based club claimed the 30-yearold was cleared of “major problems”.

Toni Kroos believes there is not a great difference in quality between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

The midfielder joined the Spanish giants from Bayern in the summer after the Blancos won the Champions League, demolishing the Bundesliga side 5-0 on aggregate.

Kroos has already won the Uefa Supercup and the Club World Cup in his first season with Carlo Ancelotti’s men and is targeting more success this term, but admits he has not made a massive step up in moving from Bavaria to the Spanish capital.

“Playing with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo has been brilliant,” he said. “But at Bayern I also shared a dressing room with world class players.

“As for the sporting level there is not much difference between the clubs. Both are top teams. So far I’m having a great time. The first half of the season was good, but I hope we have a very successful season finale.”

O S U T T A G dreams of managing Rangers Gattuso

LICHTSTEINER delighted with POGBA’S form

Lichtsteiner

Former Rangers man Gennaro Gattuso has expressed his desire to one day return to the club in a managerial capacity.

The Italian spent one season at Ibrox in 1997-98, before a successful 13-year spell in his homeland with Milan.

Since retiring, Gattuso has had jobs in charge of Sion, Palermo and Crete, and was thought to have applied for the job at Hamilton Acamedical, following Alex Neil’s departure to Norwich City.

Speaking at a tribute match for former Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen on Sunday, Gattuso stated his wish to manage the club, who are currently in Scottish football’s second tier as they work their way back towards the top flight following financial ruin.

Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has hailed Paul Pogba’s role in the reigning Serie A champions’ 2-0 win over Chievo on Sunday.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men struggled to find an opening against Chievo until Pogba opened the scoring with a fine strike from outside of the area after a moment of individual brilliance, while the Frenchman also had a hand in Lichtsteiner’s goal that effectively put the match to bed.

The Switzerland international has admitted that Juventus endured a tough game, however had nothing but praise for Pogba after his match-winning performance.

“We knew that we would be in for a very tough game, but then Pogba popped up and took care of things,” Lichtsteiner told reporters.

Juventus went seven points clear of Roma following their win and the Stadio Olimpico side’s draw versus Fiorentina, but Lichtsteiner is not getting carried away.

“Our seven-point advantage for the time being doesn’t mean a thing,” the full-back, 31, added. “We want to keep pushing forward - in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.”

The 31-year-old recently signed a new deal with Juventus until June 2017 and he is desperate for more silverware in the years to come.

X8

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME BRIEFS

Warri Wolves line up before a match.

NAF to roll out 2015 programmes –Williams Kalu Kalu

IBENEGBU unfazed over Super 6 defeats

Warri Wolves midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has said his side are not disappointed following two successive defeats at the ongoing Super 6 tournament in Abuja.

The Seasiders were caged 1-2 by the Dream Team V1 on match day one

while they further conceded 0-1 defeat to Federation Cup winners, Enyimba on Monday at the main bowl of Abuja National Stadium.

Ifeanyi George scored from the penalty spot to hand the Peoples Elephant their first win of the tournament.

Glo:

Super 6 will re-ignite fans’ interest in NPL

Andrew Ekejiuba

Teams participating in the 2015 Super 6 tournament have been urged to re-ignite fans’ interest as the new Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season approaches.

Title sponsor of Glo Premier League, Globacom made this call in a press statement in Lagos on Saturday.

According to Glo ‘’we look forward to

witnessing a great competition among the teams, especially with the inclusion of junior national teams’’ The Super 6 which started in Abuja on Saturday, January 24 and will be rounded off by January 31, has seen action from reigning Glo Premier League champions Kano Pillars, runners-up Enyimba, Federation Cup runners-up, Dolphins of Port Harcourt and Warri Wolves, while the national Under-23 and Under-20

Ibenegbu said the key for his side is not entirely to win the preseason tournament but to cash in on the event to prepare for the continental assignment against the Burkinabe side, Racing Club de Bobo-Dioullasso.

“We just resumed for the season

teams are participating in the competition for the first time complete the list.

Glo also believed that the tournament will enable the Glo Premier League clubs to test their new signings and blend them with the old players in their squads ahead of the new season.

“For Kano Pillars and Enyimba, it will provide ample opportunity for them to prepare for the CAF Champions League preliminaries which kicks off next month.” Glo added.

The telecommunications company commended the organisers of the tournament, Nigeria Football Federation and the League Management Company for their foresight, saying the pre-season competition would boost the quality of football in the country.

“We believe the Super 6 couldn’t have come at a better time to put the fans in the football mood as the new League season kicks off in March,” the statement further said.

Globacom, therefore called on football fans to troop out en masse to the match venue, National Stadium, Abuja to cheer their darling clubs to victory.

barely four days prior to the commencement of the Super 6 tournament so our match fitness is not yet 100%.

“However, we don’t consider the tournament a do-or-die affair rather platform that will enable us prepare for our continental assignment,” he said.

Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF) will soon rolled out its sporting programmes for the year. This much was revealed to Extra Time by the President of the Federation who doubles as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Babatunde Fatai Williams.

Continuing, Williams expressed optimism that 2015 is going to be filled with activities as the Federation is determined to ensure that aquatics sports are taken to greater heights in the country as they are not going to restrict their activities to swimming, but will ensure that Open Water and Water Polo are given adequate attention this year.

Heartland unveils coach Onuh Glo Premier League side, Heartland on Monday officially unveiled former Sunshine Stars coach, Erasmus Onuh as the new technical adviser for the upcoming 2014/15 season.

The former ABS coach now replaces Kelechi Emeteole who has gone ahead to join neighbours, Enugu Rangers.

The side’s general coordinator, Oscar Okeke and team manager, Promise Nwachukwu supervised the colourful event at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

Jigawa honours Gumel Uche

Uche approves Oshoala’s Reds switch Gumel Osaretin Emuze The government of Jigawa State has honoured its illustrious son and President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr Habu Gumel.

This recognition which took place at the NYSC Camp was bestowed on Gumel

by Dr. Sule Lamido, Governor of Jigawa State, as a result of the giant strides that the astute administrator has made in Sports Administration (local and international) and Engineering practice in Nigeria.

Former Super Falcons head coach, Eucharia Uche has described as a welcome development the recent switch to the English FA Women Super League champions, Liverpool Ladies by the side’s top striker, Asisat Oshoala.

The reigning Africa female and youth player of the year was recently handed a five-year contract by the English FA WSL side.

Uche said the switch of the Rivers Angels markswoman to the top rated English women side will further enhance her standard of play as well as add more value to the national side.