Daily Times of Nigeria Newspaper - Friday, 30th of January 2015

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.35

Jonathan’s convoy attacked in Jalingo Ï 1 Ɨ ƓƈƋƋ Ƈ Ə ƈƒƆ Ɛ Ɔ Ɠ Ƌƈ Ɗ ƌƆ ƓƈƐ ƇƑ Ɨƈ Ɗ 6 Ə ƌ – President 6 Ï ƒ ƕ Ƈ d ƆƊ Ə Ƒè ^#^ ƑƄƆƏ ƅ ƗƈƗ ƐƆ ƌƄƑ ƆƗ ƈ E

Policemen quelling the riot and putting the Jalingo mob in check ... on Thursday.

INSIDE

Life&

TIMES Friday January 30, 2015

Omotola @ 20 on stage

Eniola Badmus and age saga PL4 Natural treatment of pimples

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L4

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My kidnap ordeal not a stunt L2 Nkiru Sylvanus

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FG has transformed Nigeria

XT Exclusive

AMEOBI joins Crystal Palace X2

Poster!

Offiong Edem

X4,5

BATTLE OF REALS! X2

Thursday, January 29, 2015

STARS OF YESTERYEAR

TARIBO: Celebrating Nigeria’s defence ace

INTERVIEW

X2

Hoodlums assault Reps candidate, seize cars

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

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Murray books X8 final ticket

FURMAN opens up on Bafana’s AFCON crash

X7

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Politics Page Three

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Editorial

Stopping the spread of bird flu in Nigeria

T

he Federal Government has confirmed the presence of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus, also known as bird flu, in four more states.

With this confirmation, the number of states affected by the Avian Flu has risen to 11. They are: Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Imo, Oyo and Jigawa.

According to the government, the number of birds exposed has also risen to 232,385 with 51,444 mortalities.

Definitely, this is bad news, coming so soon after the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that nearly wreaked havoc on the country.

Unfortunately, the virus is rearing its head at a time health workers are on strike. Therefore, rising to the occasion and taking adequate measures to curb the spread can be a challenge.

Though it is not yet an epidemic, the outbreak requires a multipronged attack to be effectively checked and brought under control. These include depopulation, decontamination, and quarantine.

Even as government is expected to provide the template to prevent and deal with possible cases of bird flu, poultry farmers and other individuals should be the first step

in combating it. They need all the requisite information to act responsibly. That is why a massive sensitisation programme should be mounted.

People should be made aware of how to prevent the disease and the signs to look out for to enable them make prompt reports to relevant authorities.

Also, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture must immediately borrow a leaf on tactical measures from the health authorities, so as to deal with this outbreak as decisively as Ebola was handled in the country.

In doing this, information among the agencies of government must be shared, while farmers should be told measures to take to prevent their poultry from contact with the disease, and the general public of its prevention among humans and treatment, if contracted.

In the campaign against Ebola, politics was downplayed; there was commendable cooperation between the federal and state governments, as well as international agencies. Practical measures were also adopted in the provision of remedial facilities. These steps must urgently be taken to eradicate this disease. We did it with Ebola. We can do it with bird flu.

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Sam Nzeh ÏÏÏHave you watched what

has been going on in Nigeria lately? If you have, you would have found out that it has become a pastime for people outside power, otherwise called ‘Yesterday’s men’ to borrow Dr. Reuben Abati’s words, to lash out at those that succeeded them, calling them failures and all manner of names. In fact, out of power, people become ‘saints’.

It was former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister,

Nasir el-Rufa’i that started it. He saw nothing good in the Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua administration and used every opportunity to discredit it. He has since been joined by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who has written off the administration he midwifed.

Just on Monday, former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, joined the bandwagon, scoring the incumbent administration of President Goodluck Jonathan an ‘F’ with regards to the management of the economy.

This trend is not only unfortunate but also unpatriotic.

Words On Marble :

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Yesterday’s evil men as saints When people are in power, nay public office, they see nothing wrong with and in the government. When they are out, their ‘eyes open’ and all they see is incompetence, failure. When they were in government, there’s was the best; all that they did was okay, Nigeria’s economy was best among nations and Nigerians had a good time. What a lie! What a pity!

The fact is that these ‘Yesterdays men’ cannot fool Nigerians any more. We must as a people discourage this trend.

We must say no to people who once out of power, become fault finders and discredit their successors.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Deputy Editors Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head of Operations

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Bisi Abidoye Segun Adio

Innocent Nwankwo Adetayo Adelaja

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Sports Editor

Head, Sales & Marketing

Okay Osuji

Andrew Ekejiuba

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Moses Ebong

Head ICT (Shared Services) 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.

Chinua Achebe

Thomas Hardy

Barack Obama

A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy, educated, participatory followership and an educated morally grounded leadership.

The offhand decision of some commonplace mind high in office at a critical moment influences the course of events for a hundred years.

I’m declining to meet with him (Netanyahu) simply because our general policy is, we don’t meet any world leader two weeks before their election.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

5 News

Massive crowd welcomes Buhari in Ibadan Remi Oladoye, Ibadan

ÏÏÏ

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next month’s general elections, General Muhammed Buhari (rtd) yesterday pledged to rebuild the country from the near precipice the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has plunged it into.

He also re-echoed his commitment to tackle cor-

Babatunde Scott

ÏÏÏBarely a week, after

the purported statement credited to the Bishop of the Living Faith Church, aka, Winners’ Chapel, when President Goodluck Jonathan visited the church for prayer, the church has come out denying he story.

In an official statement on Thursday, the church declared thus: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the President and founder of the Living Faith Church worldwide, also Known as Winners’ Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, which has gone viral.

“He was reported to have made the statement last Sunday when the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came to worship at Faith Tabernacle, which is the headquarters of the ministry.

“The falsehood that is being spread around by mischief makers is that the Bishop, while praying for the President, said, “I will open the gates of hell to anyone who opposes you.” A little later, some others who in an attempt to “defend” the Bishop, came up with another quote purportedly said by Dr. Oyedepo, which is: “I will open the gates of hell to those who oppose the peace of this

60,000 PVCs yet to be collected in Bayelsa

ruption headlong, rebuild the nation’s infrastructures and empower the people by providing them with good governance and adequate electricity. The massive crowd that thronged the venue of the rally was unprecedented.

Both Buhari and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, lashed out at the PDP government, saying despite the heavy investment in power, the sector

could still not provide Nigerian masses adequate electricity supply, stressing that the official corruption of the PDP government has been alarming.

Said Buhari, “If you want Nigeria to improve, it will happen, with your votes. An APC government will make sure infrastructure is in place; we will ensure tremendous improvement in power supply, we will also make sure we fix

the expressway from Lagos to here (Ibadan) and from here to Ilorin. These will be a priority for the APC. Please let us unite and remove PDP,” he said.

National leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, appealed to those yet to collect their PVCs to do so, saying only the APC has the answers to myriad of problems confronting the nation.

The former Governor of

Lagos State also described Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s achievements in the state as laudable, just as he urged the electorate to re-elect the governor for them to continue to enjoy his government and dividends of democracy.

In the words ofTinubu, “We won’t be suffering the way we are suffering now if the PDP had provided us with quality leadership.

You must vote. Vote for your

Winners Chapel denies “gate of hell” story nation.

“Well, let’s set the records straight: The Press and Publicity Unit of the church, publishers of Faith Tabernacle News, was at the 3rd service and recorded (on tape), the President’s 6-minute speech, the congregational prayer for him and the Bishop’s blessing on the President.

“Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who is also the presidential candidate of the ruling party – the PDP, came to the church as the President of this country, not as a candidate in the forthcoming elections and Bishop Oyedepo prayed for him, as instructed in the Bible book of 1 Timothy 2:12, as the President of Nigeria not as a PDP standard-bearer.

The statement further stated that it was very clear that these mischief makers where waiting for an opportunity, which presented itself in President Jonathan’s visit to the church in the heat of the campaigns while adding that with what is on ground, most politicians can do just anything to whip up sentiments and score cheap political points.

Akam James Yenagoa

ÏÏÏ

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Bayelsa

governor, vote APC, change will come on February 14th.

I can assure you that by the grace of God when APC wins there will be change in your house.”

APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, asked the crowd what and who they want and they chorused “Change, Buhari and Ajimobi. Oyegun thereafter presented the flag to the governor as the party’s flagbearer in the state.

L-R: Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah; Minister of Communication Technology, Dr (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication Technology,Dr. Tunji Olaopa, during the 4th Industrial ITC Stakeholders’ Forum, held in Lagos… on Thursday Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

Okorocha’s deputy presents Primary 6 certificate to INEC Val Okara, The credentials of governorship candidates and their deputies recently published by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) of the Imo State office have sparked fresh controversy.

The publication indicated for instance that the Deputy Governor of the state, Prince Eze Madumere, presented First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) to the commission though he was

believed to have obtained higher qualifications from the United States.

The deputy governor’s First School Leaving Certificate (Primary six equivalent), is the lowest of credentials of all the candidates running for public offices in the state.

When contacted, the media aide to the deputy governor, Mr. Uche Onwuchekwa, said it was an error on the part of INEC as his boss has school certificate which is the minimum qualification for the position. He

stated that INEC has since been notified of the anomaly and are believed to be effecting the correction.

Daily Times reports that of the 22 governorship and deputy governorship flag bearers, four governorship candidates and five deputy governorship candidates submitted credentials of West African School Certificate Examination Council (WAsEC) equivalent.

Meanwhile, the publication also shows that the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha of the

State, Mr. Baritor Kpagih, has lamented that about 60,000 Permanent Voters’ Cards, (PVCs), are yet to be collected out the over 600,000 eligible voters in the state.

He furthermore stated

that in a bid to speed up the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said it has in-

creased the distribution points in the city in order to bring the distribution exercise closer to the people.

But he warned that officials of INEC will not go and sleep in any commu-

Owerri

ÏÏÏ

Okorocha All Progressives Congress (APC) presented master’s degree to INEC as his relevant qualification but without indicating the area of specialisation.

nity in order to issue the voters their cards, adding that the voters ought to pay the sacrifice of reaching out to their headquarters for collection of their permanent voters cards to exercise their rights.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Mob attacks Jonathan’s convoy in Jalingo Wale Akintunde, Yola and Yakubu Salisu, Kano

ÏÏÏThe convoy of

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday came under attack from stone-hurling youths in Jalingo, Taraba State, and in the process broke windshields and windows of several vehicles.

This is even as Jonathan on Thursday asked God to forgive those who accuse

him of being behind Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa State and other parts of the North East.

The attack took place as the President’s convoy was enroute to a campaign rally in Yola, Adamawa State capital. The Police however used tear gas to disperse the mob.

This is the third time Jonathan’s convoy has been attacked since campaign for the February gen-

eral election began.

The first was in Katsina, Katsina State while the second took place in Bauchi, Bauchi State, where youths flung shoes and plastic bottles on Jonathan’s podium at a rally. Some of the president’s security details were hurt in the process.

Before the attack in Jalingo, the youths had shouted on soldiers who guarded the President’s billboards and posters in

the town.

“Why are they using soldiers and other security operatives? They should be deployed to Sambisa and fight with Boko Haram, not with innocent civilians,” one youth yelled as he tore down a poster of the President.

Same day in Kano State, the convoy of Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and PDP governatorial candidate in the

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) Mr. Eke Ubijo; Vice Chancellor Babcock University, Prof. Kayode Makinde; Deputy Manager Distribution Pipeline production and Marketing Company, Mrs. Christy Onasy; Editorin-Chief Nigeria News Direct (NND), Samuel Ibiyemi and Chairman, International Energy Services, Dr. Diran Fawibe during a Roundtable tagged: Government Policies and Impact of Falling Oil prices on Business (way forward for Investors) organised by NND in Lagos… on Thursday Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

state, Sagir Takai, was attacked by suspected hoodlums around 8:40pm while on their way from Rogo Local Government Area of the state where they had gone for a rally.

Although, five vehicles were destroyed, the minister escaped unscathed.

It took the intervention of security operatives to disperse the mob.

Meanwhile, speaking at the rally held at Ribadu Square in Yola, Jonathan descended heavily on those who accuse him of being behind Boko Haram insurgency in the state, adding that only mad people will accuse him of executing such dastardly act against the people. He, however, asked God to forgive those behind the allegation.

Furthermore, Jonathan added: “Only a mad person can insinuate that the president is supporting Boko Haram.

Jonathan, who announced the liberation of

Buhari opts out of BON presidential debates ÏÏÏThe All Progressives Con-

Force can’t end Boko Haram, says Kuku Ï ó# ƉƑƌ ƓƏ ƆƔéƌƈƋƈƐ Ɛ ô Augustine Aminu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger-Delta Amnesty, Dr. Kingsley Kuku has stated that the use of force alone cannot defeat the Boko Haram.

He urged elders in the affected areas to come together and join hands with the government in ending the insurgency.

Kuku, who stated this on Thursday at a forum on curbing militancy in Nigeria, criticised the call for full military operations against the insurgency, noting that while peace can win a war, military uniform cannot.

He recalled that the Niger Delta militancy was curbed due to the honest commitment

of the leaders in the zone.

He urged elders in the north, ranging from serving military, political, traditional to former military leaders, to come together and discuss the way forward in ending the Boko Haram insurgency.

He stated: “The use of force cannot stop Boko Haram, rather northern leaders ranging from political, traditional, former military officers, women group, and youth should sincerely come together to advise the federal government on the way forward.”

Kuku continued: “Playing politics with insurgency would only create more problems than curbing it. It is the leaders that can give assurance that will lead to the end of Boko Haram activities

in Nigeria especially in the North east.”

In reaction to the recent call

by Gen. Theophilus Danjuma for the arrest of ex-militants over their alleged threat to peace, Kuku said the meeting called last Friday was not to threaten northern Nigeria but to address various youth leaders in the Niger-Delta on the importance of peace, especially as the February elections draw near.

The meeting, according to Kuku, was attended by youth leaders of all the communities and various ethnic leaders in the South-South to discuss peace and not a gathering of ex- militant leaders.

“It was not a meeting of exmilitants as some will look at it. It was a meeting called in relation to what is happen-

ing to the campaign train of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was attacked in some states in the north; in Katsina, Bauchi and Jos where some campaign buses were burnt.

“President Jonathan is a man of peace and in all his campaigns, he has told Nigerians what his administration has been able to achieve. We will not be discouraged by the negative critics on the person of President Jonathan.

“We would all be toying with our future if together we cannot stop the problem of Boko Haram in Nigeria, he warned.

He observed that despite the security challenges, Nigeria remains the best country in Africa and one of the three fastest growing in the world.

Michika Local Government area of the state by Nigerian troops, added that its only one local government area of the state that is left in the hand of insurgents. He added that the Nigerian troops are battling to liberate it.

The President said that in 2012, he had highest votes in Adamawa State, adding that nothing on earth would make him kill those that gave him large number votes to become president of the nation.

He said that he has no reason to sponsor the killing of children, women and the aged, adding that he has nothing to benefit from such deleterious actions.

He said: “In the last election, I secured more than 65 percent of the votes in the state which is even twice the votes I got from my home state of Bayelsa; even from political considerations, killing of Adamawa people will amount to political suicide.

gress (APC) will not be featuring in the ongoing electioneering public debates on national television and radio, being organised by the Broadcast Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

This, according to the party, is because of the unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme, against the corporate political interest of the party.

However, other presidential debates to which Buhari has been invited are still under consideration, the party added.

Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO), Garba Shehu, said in a press statement on Thursday in Abuja that the debate sponsored by Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) was fraught with fundamental errors from the outset, being composed mainly of agencies and allies of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) administration.

“A salutary inspection of the composition of NEGD brings

into focus the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), National Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Africa Independent Television (AIT), owned by a PDP chieftain. And going by the avalanche of inflammatory statements, misinformation and blatant lies being propagated by some of these media against our party and candidates contrary to the Koffi Annan-brokered Abuja Peace Accord, and the failure of these aggressors to desist and apologise, have left the APC Campaign with no option than to steer clear of any premeditated smear campaign that could be inimical to our prospective electoral success,” Shehu said.

The APCPCO spokesman further explained that the boycott by the APC should not be seen as disrespect for Nigerian voters, or a ploy to evade public scrutiny. Rather, Shehu said, it must be viewed as an honourable right not to consent to any activity that could distract, demean, denigrate or derail the fast-moving train of the party.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

DSS tasks journalists on election reportage

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr.Ezekiel Oyemomi; Chief Executive Officer, National Centre For Women Development (NCWD), Mrs. Onyeka Onwenu; Counsellor, Conflict Prevention and Development Co-operation, Embassy of Finland, Torun Eklund, and Director, Ministry of Women Affairs, Aisha Mohammed, during the combined graduation ceremony of Vocational Skills Training Programme, in Abuja, recently.

Sunday Isuwa

ÏÏÏDirector,

Department of State Security (DSS), Kaduna State Command, Mr. Abayomi Zamba has said Nigerian journalists have enormous task of ensuring that the general election is conducted in an atmosphere devoid of violence by reporting matters that will unite the people rather than focusing on issues that can plunge the country into violence.

He stated this in his remarks at a one-day seminar organised for journalists

by Kaduna State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists, in collaboration with the Department of State Security.

The Seminar with the theme ‘2015 Election: The Role of Media in Peace and Development Journalism, Zamba said journalists, as the watchdog of the society, have a great role to play in the success or otherwise of the 2015 general election.

People’s needs’ll be my focus, says Isiaka ÏÏÏ

of democracy is to allow people to take decisions about how they want to be governed. We shall take inputs from you and execute projects that you want. We shall not give what you don’t want or execute any project in any community apart from what that community requests for.

Isiaka, who was joined

on the campaign tour by the Ogun Central senatorial candidate, Dr (Mrs) Bisola Soldipo-Clark and candidate for House of Representatives, Yomi Ajayi , said Ogun people have suffered enough in the hands of the outgoing government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who he described as “elitist and anti-people”.

PDP’ll win Rivers convincingly, Jonathan boasts

A pan-Yoruba group, South West Independent Campaign Organisation (SWICO), has declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the forthcoming general election, urging the Yoruba to discountenance the declaration of support for incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan by the Afenifere group.

Afenifere had, during the week, declared support of the Yoruba for the second term bid of Jonathan, promising to ensure that the votes of the South West would be in the incumbent’s favour.

Reacting to the statement through a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, SWICO, through its Director General, Moses Olafare, took a swipe at the Afenifere group, saying the group’s position did not represent the Yoruba people on their choice of a presidential candidate.

According to him, the Yo-

Godwin Onyema Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ

President Goodluck Jonathan has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the general election in Rivers State convincingly.

Speaking at the party’s presidential rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta-Ali, Greater Port Harcourt City, he explained that the party insisted on using the stadium in order to prove that it had enough followership in the state.

“I know that when we read some national newspapers, some of us are afraid of what will happen in Rivers State or what will not happen.

Let me say it clearly to

Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka has said that for any government to succeed in impacting positively people’s lives, their needs should form the basis of policies and decisions.

This was Isiaka’s submission during his

the campaign organisation of PDP; …today is 28th of January, 2015, PDP will win Rivers State and win it convincingly. I say it again; today is the 28th of January, 2015, PDP will win Rivers State and win it convincingly.”

He pointed out that Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation had earlier said the PDP would not fill half of the stadium for the rally.

“On October 25, 2014, somebody in Rivers State challenged us and said we were making noise by using the Liberation Stadium that has 16,000 sitting capacity. He said that if we know we have supporters, we should apply to use this stadium and

campaign to hundreds of market women, artisans and various youth groups in Abeokuta South Local Government Area on Thursday, when he promised to run a people-centered government that would take their needs into consideration before executing any project.

He said, “The essence

Jonathan he would grant the application. I told my people that the time has come and we must know who is in charge, as far as Rivers State is concerned.

“On January 6, this same man came here with some people and said ‘When we had a ceremony on October 25, last year, it was full. However, we know that PDP cannot

fill half of this stadium (Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium)’. We graciously applied to him to use this stadium, but he said No! The stadium is not free and it is under construction. We said whether under construction or not, we would do the rally here. By the grace of God, we are doing the rally here today”, Jonathan added.

The President explained that he did not concentrate development in his native South-South region because of his quest for equitable distribution of resources in the country and noted that he had been criticised by people in the region that his presidency had not favoured the area and promised to redress the situation when re-elected.

ÏÏÏ

7 News NSITF promises social security to the aged, unemployed Akor Ejumene Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has been given the responsibility of providing social security to the aged and unemployed in addition to the implementation of an Employee Compensation Scheme.

The new amendment, which was passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly on January 14, 2015, is expected to be presented to President Goodluck Jonathan for assent.

In her reaction to the expanded mandate, Chairman, Board of Directors of NSITF, Ngozi Olejeme, credited the step to the unrelenting effort of Jonathan to improve the welfare of workers and vulnerable groups.

Speaking on the additional mandate, Managing Director of NSITF, Munir Abubakar, said NSITF was ready for the implementation of the new responsibilities. “We are elated by these additions.

Yoruba group canvasses support for Buhari ruba would rather vote for Buhari in the forthcoming general election in view of the fact that the present government had failed to recognise the race in the past four years of Jonathan’s administration.

“We drew a line between the two major contenders for the position of President of this country and we saw a man who could, actually, lead us onto the route of fast development and security in Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. He had done it before and we see in him the ability to do it again, Olafare said.

While the group extolled the virtues of Buhari as an incorruptible leader, it lashed at the Afenifere group, which it described as lacking in credibility to hold fort for the Yoruba race.

News

8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

We’ve forgiven Buhari – Ajasin’s family ‘Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏThe family members of the

first civilian Governor of Ondo state, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, on Thursday said they had forgiven General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for arresting and detaining their father in

1984.

Spokesperson for the family, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, made this known to journalists at a public function held in Akure, the state capital.

Ajasin said that even before the death of their father, the family had already forgiven the former military administrator for his misdeed.

He added that though many

Nigerians were not happy with what Buhari did during his regime, he said it was part of military policies and their father had since forgiven him even before his death.

“It was true that my father was detained under General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime along with other former governors in Nigeria and two panels of inquiry were consequently

L-R: Gubernatorial candidate, Sokoto State, Unity Party Of Nigeria (UPN), Mr. Faruk Umar, his counterpart in Ogun State, Mr. Olatunde Rotimi Paseda and National Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sokoto, at the party’s meeting in Sokoto … on Wednesday.

set up to look into the allegations against my father and others, but the panels found my father innocent and exonerated him as well.

“Let me also tell you that as far as the issue is concerned, the family of Ajasin had forgiven Buhari, because, as Christians, we should learn and exhibit the spirit of forgiveness always”, he said on behalf of the family.

He also cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he claimed had been engaging in campaigns of calumny to refrain from using his father’s name to play politics or drag it in the mud.

He also expressed anger towards some politicians and their sympathisers in the country using his father’s name to campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC) party.

He maintained that if his father were alive, he would have been part of the progressives and advised politicians seeking elective positions to base their campaigns on proper issues, instead of character assassination.

He said he, and his sister, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, were part of the supporters that received and embraced General Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Akure Airport on Saturday, last week, when he visited the state for his presidential campaign rally.

Monarch sues for credible, violence-free poll Ibrahim Momohjimoh Lokoja

ÏÏÏIn order to ensure credible

and violence-free election next month, the Attah Igala, President Kogi Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, Michael Idakwo Ameoboni 11, has called for greater collaboration between the people and Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC).

The Attah told a visiting-INEC team, on Thursday, in Idah, that there was a need for all Nigerians

to assist the commission to conduct an election that would be transparent.

He said: “We the traditional institution have stepped up measures to avoid violence during and after the elections.”

The Attah said that he honestly expected that whoever wins the elections would be given the opportunity to work hard so that Nigeria would remain a more united nation.

Earlier, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),

Malam Aliyu Halidu, said that his team was in the palace of Attah to seek the co-operation of the traditional institutions in sensitising their subjects on their expected roles to make the election a huge success.

The REC noted that the overriding influence of the traditional rulers over their subjects informed the decision to visit the palace for effective collaboration with the people he described as critical stakeholders.

Jega

Hoodlums attack Reps candidate, seize cars Michael Bamigbola Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe House of Representatives

candidate for Ifelodun/Boripe/ Odo-Otin Federal Constituency of Osun State, Mr. Kayode Oduoye, was on Wednesday evening attacked in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that some members of Oduoye Campaign Organisation and his personal aides were also attacked.

Oduoye and his campaign team were said to be returning home from a rally, when they were attacked by the hoodlums.

It was, however, alleged that the hoodlums were led by a notable member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area.

A source hinted that four aides of Oduoye suffered serious injuries and they were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Cleric predicts long life for Buhari ÏÏÏReactions

has continued to trail the recent outburst of the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, over the health status of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, as Prophet and Head Shepherd, Celestial Church of Christ, Elisha Parishes, Marcus Korode Tomitan, warns the governor to retract his statement or be prepared to sacrifice his life for the ex-head of state.

He also said Buhari would not die now as he and other men of God would put down their blood to plead for long life for the APC’s standard bearer.

It would be recalled that Fayose, recently, placed advertisements in some national dailies, pointing out the health challenges of Buhari and the likelihood of his dying while in office, like some past presidents from his geographical zone of the country.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

9 News

Ekwunife seeks support for PDP over Chidoka’s appointment Doris Nnabuenyi Awka

ÏÏÏCandidate for Anambra Cen-

L-R: Representative of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Abimbola Tajudeen; chairman of the occasion, Chief Bayo Akande; representative of chief launcher, Akogun Gbola Bogunde; author, Chief Areoye Oyebola and Director, Punch Newspapers, Chief Lekan Are, at the launch of the book ‘Black Man’s Dilemma’ in Ibadan… on wednesday.

C’River denies purchasing PVCs

tral Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife has called on the people of Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area to vote for all the party’s candidates in the coming elections as their appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing one of their sons, Osita Chidoka as Minister of Aviation.

Ekwunife, who made the call during a campaign tour of Obosi, explained that one way to appreciate the gesture of the President was to give block votes to all candidates fielded by his party and vote massively for his re-election.

Calabar

ÏÏÏCross

River State Government has refuted allegations of any plot to rig at the forthcoming general election.

In a telephone conversation with Daily Times, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Liyel Imoke, Mr. Christian Ita, described as nonsense, the allegation that the ruling party was buying Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) from the electorate in order to compromise the February general election.

Bauchi Chairman, state chapter of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Austin Ibok, had earlier told our reporter that his party had evidence that top government officials were sponsoring the purchase of voter’s cards from communities known as strongholds of opposition’s candidates.

Ibok also alleged that the PDP was providing police uniforms for their members to impersonate genuine policemen and intimidate the opposition. He, therefore, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and relevant bodies to wade in.

“INEC should ensure that all those who registered last year get their PVCs. No Nigerian should be disenfranchised,” Ibok had added.

Ita reacted saying that the LP was seeking cheap publicity, adding that PDP was the only known party with structures on ground in the state.

“Wherever PDP does its rally, you see the interest from the people. We preach against malpractices and have always pleaded with the electorate to get their PVCs. How can we be the very people buying cards?” Ita asked rhetorically.

Buhari still a tyrant, says Jang Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏPlateau

State Governor, Air Commodore Jonah Jang (rtd.) has said that General Mohammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) is still not a true democrat as he still possesses the heart of a tyrant.

“General Buhari was my senior in the Army, we served together, but, I have since removed the heart of a military (man from me), that is why I am able to transform Plateau. But Buhari is still a tyrant, he is bent on sending past leaders to jail, so some of these

past leaders are now praying to God to keep him far away from power”, Jang said on Thursday, at a rally to drum up support for the PDP governorship candidate.

The governorship candidate, Senator Gyang Pwajok while speaking in Barkin Ladi yesterday, assured the people of his readiness to move the state to greater heights, if voted into power. “I want to thank you for this massive turnout. Truly, this election is about the people, we need to come together as one so that we can break the barriers of religion, ethnicity and geography.

“If not for God, it would not have been possible for me as a young

man to be counted among the 109 Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2015, God is trying to prepare another way that I should be counted among the nation’s 36 governors.

Jang

Ekwunife

PRESCOM sensitises stakeholders on small arms Daniel Jolly

Emma Obi

South East zonal women leader, Mrs. Tonia Nwankwo, pointed out that the number of job opportunities facilitated by Ekwunife since becoming a lawmaker was unprecedented and urged every woman in the district to vote for her.

ÏÏÏChairman of

the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) Prof. Emmanuel Imohe has described as worrisome the negative impact small arms and weapons can play as the 2015 general election draws closer.

In his opening remarks at the North East zonal two-day stakeholders’ sensitisation forum on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria tagged: “Ballot without Bullets” held at Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi, he stated that the programme

was expected to contribute to the reduction of electoral violence in the country before, during and after the February 2015 general election.

He said, the weapons of mass destruction that continue to fuel conflicts, wars, violence and wanton bloodletting, with severe losses in lives and wasted economic opportunities include small arms and light weapons.

According to him, “It is instructive to note that PRESCOM has commenced the process of amendment of the Firearms Act of 1959, which had clearly become anachronistic”.

Jonathan’s Port Harcourt rally, a waste of time - Rivers APC Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏWednesday’s

re-election campaign rally in Port Harcourt

by President Goodluck Jonathan has been described as a waste of time and an embarrassment.

Reacting to the rally held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in the Rivers State capital, the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the poor attendance only served to confirm the unpopularity of Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state while Jonathan merely ended up confirming

APC’s claim that the President had done nothing to deserve the votes of Rivers people in the February 14 presidential election, APC added.

“To say that President Jonathan and his PDP wasted their time in coming to Rivers State to campaign is to state the obvious. The half-empty stadium, despite the renting of supporters from Bayelsa, Delta, Abia and Akwa Ibom State speaks volume about Jonathan’s unpopularity among our people,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Agbaje accuses APC of draconian policies Wale Abiodun

ÏÏÏ

Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has accused the Lagos State Government of playing politics inimical to the welfare of the people.

Agbaje spoke at Agege and Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Areas where his party kicked off campaigns to herald next month’s elections into various positions in the state.

According to him, All Progressive Congress (APC), the ruling party in the state, had displayed much impunity in the running of state affairs

Ex-NBA scribe condemns JUSUN strike Eche Nwaobasi Nnewi

ÏÏÏ

One time Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aguata branch in Anambra State, Barrister Iloegbune Okoye, has condemned the National Executive of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), on the ongoing strike culminating in total closure of all courts in Nigeria stating that their action is ill- timed and capable of derailing the nation’s democracy.

Speaking during a press conference on the strike at Nnewi on Thursday, Okoye noted that although the intention of the strike was right but that the timing is wrong in its entirety stressing that you cannot

resulting in an untold hardship for the teeming masses.

These include, a blanket ban on Okada commercial motorcycles, imposition of various levies on market women, failure to erect lowcost houses and neglect of the educational sector.

Both rallies witnessed the presence of PDP chieftains in the state including, Agbaje’s running mate, Mrs. Safurat Olayinka Abdulkarim, the State Chairman, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), former State Women’s Leader, Deaconess Bisi Odunsi, Lagos West Senatorial Candidate, Mr. Segun Adewale, the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofiq Gani and several others. do the right thing at the wrong time and expect people to commend you.

Said he: “The purpose of this strike is right but to commence it at a wrong time is bad. How can they begin strike at the commencement of the year, We all know that during festivities, a lot of criminal assaults, family squabbles always take place and people are expected to rush to courts for resolution of these matters. You need to go to various police stations throughout the country and see how innocent souls are suffering in police cells.”

It’s pathetic and unfortunate. I am calling on the National Executive of JUSUN to call off the strike. They should know that this time is critical for Nigeria as a nation. They should know that Nigerians needs our judiciary at this critical time of our nation electoral season”.

PUBLIC NOTICE

L-R: Abia State Coordinator of Move on Nigeria for Jonathan 2015 (MNfJ), Mr. Innocent Nwankwo; Coordinator, Osisioma LGA, Mr. Samuel Uchegbu; Coordinator, Isiala Ngwa North LG, Mr. Chinedu Mark, and Coordinator, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Mr. Luke Okezie, at the inauguration ceremony of MNfJ in Abia… on Wednesday

Ohanaeze youths drum support for Jonathan Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏ

The re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan has received another boost as the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths pledged their total support for the re-election.

In a joint statement signed by the National Vice Presidents of the group in four states, Comrade Obinna Achinonye Imo), Odozi Nwodozi (Delta), Kanu Oscar Nwaorisara (Rivers) and President of Ebonyi State

chapter, Alex Okemiri, the youths vehemently dismissed as baseless and of no substance recent media reports which portrayed the group as being opposed to the re-election of the President.

“We, the leaders and members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths, hereby state categorically clear that the publication is false in its entirety and there is no iota of truth in it” they declared.

They explained that after due consultation with their grand patron, other

Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏThe

the

kinsmen of incumbent gover-

nor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday, trooped out en mass to receive the People’s Democratic Par-

PUBLIC NOTICE INTERCESSORS PIONEERS MINISTRY

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

This is to notify the general public that the above named Ministry has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Aim and Objective: 1. To promote the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. To involve in church activities.

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

Signed: Secretary

Jonathan

Okorocha’s kinsmen back PDP Guber Candidate

CITADEL OF MERCY AND LOVE MINISTRY

The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Ojo Rufus Bade - Senior Pastor 2. Deaconess Blessing Bade- Ojo. - Asst. Snr pst 3. Deacon Christopher Anyasi - Secretary 4. Asst Pst. Benjamin Oyewole - Treasurer 5. Patience Aderonke Bade-Ojo- Member

patrons, elders of Igboland, religious bodies and women organizations, the group resolved to give their total support to the President during and after the forthcoming election.

The youths, who observed the endorsement of the President for reelection by the Southern Nigeria Assembly at a meeting in Enugu, wondered why any person or group of persons would rise against the choice of the elders and leaders of the Igbo race.

The Trustees are: 1. NWAEZE ESTHER HEPHZIBAH 2. NWEZE GOLD IHECHI 3. IJIOGBE OZEMOJIE EMMANUEL AIMS/OBJECTIVE: (i) To preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ii) To build up godly character in the lives of men through the power of the word of God and Holy Spirit.

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: NWAEZE ESTHER H.

ty (PDP) Gubernatorial Candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, when his campaign train stormed the area and pledged their total support for him.

Speaking in a separate fora during the courtesy visits to Ideato North and South at the palaces of Eze Raphael Amanze Offonze and Eze E.I. Ajaraogu respectively, the traditional rulers spoke in unison that the need for change in government of the state was not negotiable.

The members of the Orlu Zurume (an apex umbrella body of Orlu zone), Arondizuogu Progressives Forum (APF), other supporters of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) from Okorocha’s Ideato South Local Government Area and other parts of the state, pledged to work for PDP governorship candidate to achieve victory at the polls on the 28th February.

Welcoming the decampees to her fold at campaign rallies in the two Local Government Areas, Ihedioha promised to deliver the dividend of democracy, if elected the governor of the state. He assured the people that he will restore what they had lost under the Okorocha’s administration in terms of good and sincere governance.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

11 News

Threat of war: 200 Hausa flee Asaba Monday Osayande Asaba

ÏÏÏ

As threat of war over next month Elections spread across the country, no fewer than 200 Northerners have fled Delta State.

The fleeing Northerners are mostly women and children, who prefer to die at home should there be an outbreak of war.

The state’s Arewa General-Secretary, Alhaji Murtala Usman, who confirmed the mass exodus of the Hausas residing in Asaba, said “many of our people are leaving the state for fear of being trapped by the war, as supporters of both President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Mohammed Buhari are still calling for war if their candidate did not

win the election.

Usman told Daily Times in Asaba, on Thursday, that the fleeing Northerners were asked to remain in the state, because nothing of such was going to happen, but they paid deaf ears to our pleading saying “a stitch in time save life.”

Speaking on the issue, another topm operative of the Hausa community,

Alhaji Ali Lafa, said “our people are leaving the state every day, including my wife, who has since left for her place in Kastina State.”

He said the war-threat is being taken as serious, having listen to radio and calls by their parents to return home immediately, so as to avert any mishap.

The Chairman, Abraka Motor Park, North-

ern Unit, Asaba, Adamu Mairida disclosed to Daily Times that there have been mass exodus of Northerners in the state, simply because of foul language used by politicians to seek votes.

While condemning the inflammatory statements, Mairida asked the authorities concerned to arrest the situation before it gets out of hand.

Child spacing: ARFH decries low level sensitisation in Zamfara

A bus-load of All Progressives Congress youths, during their sensitization rally on nonviolence, in Abuja…on Thursday. Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Umar Mohammed Gusau

ÏÏÏ

Inadequate capacity and advocacy mobilisation have been identified as factors responsible for low patronage of the child spacing programmes in Zamfara State.

This was the observation of Association of Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), which was made known by one of its officials, Aliyu Guraguri, at the end of stakeholders meeting on child survival and child spacing in Maradun town, the headquarters of Maradun local government area in the State.

“During the program, our team discovered that stakeholders from the Ministry of health and the Local Government Areas’ health department had inadequate capacity to conduct child spacing communications for advocacy and also for mobilisation of communities,” AFRH said.

The stakeholders noted that, if the situation was not addressed, it could affect the their ability to support mobilisation for child spacing programmes.

Confusion as APGA begins campaign in Anambra North Dilionye Dilibe Onitsha

ÏÏÏ

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on Wednesday, formerly inaugurated its campaign for the party’s candidates in the forthcoming general elections, amidst fears of the threat being posed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to its multiple candidacy across the state.

Since 2003, the P DP in Anambra State had been saddled with the task of presenting an authentic candidate for most of the elective positions in the state. The matter had always put the electorates

and party admirers in dilemma on which possible choice to make during elections.

However, it has been the responsibility of the courts to determine the authentic candidate of the party after winning elections.

At the Centenary Field of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, venue of the campaign rally, Governor Chief Willie Obiano, who expressed delight at the turn-out of candidates and party supporters, urged the candidates to carry out a door-to-door campaign with the aim of convincing the electorates to vote for all APGA candidates, except in the presidential election

where President Jonathan had been adopted by the party as their presidential candidate.

He stated that though a particular party had not been able to present a particular candidate for each of the elective positions shows that the party is in total disarray in the state and urged all the electorates to protect their votes very well.

Obiano reminded party supporters to obtain the Permanent Voter Card (PVC), as it was their weapon to elect credible people to represent them.

The Director-General, APGA Campaign Organisation, Anambra North Sena-

Obiano torial Zone, Sen. Alphonsus Igbeke (Ubanese), charged all APGA candidates in the zone to embark on aggressive campaign towards winning the confidence of the electorates, adding that the multiple candidacy of the PDP was not a threat to the party, because of the enviable projects of APGA administration.

Radisson Blu explains staff layoff, says ‘we’re renovating’ Charles Okonji

ÏÏÏ

Contrary to earlier speculation that foremost hospitality firm, Anchorage Leisures Limited, owners of the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, relieved its workers of their jobs over unionism agitation, the company has said that the affected workers were disengaged as a result of renovation works on the hotel.

The management of the company also confirmed that its present focus was to ensure that the renovation activities were conducted to time and quality specifications so that the hotel could resume operations, as soon as possible.

Commenting on the protests by some members of staff, the company noted that those who protested must have misconstrued the intention of the management. The statement reiterated that the hotel, temporarily, shut down business operations strictly because of the magnitude of the renovation and not because it had issues with the workers, as insinuated.

Dutse hospital upgraded to teaching hospital Dutse Mohammed

ÏÏÏ

Jigawa State Government has approved the conversion of Dutse General Hospital to a full pledged teaching hospital under the supervision of Federal University Dutse (FUD).

The Commis sioner for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim Gumel, announced this while briefing newsmen shortly after the council’s meeting held at Government House, Dutse.

He said the upgrading of the hospital followed a tremendous efforts by FUD) to established faculty of medicine and other health related courses in the university.

Africa 12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Confusion in AU as members tip Mugabe for top job ÏÏÏAfrican leaders are expected

on Friday to elect Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe to the 54-member African Union’s rotating chair, a choice critics say risks tarnishing the organisation’s reputation.

Mugabe, aged 90, is Africa’s oldest leader, is widely expected to be anointed as successor to Mauritania’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz at the start of the twoday AU summit meeting in the Ethiopian capital.

But the veteran president has a different reputation outside the continent, and is subject to travel bans from both the United States and European Union, in place since 2002 in protest at political violence and intimidation.

Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, is accused of crushing opponents to ensure his Zanu-PF party won every election for more than three decades.

Last year, Mugabe boycotted an EU-Africa Summit in Brussels after he was given a rare invitation - but his wife was still denied a visa.

But several African diplomats are also uneasy.

“It’s not a very encouraging sign,” sighed one African diplomat, who asked not to be identi-

fied. “The Mugabe style belongs to a past generation, the one that takes power hostage, and this is no longer the AU creed.”

AU Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - who heads the executive branch that directs dayto-day work - launched the summit earlier this week highlighting “democracy, good governance and human rights” as core goals of the bloc.

But her deputy Erastus Mwencha, has defended the right to choose any leader.

“Who am I to say to the people,

you have elected the wrong leader?” Mwencha said.

“The people have chosen: the important thing is that you must follow the constitution of your country.”

Although the post of AU chair is largely symbolic, civil rights groups are worried as to the image it will give to the organisation.

“This will send mixed signals and an extremely awkward message on international levels on how the AU stands on principles of democracy and good governance,” said Jeggan Gey-Johnson,

spokesperson of the pan-African civil society coalition, The AU We Want. It is not the first time an autocratic leader would take the AU’s top post.

“There is a trend that has been going for several years of leaders chosen to represent the AU at the highest level who don’t espouse the core principles of the organisation,” Gey-Johnson added.

The previous chair, Mauritania’s Abdel Aziz, became the north African country’s president in 2009 after leading two coups in four years.

UN warns Ebola epidemic not yet contained ÏÏÏThe

Ebola epidemic is decreasing but is still present in a third of the areas of the three worst affected West African nations, UN Ebola coordinator David Nabarro warned on Thursday.

“The number of cases is decreasing week by week and getting to zero in many places... but we still see occasional flare-ups and we still see some surprises with new cases out of our contact lists,” Nabarro told AFP. “That means that the epidemic is not contained yet,” he said.

Nabarro was speaking at the African Union headquarters, as leaders gather a day ahead of a summit meeting where Ebola is a key issue for discussion.

The worst outbreak of the virus in history has seen nearly 9 000 deaths in a year - almost all in the three west African countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone - and sparked a major health scare worldwide.

The three nations have been devastated by the outbreak, which began in December 2013, but all have seen recent signs that the virus is on the wane, with the number of new cases dropping weekly.

Ivorien police to investigate suspected ritual killings

Paramount Chief Ahmed Omar Younis [second left] with Falata tribe elders

ÏÏÏPolice in Ivory Coast have set

Peace agreement expected in South Sudan talks

ÏÏÏSouth

Sudanese President Salva Kiir’s sudden illness on thursday was not serious enough to cancel crucial peace talks on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa today.

The Sudan Tribune reported that Kiir was rushed off to hospital after suffering a nosebleed during talks between him and Rick Machar, the opposition leader and his former deputy, at Addis’s Sheraton Hotel.

The talks were facilitated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), chaired

by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

South Sudanese expert from the Institute of Security Studies, Solomon Derrso, who has been

following developments closely, told a press briefing at the AU headquarters that the talks between the parties were set to continue their talks this morning.

He said a peace agreement was expected “in the next few hours”.

He said if the parties could not reach an agreement today there was a good chance that the Igadfacilitated peace talks could collapse.

The African Union’s Peace and Security Council is set to discuss a report at its meeting tonight on the AU-led inquiry, chaired by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, into the South Sudan conflict. There has been pressure from civil society, among others, for the AU to make the report public.

It is understood that the report could deeply implicate leaders on both sides in the conflict, which could lead to sanctions against key individuals.

Dersso said the Peace and Security Council’s meeting on South Sudan tonight could be one of the “most critical” of its

Salva Kiir

CAR government rejects ceasefire deal ÏÏÏThe

government of Central African Republic said on Thursday it rejected a ceasefire deal made in Kenya between two militia groups aimed at ending more than a year of clashes and attacks in which thousands have died.

Few details have emerged about the talks between the mainly Muslim Seleka alliance and the ‘antibalaka’ militia who oppose them, though the two sides conducted low-level and sporadic peace negotiations for much of last year.

“The government categorically rejects the Nairobi accord because it was not associated with the discussions in any way. It is not a real accord, rather it’s a series of grievances from the two armed groups which hold the country hostage,” Communications Minister Georges Adrien Poussou told Reuters.

up a special unit to investigate a series of suspected ritual killings of children.

More than 20 children have been kidnapped and killed across the country in recent weeks and most of the bodies have shown signs of mutilation.

Police said 1,500 officers and soldiers would be patrolling “known danger spots” in the main city, Abidjan, including areas around schools.

Unicef has criticised what it says is a culture of impunity in Ivory Coast.

The UN children’s agency says there has been a repeated failure to investigate crimes against children and it has called on the government to address “a general sense of scare in the population” about the attacks.

Police say they are involving the UN agency in their investigation.

The mother of one of the victims, who was found with no head and with several other body parts missing, told the BBC: “I think it could be a ritual crime.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

ISIS threatens to behead Obama, visit terror on USA, France ÏÏÏIn a new video from Islamic

State militants they have threatened to behead Barack Obama, turn America into a Muslim province and visit France and Belgium with car bombs and explosive charges.

The footage shows a blackclad ISIS jihadist standing over a Kurdish soldier and saying, “Know, oh Obama, that we will reach America. Know also that we will cut off your head in the White House and transform America into a Muslim province.” Islamic State militants issued a direct threat at the U.S. president in their latest video Islamic State militants issued a direct threat at the U.S. president in their latest video Addressing France and Belgium citizens, he says, “We advise you that we will come to you with car bombs and explosive charges and will cut off your heads.”

Then he personally speaks to the Kurdish leader Masoud Barazani, who is currently leading the fight against ISIS in Iraq,“As for

you, oh Masoud, you dog, we are going to behead you and throw you into the trash bin of history.

Know that we are men who fear no-one. We will institute the laws of Allah, may he be exalted and praised. This is the fate of one of your soldiers, and every time you

launch a missile, we will send you back the head of one of your soldiers. You are killing children and bombarding civilians while claiming that this is forbidden in your constitution.”

The video ends with the hostage being beheaded. It was dis-

covered by Memri TV which translated it from Arabic. Earlier this month, jihadist gunmen killed 17 people in a terror attack in Paris. Days later Belgium intelligence services smashed a suspect Islamist plot to kill a police officer or judge.

President Raul Castro demanded that the United States return the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay before the two nations re-establish normal relations.

Castro also said the US should lift the half-century trade embargo on Cuba and compensate his country for damages in exchange for reconcilliation.

Castro told a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States on Wednesday that Cuba and the US are working toward full diplomatic relations but “if these problems aren’t resolved, this diplomatic rapprochement wouldn’t make any sense”.

Castro and US President

Gorbachev warns of risk of ‘new Cold War’

Philippine’s mayor arrested, escorted to graft hearing ÏÏÏThe

mayor of the Philippines’ main financial district has been arrested for contempt and escorted to a Senate hearing to answer allegations of corruption after he repeatedly snubbed the legislature.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr was picked up by Senate security personnel on Thursday on orders of lawmakers investigating allegedly anomalous contracts in the city. Binay Jr succeeded his father Jejomar Binay as mayor of the country’s wealthiest city after the latter was elected vice president in 2010.

He refused to answer questions on advice of his lawyers and was released after three hours.

The Binays have emerged as a powerful political dynasty and the father has been mentioned as a possible presidential contender in 2016. They have been dogged by criticism of nepotism and alleged corruption, which they deny.

Castro’s call for an end to the US embargo drew support at the summit from several Latin American presidents

Cuba demands Guantanamo Bay in return for US ties ÏÏÏCuban

13 World

Barack Obama announced on December 17 that they would move toward renewing full diplomatic relations by reopening embassies in each other’s countries.

The two governments held negotiations in Havana last week to discuss both the reopening of embassies and the broader agenda of re-establishing normal relations.

Obama has loosened the trade embargo with a range of measures designed to increase economic ties with Cuba and increase the number of Cubans who don’t depend on the communist state for their livelihoods.

The Obama administration says removing barriers to US travel, remittances and exports to Cuba is a tactical change that

ÏÏÏThe

last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has accused the United States of drawing Russia into a new Cold War and says he fears hostilities can escalate into armed conflict.

The United States “has already drawn us into a new Cold War, trying openly to achieve its main idea of triumphalism,” Gorbachev said in an interview.

supports the United States’ unaltered goal of reforming Cuba’s single-party political system and centrally planned economy.

Cuba has said it welcomes the measures but has no intention of changing its system.

Castro emphasised an even broader list of Cuban demands, saying that while diplomatic ties may be re-established, normal relations with the US depend on a series of concessions that appear highly unlikely in the near future.

He demanded that the US end the transmission of anti-Castro radio and television broadcasts and deliver “just compensation to our people for the human and economic damage that they’re suffered.”

Demands also include an end to US support for Cuban dissidents and Cuba’s removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Castro also wants the US to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for losses caused by the embargo.

“Where will that lead all of us? A Cold War is already being waged openly. What’s next?” asked the 83-year-old former Soviet president who during his time in power eased relations with the West but is vilified in Russia for allowing the breakup of the USSR. “Unfortunately I cannot say for sure that a Cold War won’t

lead to a ‘hot’ one. I fear they could take the risk,” Gorbachev said, apparently referring to the United States.

Gorbachev in November last year warned that the world was “on the brink of a new Cold War.” In his latest comments, Gorbachev criticised the West for imposing sanctions on Russia.

Raul Castro

Italian leaders rally for consensus president ÏÏÏItaly’s

political leaders are holding talks to try to reach agreement on candidates as parliament prepares to vote for a new president. The post is largely ceremonial, but the vote is seen as an important moment for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Mr Renzi is said to back constitutional court judge Sergio Mattarella, but any candidate needs a two-thirds majority in the first three rounds of voting.

More than 1,000 people are set to vote in the procedure, which will start at 15:00 (14:00 GMT) on Thursday and is expected to continue until a fourth round on Saturday.

Under the constitution, any Italian citizen over 50 can be nominated by MPs, and then the Chamber of Deputies and Senate are joined by 58 regional representatives to vote on the list of candidates.

Giorgio Napolitano (15 Jan) Giorgio Napolitano had been due to serve until 2020 but stood down because of poor health No candidate is likely to win before the fourth round, when only a simple majority of 505 votes is needed.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Soludo: A pseudo-intellectual for hire

I

Uwa Eghomeka

have taken my time t read, albeit painfully, the very lengthy article put together by Soludo and gleefully opublished by Sahara Reporters. When I read the article from a man who literally dropped off the surface of the earth for about five years, my first question was not, “What is he saying?”, rather, “What does he want?” In Soludo’s case, the answer is clear enough.

Chukwuma Soludo’s pen-ultimate article in which he criticised the government, and to which he himself refers in his last publication, was written in 2010 just when we were on the brink of an election. In fact, the scenario was not much different from what we have now. With an election on the way in 2010, the former CBN Governor blasted the government, citing different reasons why he had rated it to have failed.

Now, he is back, with much the same story except for the fact that the narrative is longer.

In life, intelligence and character are not synonymous with each other. What Soludo has in intelligence, he lacks in character and because his character

“He had barely settled when he began displaying megalomaniacal tendencies and a giant and misplaced ego brought about by a deep insecurity” far dominates his intellect, he is wont to continue making bad decisions due to bad judgement.

As a respected and revered investor and global statesman once said; we should always look for three things in an individual: Intelligence, Energy and above all character (Integrity). He said we should choose people with all three but never work with a person who has intelligence and energy but no integrity.

When Soludo came on stage he was a brilliant young economist and lecturer. He was well known within the East, even though not

internationally accomplished then as he would like many to believe. However, when Soludo was brought to Abuja to serve as Chief Economic Adviser, his real character emerged. He had barely settled when he began displaying megalomaniacal tendencies and a giant and misplaced ego brought about by a deep insecurity.

He appropriated every idea and became a one- man riot squad.

All ideas by the Economic team of which he was a member, soon became his personal ideas. Without decorum, he seized those ideas and claimed they were his.

He, through his outsized ego, threw around his weight as CBN Governor and began to imagine himself as some overlord of Nigeria. Within a short while Soludo became mega rich. He bought houses in London (NEXT Newspaper expose) and was even arrested

by EFCC for the Polymer scandal which is still ongoing.

It took a Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to come and clean up the fraudulent mess that he left. This is the same man that is pontificating as if he is a self appointed Messiah.

Hear him pander to all our exmilitary leaders in his write up in a desperate bid and belief that,

he will be thrown some crumbs in the form of an appointment in a new government. That is why Soludo erroneously believed he will be made Vice President under late Yar’Adua. That is also why he believed he will be governor of Anambra State. Having failed in both attempts, he latched onto Atiku Abubakar in the mistaken belief that he will win the last primaries.

After hibernating in between his EFCC visits, Soludo is back again doing what he does best.

The spectre of a position in government is too attractive for him to ignore. You would have thought that if Soludo felt so strongly about the economy he would have spoken up earlier than now. Is anyone surprised that he is speaking now? If he wants to lobby for a political appointment, there are certainly better and more respectable ways to do so. Class, poise and finesse never did anyone any harm.

No, Soludo; It isn’t the government that should be graded an F, it is your character and lack of integrity that should be graded an F. What a shame that Soludo’s poverty of character has reduced him to a miniature stature of a man, a pseudo intellectual for hire.

Against provocative campaigns and threats “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” – Jimi Hendrix

F

Uche Igwe

ew days after my widely circulated article titled “Piece of Peace: 2015 Elections”, was published in the PointBlank News on 27/12/2014, I received the news that the two leading presidential candidates in Nigeria – incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Mohammadu Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have signed a peace accord ahead of the general elections in February, 2015. The images of these two gentlemen hugging each other and smiling at the venue of the peace deal greeted the cyberspace with warm reception. Many of us that saw those pictures circulating on the internet immediately welcomed this development because it symbolized peace, understanding, tolerance and hope.

Yours sincerely was particularly very ecstatic feeling somebody was listening to my #PieceOfPeace. I really felt we were mak-

ing progress towards having a relatively peaceful general election in Nigeria, until recently when my escalated hope was put on a very serious doubt just few days later.

It all started with a sitting governor of a supposedly highly enlightened Nigerian state putting up an advertorial in the front pages of supposedly highly respected Nigerian dailies wishing the candidate of the opposition party death. In more clear terms, a sitting governor that suppose to be at the forefront of peace advocacy placed a deathwish advert in the national dailies for the opposition candidate.

It sounds unbelievable, but that was what happened in the binoculars of all living Nigerians including our security agencies.

Yes, some things can only happen in Nigeria, but this one was far at the extreme! I understand the sponsor of this provocative advert has a history of behaving in a very comical way, but even a clown should not crack this inciting joke in any circus.

I also heard that his party came out to dissociate themselves

from the publication. Well, that is good but it’s not enough. What I expect from the party was to condemn the said publication, ask him to retract it by issuing an apology letter not only to the candidate but also to the millions of Nigerians that he incited. This apology letter should be publish in the front pages of the same newspapers he used.

Having failed in controlling such a loose child, the party should know that they have set a rhythm for a very dangerous dance. As it is the mango fruit that causes the mango tree to be stoned. Therefore, if anybody is asking for the first party to contravene the Abuja peace accord, do not look beyond this provocative advertorial.

While the nation was yet to fully recover from this shock, she received another blow in faraway Katsina – a state that has branded itself to be the nation’s home of hospitality and not hostility. This time it was the convoy of Mr. President that was stoned by miscreants during a campaign rally. It was an act that needs to be condemned

by all right thinking human beings. As expected, both parties came out and dissociated themselves, then went ahead to condemn the disrespectful act.

To me those were not enough. It is important to note that, even though the state is the home state of the leading opposition candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the paradox is that, the state is governed and controlled by the leading PDP. Again, many of us cannot forget in a hurry how the governor of that same state was recently caught in a video camera inciting his supporters to kill the opposition – just like during the Rwandan genocide, he was making reference to killing cockroaches. But to my greatest surprise the director of media and publicity of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Chief Femi FaniKayode, was quick to blame the opposition for the attack, while in an effort to exonerate their party from this blame. The oppositions also blamed the PDP for stage planning the attack themselves. All this to me was a show of shame.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

15 Opinion

2015: Year of the locusts

S

Aniebo Nwamu

omewhere on the streets of Abuja and Lagos, each of several people is paying N202.50kobo for one American dollar. I have for long expected this exchange rate; in fact, it came one year late. In this space on September 29, 2013, I wrote: “By December or January, one United States dollar will exchange for N200 or thereabouts. You can imagine what one would make by buying at the current rate (N162) and selling in December or January.

It means that if I borrowed $1m now (N162m), I would make upwards of N38 million profit – in just three months!

That was when former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (now Emir of Kano) hinted of devaluation, as the naira came under pressure in that September. I looked for a loan so I would buy up all the dollars I could get in Abuja and then wait for a day like this. At the time, $1 equalled N162; so if I had succeeded in getting N162m then, I would have been N40.5m richer now – without doing any work.

2015 should be renamed “locust year” – the year costs will increase but revenues will decline for almost every Nigerian individual, business or government.

Already, money left in banks has lost value instantly. Employees now earn less. Traders are not selling because buyers’ purchasing power has dropped. Then, school fees have risen, as have the prices of most commodities. Landlords are watching the moods of their tenants in order to know when to strike and succeed.

Almost every breadwinner is dying under the weight of dependants most of whom are unemployed, unmarried or too young to earn an income.

Our policymakers blame it all on the falling price of crude oil in the international market.

Although it is partly true, the danger has been with us for the past 42 or 43 years. We have heard the gospel of “diversification” – moving away from being a mono-product or oil-dependent economy – for at least 40 years. In reality, little has been achieved.

The other day, I watched a minister as he was cultivating kilometres of rice and wheat on

television. Cocoa and palm trees were growing fast in the radio too. Millions of jobs were being created in newspapers.

Is Nigeria not a nation of the damned? Truth is scarce. All we’ve learned from western education is how to package lies as truth. In the end, falsehood would give way to truth – we would come face to face with reality.

In this same space last week, I directed the searchlight on fuel “subsidy” which the government had promised to cut by 50 per cent from January 1. If subsidy existed when oil was sold $120 per barrel, I asked, would it exist when the price had come down to $45? Apparently responding to such clear reasoning, the government spoke through petroleum resources minister Diezani Alison-Madueke: she announced a reduction in the pump price of petrol from N97 to N87. But I hear that we still enjoy a “subsidy”.

The managers of the country’s economy are hard workers indeed. We cannot wish for economists that are better than finance minister Okonjo-Iweala, current CBN Governor, Emefiele

and scores of others who sit daily in air-conditioned offices and cars while they steer the economy towards calm waters.

Monetary and fiscal policies, exchange rates and lending rates, foreign reserves and excess crude account, consolidation and appropriation – these are everyday terms that the ordinary person has no business with, however. The best measure of success of each is the good life that we enjoy.

It is amazing how things have been left to depreciate. Nobody thought the naira would lose its value to this extent probably because we believed that Nigeria was on auto pilot.

At the time of Shagari’s “austerity measures” in 1981, N1 exchanged with $2. I paid 10kobo then for a packet of detergent that now goes for N250.

This, finally, is the year of the locusts. They ate up all green leaves within minutes! Whenever they wreaked such havoc, our ancestors faced famine and starvation. Thank God the vile things have been chased off our shores. In our day, unfortunately, the insects have been replaced by human locusts.

Imposition of morality and the secular state

O

Dele Awogbeoba

ne of the main issues being used to undermine the candidacy of Gen. Buhari has been the suspicion that he represents the force of islamisation in Nigeria. That (in other words) is the desire to impose on moderate Moslems, Christians and members of other religious faiths, a moral code that should not be the business of the state to enforce on adults.

A society is judged by the ability of the state to tolerate different strands of behaviour that do not injure, harm or adversely affect other people. In the event that certain behaviours are carried on within private premises by adults and such acts are not injurious to other non consenting adults or minors, then the state should never interfere in such conduct. That after all is why Nigeria is a secular state.

The National Security Adviser(NSA) has suggested that the Federal Government will ban or initiate laws that would ban

access to pornographic websites from within Nigeria. He stated this at the closing ceremony of a three-day workshop on use of social media organised for Islamic preachers, Imams and youths in Kaduna on January 25,2015.

This intention when viewed against the decision of the federal government to sign into law a ban on same sex sexual contact or interaction between consenting adults in private homes means Nigeria is slowly and gradually slipping into a position where human behaviour within the country is becoming subject to the moral codes of fundamentalist Christians and Moslems.

There is no doubt that most Nigerians would frown on Homosexuality and pornographic material. I would hate for my son or daughter to be indulging in either conduct. I am also sure that the members of Boko Haram would frown on such conduct as well.

The thing that distinguishes the Nigerian state from the caliphate of Boko Haram should be the respect for individual rights and the tolerance of the Nigerian state.

The ability to know that ones

“A society is judged by the ability of the state to tolerate different strands of behaviour that do not injure, harm or adversely affect other people” rights ends where another person’s rights start.

It is also, the ability to prevent the imposition of a group’s moral code (whether driven by a religious or a cultural belief system or otherwise) on another group (whether under the threat of beheading or incarceration).

The Fourth Republic has overseen Nigeria’s slow descent into a retrogressive state where individual rights are being and will be curtailed by a moralistic over reaching government. From the ban on the consumption of alcohol passed by the ANPP (now

APC) and PDP controlled core Northern governments in the mid 2000’s, the ban on same sex interactions (even if in private) by the PDP led FG of President Jonathan and the intention to pass laws banning access to pornographic sites in the privacy of ones own home under current federal administration, one wonders which party is actually leading the war to turn Nigeria into a theocratic state.

Nigerians should be aware that the state has started the gradual moral over reach into individual rights. It started by attacking conduct most Nigerians find repulsive. But it did not stop there. It is continuing to attempt to regulate individual moral conduct that should not be the business of the state to regulate unless such conduct harms, injures or negatively affects non consenting adults or minors. No society becomes regressive over night. It is done over time and incrementally.

Sambo Dasuki’s comments are worrisome, especially if this represents some kind of negotiated accommodation with Boko Haram in order to stop the insurgency in the North East.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Politics Ogboru

Ngilari

17

s

Ogboru: Unfinished Revolution in Delta

Joe Ogbodu Campaign season is a crucial time for candidates running for office. It is when candidates turn to the voters, pandering to their wishes to help get them elected.

To some voters, it is time to know who will not trample on their right when elected. For a group of tricyclist and motorcycle riders popularly known as Okada riders in Warri, the commercial nerve centre of Delta State, they would only elect mo-

Fintiri

torcycle-friendly candidates.

So when Chief Great Ogboru, Labour Party governorship candidate stormed Warri in a motorcade for his campaign flag off, his political rally became a revolution for tricyclists and motorcyclists in the metropolis.

The commercial operation of motorcycles have been banned in Delta State but this group of cyclist had constituted themselves into a pressure group networking for their right and enthronement of good governance

in the state.

They volunteered their time and effort for Ogboru’s candidature because they believe the candidate would take an active role in protecting the future of motorcycling.

So, the campaign flag off of Ogboru turned out to be a carnival of some sort on Wednesday as massive crowd surge the Warri Township Stadium for the party campaign rally.

The Warri Township StadiCONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Ardo

Shocker:

Guber polls in Adamawa on Feb 28 illegal, says Ardo Wale Akintunde Yola

A frontline governorship aspirant of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Dr Umaru Ardo has advised the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega not to

conduct gubernatorial poll in Adamawa State by February.

According to him, since the tenure of Governor Murtala Nyako and Bala James Nggilari will come to an end in 2016, it would be error of law if INEC goes ahead to conduct governorship election in Adamawa State next month.

Ardo, in a letter to INEC

chairman said: “I respectfully write to draw your attention to the error of law in conducting governorship election in Adamawa State alongside other states of the federation as scheduled for 28th February, 2015.

“You may wish to recall that the Nyako/Ngilari gubernatorial ticket in Adamawa State

is among the five states of the federation whose governorship election was nullified by the Election Tribunal in February 2008, but they contested a rerun election and won. You may also recall that their tenure of office and re-election for second term became a matter of serious and long judicial proceedings that was ultimately deter-

mined by the Supreme Court on 12th January, 2012, and for which Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution was amended”, he said.

Ardo explained that a careful perusal of the Supreme Court judgment would reveal the inevitable conclusion that the CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Carnival as Ogboru promises revolution in Delta CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

um, venue of the campaign rally was a beehive of activities as Ogboru was ushered into the stadium amidst tumultuous crowd who had besieged the stadium to catch a glimpse of him.

Lovers of Ogboru project, mainly artisans and traders had thronged the venue with their wares and other chewable items which they had branded after the name Ogboru. There were ‘Ogboru’s fried chicken’, ‘Ogboru Hot Rice’ Ogboru Cool drink’ lined up at the entrance of the stadium by petty traders who catches on the day’s event to make brick business.

One of the cyclists said they would mobilise for Ogboru over and over again until his mandate is restored in the state. “We love Ogboru so much hence the huge solidarity. No one paid us, we are happy doing it for him. He is a civilian general and that is why you see that anytime he is contesting, people voluntarily mobilise and work for his success”.

The Warri city roads were partially locked for hours as Ogboru, popularly known as “the peoples general’ mainly among the youths, rode in a motorcade to the stadium.

The heavy gridlock snared along the Warri/Sapele road following the sea of supporters mainly youths, market women and people from Urhobo speak-

ing area of the state who had thronged the city in solidarity with the party flag bearer.

Present at the flag off rally were members of the National Executive of Labour Party led

by Alhaji Abdulkadri Salam and host of other party faithful who had mobilised from the 25 local government councils across the state.

Addressing the crowd, Ogboru who was flanked by his wife and his running mate, Elder Peter Ovie Erebi said that the era of mismanagement of public resources meant for development of the state was over.

He said that if elected, his administration would not embezzle state funds rather use it judiciously for massive infrastruc-

tural development of the state.

“Change has come. No more shall Delta be in political and economic darkness. No more shall we witness corruption, dirty environment, lack of water and mismanagement of the treasury.

“Your pains, aims, aspirations and agenda for Delta State are same as mine. We are going to transform the state within the shortest possible time.

He urged Deltans to choose the right leaders saying: “When we choose our leaders, they become accountable to us through a transparent government”.

“Today therefore we have a rare opportunity and responsibility to vote for that leader whose government will impact evidently on our people. I enjoin you my people to therefore support us in this noble quest to transform our state,” he stressed.

Speaking at the rally, former governorship aspirant under the platform of the PDP, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, who recently dumped the party to join forces with Ogboru said that his support for Ogboru was because Ogboru will add value to governance of Delta State.

Omo-Agege who is the Labour Party’s candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District said that a vote for Ogboru is a vote for transformation of the state pointing out that Ogboru had always won previous elections in the state but was often robbed of

He said that if elected, his administration would not embezzle state funds rather use it judiciously for massive infrastructural development of the state Ogboru

PDP Reconciliation: Anger in Abia Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

Kalu

Last December, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Abia State held its primaries ahead of next month’s elections in the state. Though the party hierarchy and the state government said the primaries were free and fair, it was not without bickering, murmur and anger from those who lost.

Their anger stemmed from allegations that winners at the primaries had earlier been selected, while the names of delegates were allegedly hidden from those who will not win.

At the end of the exercise, there were happy winners and there were angry losers.

“There is anger in the land”, as Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Chairman of the party would later put it.

Expectedly, many who lost were aggrieved. Some left the

party, some remained in the party, but apathetic, while some exhibited strong traits of anger, having lost and spent much money in the exercise.

The party became seemingly on the brink of collapsing in the state and victory for PDP in the next coming election seemed threatened.

In what appears as a wise de-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

19 Politics

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

scheduled conduct of governorship election in Adamawa State on 28th February, 2015 alongside other states as scheduled is an error of law. ‘’ By virtue of that Supreme Court’s decision, as contained in the supporting judgment of Justice MS Muntaka-Coomassie, the period that Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala James Ngilari were out of office and during which the then Adamawa State Speaker of House of Assembly, Hon. James Barka, held office as Acting Governor cannot be counted in computing their 4-year term of office. For ease of reference, I quote the relevant part of that highly celebrated judgment: “Finally, in view of the above, I hold that in calculating the four-year term of the 1st Respondent and other beneficiaries of the re-run elections as ordered, and who had earlier been sworn-in before taking the second oath, the first oath taking of 29/5/2007 shall be reckoned with. The second oath taking is mere surpluses.

This shall however exclude the months they vacated office before taking the second oaths of allegiance and oath of office.

(Emphasis mine) “The governorship election of Adamawa State was nullified on 26/2/2008, the same day the governor and his deputy vacated office, and were re-sworn back into office on 30/4/2008 after winning the re-run election.

By this judgment, therefore, it explicitly means that the two months three days that they were out of office cannot be computed in calculating their 4-year term of office. This further means that the actual date of expiration of the Nyako/Ngilari second term of four years is 1st August, 2015 and not 29th May 2015. So holding onto the latter date implies including, and not excluding, the months they were out of office.

“In view of the above, it is obvious that the scheduled holding of governorship election

Fintiri

Ardo

Why guber polls can’t hold in Adamawa Feb 28 The actual date of expiration of the Nyako/ Ngilari second term of four years is 1st August, 2015 and not 29th May 2015.

So holding onto the latter date implies including, and not excluding, the months they were out of office

in Adamawa State on 28th February is a clear breach of the law as interpreted by the apex court. I therefore call on INEC to halt forthwith the planned governorship election in Adamawa State and declare, in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment that the term of the current administration

in the state will expire on 1st August, 2015. If, however, INEC fails to do so and insists on going ahead with the governorship election, then one will have no other option than to institute an action in court to seek the determination of the matter,” he stressed.

PDP Reconciliation in Abia meets brickwall CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

cision, the state governor, Theodore Orji, on 19th December set up a 7-man PDP Reconciliation Committee headed by, Si Ogbulafor, with the secretary of Abia State Elders Council, Ogbulafor

Dr. Eme Okoro as secretary.

The committee was to assuage the ill-feelings of the aggrieved, who were also abandoned by the party, as one of them from Bende local government pointed out: “They (the party) no longer calls us meet-

ings; neither do they involve us again in party activities”.

When the party calls for meetings, they were no longer seen in such meetings, thus becoming “political lepers”.

“We have been rendered useless and no longer relevant and

not being called for meetings.

Some of us in Bende (LGA) fought Orji Uzor Kalu to a standstill, fought for PDP and yet they allowed us to spend so much and now, rigged us out.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Politics 20 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Niger State and former Military Administrator, Col. Aminu Isah Kontagora (Rtd) has called on his colleagues among other aspirants across the country to shun politics of bitterness and work for the success of the party at the forthcoming elections.

Kontagora, one of the indigenes of the state who aspired to govern the state but lost out, made the call in reaction to the strong opposition to the PDP’s bid to retain powers both at the centre and state levels.

Speaking in an exclusive interview in Kaduna, the former MILAD noted that since 1999 when the country returned to democracy with PDP at the helm of affairs, this is the first time the ruling party is having opposition that is committed and structured to taking over government.

Though he viewed the political development as healthy and a blessing for the nation, growth and development wise, Kontagora acknowledged the APC, a coalition party, in the race as a challenge to the dream of the PDP. To this end, he said “I call on all those that aspired in various positions and participated in the race, to put the past behind, team up with the PDP and get the party into victory. We should forget about the issue of individuals now and face the general elections squarely.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Kontagora: To win, PDP must re-strategise, work harder “For the first time, PDP is having an opposition party that is committed and structured. It is a good omen and a blessing to have strong opposition in the country but what that means is that the PDP is being challenged, therefore it should re-strategise and work harder”, stressing: “it is no more business as usual”.

According to him, from his assessment, whoever will emerge as winners of this election in both parties, will no doubt be a person of credibility.

Like many other Nigerians, the governorship aspirant said it is

I call on all those that aspired in various positions and participated in the race, to put the past behind, team up with the PDP and get the party into victory

early to draw conclusion on who will win the presidential race but opined that having spent 16 years in power, the PDP has the opportunity to “correct any lapses that will jeopardise its victories at the polls” as according to him “we have competent and reliable hands that can do that all over the country”.

Though he affirmed the PDP’s ability to withstand the challenges posed by the 2015 elections, Kontagora said: “as I said earlier, it is not going to be a bed of roses” and therefore charged party members and supporters to rise up to the challenge in the interest of the party devoid of personal interest.

Reacting to his aspiration, he said he had an interesting experience which he described as “heartening”, adding that he took the outcome of the exercise in good faith for the interest of his party. “It is like any other game where there must be a winner and a loser. For the overall interest of our party, I expect any other person to look at life the same way” On the fear the election is generating, he argued: “I think we are only forgetting the past. None of our elections has not generated

Muazu so much tension. This one is the same. People are getting agitated because the parties seem to be matching each other on whatever you do or whatever you say. People

are interpreting that as election that may not end well. No. That is not the issue. It will all be well.

Nigerians are good managers of crisis and we will do that”.

Aspirants shun reconciliation in Abia CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

“We did not have access to the delegates for they were bottled up, majority of who are not party people. We were told that those who won were government candidates. You have sufficiently annoyed us”, he stressed.

Even the re-run, he said was used to remove people who won contrary to their expectations.

Having had meetings with the aggrieved from each of the senatorial levels, another meeting was arranged to discuss with those who won, party candidates. None of the candidates except, Jerry Uzosike from Umuahia South honoured the meeting which was intended to be used to urge them to accommodate the vanquished in their political activities.

In the evening of Wednesday January 21, the committee submitted its report to the

state governor, summarizing: “if this committee was not set up, the party would have been in trouble”.

Chairman of the committee, Sir Ogbulafor disclosed that two aggrieved governorship aspirants “were not met and they kept posting us”, while others met said they were not going to abandon the party and will work to deliver the party’s candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

According to him, in Abia South, turnout of the aggrieved members was impressive, while in Abia North and Central, it was not, but that the aggrieved did confirm that Dr. Ikpeazu had met with them earlier on individual basis.

He said, “there is a lot of anger, but they said they would remain with PDP. They mentioned few areas of their grievances. They are not happy with extortion by the party and the arrogance of those who won”.

He warned: “If you win the

battle, you have not won the war”, pointing out that there is war ahead with other parties.

“Unfortunately, none of the candidates turned up” for the

He said, “there is a lot of anger, but they said they would remain with PDP. They mentioned few areas of their grievances. They are not happy with extortion by the party and the arrogance of those who won

meeting scheduled with them, stating: “this shows element of arrogance” by the candidates”.

The committee also revealed that the aggrieved had complained that the findings of a committee headed by Ike Nwachukwu in the past had not seen the light of the day, making an appeal to the “leaders” of the party to appoint the aggrieved into campaign teams to engage and make them relevant.

Gov. Orji said it was his duty to read the report and implement the content, stating that in a contest, some people must be aggrieved when they lose as only one person would win, stating: “There is nothing we can do. What is happening in PDP is not peculiar, but happens everywhere, adding: “What is important is to be a one happy family and win election”.

The governor promised to

study the report and implement what he can, adding that when they do that, there will be peace.

The question now is whether the reconciliation shuttle by the committee would be enough to assuage the bad feelings of the aggrieved in the state. The forthcoming polls in the state will prove this.

Orji Kalu

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Features I get sick sometimes, but Allah is helping me –Pay loader

Dan Okposio

Muhammad Bello was one of six teenagers that accompanied a lorry load of raw beans from Maiduguri to Lagos in 2005. Now 36 and sharing one room with three of his six friends on Alafia Street, Mushin, Muhammad is one of many young human pay-loaders at the Daleko wholesale market on the Mushin Isolo Road; he is one of the few load-

21

s ers who carry three 50kg bags at once over distance of between 30 to 100 meters.

Speaking through an interpreter, Muhammad, originally from Jigawa Street in Sokoto State, told Daily Times that he is the 17th of his father’s 48 children and his mother, Mueba, the 9th of his father’s wives has nine children, including himself.

Muhammed teamed up with pay loaders in Daleko and built up his carrying capacity from

one 50 kg bag to three 50 kg bags, and he told Daily Times why he took the gutsy step.

“This year make it ten years I start the work”, he began. “I been start with one bag for two months, then I start to carry two for a long time; I think it was two years ago I start to carry three bags, but I only carry it when the load is plenty.”

Mr. Monday Ugwuabuchi, an auto parts dealer opposite the CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Bello at work

Down memory lane with an OBJ look alike At a department called Apostolic Training School, ATS in Pastor Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain Assembly, anyone visiting the main auditorium during the ATS hour, especially at Maturity Class pupils section, would blink several times at a real life OBJ look alike.

GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR had an encounter with him and reports.

Adediji

One cannot start a personality interview with an indefatigable Baba Iyabo, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo lookalike without starting from there, so the first sensible question to ask was, has anyone told you before you look like Obasanjo?

“O yes” (a very long laughter).

“I have been accosted by many people that I look like Obasanjo, and I am always quick to point out that I am not Obasanjo; that we are not related, and not connected in any way. I am Adediji, from Ilesha, Oshun State; he is Obasanjo, from Abeokuta, Ogun State.”

Daily Times wanted to know how people react when they see him at first sight.

“Everywhere I go, people look at me several times. There was a day I travelled to Benin for a social outing and intended to return the same day. After Ore, where they have many roadblocks, some policemen flagged down the vehicle, and one took a closer look at me; his eyes widened.

“Then he called the others , and they came.

“The whole looking was so suspicious, and since they were not saying anything but looking, I asked them, is there anything wrong?

“Then the first one said, do you

have your documents, sir? I said yes, which one do you want to see?

Later he asked: has anyone told you that you look like Obasanjo?”

(He rocked with laughter at the recall).

In a clean society, nobody would mind such a thing; but our society is a little bit dirty, and I don’t need any part of it. I really don’t “As I laughed, they also laughed, and I said, I hope there is no wahala o?” They said no, and they let me go.

“There were lighter occasions also, like one that happened at a Latter Rain Assembly. A small boy looked at me and said to the people there, ‘Quick, come see Obasanjo!’

“So I may look like him, but I don’t know him beyond what everybody knows of him. I’ve not met him, and we have nothing in common.”

Thoroughly used to the attention his OBJ lookalike image draws to him, Adediji mused at the way people react when they see him and said he has come to terms with it.

Have you ever wondered in yourself, why you look like Obasanjo?

“I don’t worry about it. I am who I am, and he is who he is. God created both of us; why ever we look alike is best known to God. But I must stress that I don’t like and I don’t want to be linked or discussed alongside Obasanjo.”

All efforts to probe further about his opinion on Obasanjothe military and civilian roles he played in the country and heating up the polity at will, met with stiff resistance. Adediji firmly refused to be embroiled in any controversy over OBJ’s personae.

An attempt to make him see the lighter, humorous side of his OBJ lookalike image revealed a little of the reason for his caution.

“In a clean society, nobody would mind such a thing; but our society is a little bit dirty, and I don’t need any part of it. I really don’t.”

After this, Daily Times sought to know about him.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Features 22

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

The man, Adediji For the records, our OBJ lookalike is Mr. Lawrence Adesoji Adediji, from Ilesha Central, Ilesha-West Local Government Area of Osun State.

He was born on June 13, 1945 into one of the royal families of the Adede Ogunlowo clan, but that was where his royalty and princehood ended because his father died in 1946 when he was barely one year old.

“I am a complete private man; I had a very rough and tough early life”, he told Daily Times in his living room at his residence in Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos.

“My uncle, another Adediji, brought me up, but also died 10 years later, so I accompanied my mother to the North, a place called Uban-Loma, around Jebba, now in present day Kwara. By 1956 all those areas were in Northern Nigeria, and there I went to school.”

Unable to continue his education for lack of finance, Adediji started fending for himself in 1963. He worked for a few years in Lagos, then returned to Ilesha to continue his education, but had to stop again due to lack of money.

“I had to come back to Lagos in 1966-7, and started work with Pfizer (Ivory Plastic) products. I worked there as a storekeeper for eight years.

“I left in 1974 for business of transportation, then went into clearing and forwarding agency as assistant shipping manager with Far East Mercantile under Chanrai Group of Companies in 1976. I left in 1986 , and ever since, I have been running my private enterprise.

“I came to Lagos in 1966; lived at 11 Anipele Street, Mushin. God gave me a piece of land at Oko Oba in 1970; then I moved to this property in 1973.

“That is all about me, so you can see I am not Obasanjo!”

Then, Daily Times asked what it was like in pre and post independent Nigeria while growing up. Adediji went down memory lane.

“When you talk of 1950-70, life of that time was peaceful. We had value for life, for properties, and of living; we had what we call moral values and it was a Nigeria when we were our brother’s keepers.

“In those days nobody cared whether you were Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, etc; ethnicity did not matter; the moment you have the same clean, human mind, elders can correct the little ones. An example: While growing up, my mother was what we call Oshomalo, (petty trader. She moved from one vil-

Adediji

Obasanjo

Nigeria was a very The way it works is the clean society more you lage to the other, across borders, buying and selling goods; and she would leave me in the company of the Nupe, Tapa, even Gwari people who were our neighbours; I will stay with them for upwards of three months while my mother moved about doing her business.

It was such a clean, honest and beautiful life that you will know that Nigeria as a nation had great future.

“By 1966, a bag of cement sold for four or five shillings; 1966-70, you could buy a brand new beetle car for £2,000 ; in 1972-3; a brand new Peugeot car sold for £4,500 ; Toyota Corona, £3,000. If you had five shillings which is 50 kobo

now, you’re were on top of the world.”

What was salary like?

“My first salary at Pfizer was £10 pounds, that was £120 pounds per annum, and it was a lot of money.

“Transport fare from Ikeja to Mushin was only three pence.

Life was peaceful, healthy and satisfying; integrity, morality and values were there.”

For young people, what was lifestyle like?

“This question you ask will give you a picture of what values, self-respect and wonderful society we had as a nation.

Transport fare from Ikeja to Mushin was only three pence. Life was peaceful, healthy and satisfying; integrity, morality and values were there

“The young people then had a future , and everybody was struggling honestly to make it in life, either by studying, going for apprenticeship, learning a trade, but everyone committed him or herself to working out a future based on integrity.

“Today, children don’t want to work, yet they want quick money; our young ones are roaming the streets and have refused to work hard. Commitment of going to school and learning is no longer there as before.

“In those days you found children doing something extra to pay their school fees, buy clothes, because sometimes your parents, beyond seeing you through primary school, do not have the resources for further education.

Up to the time the young man will gain admission into a university, the parents don’t even know how they got it; they only get to hear CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

look the less you see CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

market told Daily Times of the myth surrounding these carriers.

“I have heard it said that they use something; it is not normal. It was suggested that there are spirits who actually carry the loads for some of them in; others say the weight of the loads are suspended from their body by some magic power. The way it works is like ‘the more you look, the less you see.”

But Muhammed refuted it all, saying he has no affiliation with any spirit. He thumbed his chest and flexed hus muscles: ‘Oga, I get kaCONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

23 Features

The colonial masters had interest on whom to rule CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

of it when the child has secured admission.

“You could vouch for your cousin, uncle staying with you, and you are ready to help with no strings attached. Everyone was a brother or a sister; as far as you are living in the same community.

“But today, the youths are looking for cheap money; how to make it fast, not through hard work, that’s the irony of it all.”

INDENDENCE DAY What was your day like in October 1, 1960 when Nigeria celebrated her independence?

“Oh, I was at Uban-Loma Community School, about 15 miles to Jebba after Ilorin.”

“I was 15 years old. On that day I remember the wordings of the national anthem”,It took us about three months to October 1, 1960 to learn the song. On independence day, they brought three cows to the school,and each pupil was given a bowl of cooked rice, cup painted in the national colours and Nigerian flag. Because the school was the only one in the area, within 11 or 15 miles away, every student washed uniform, dressed up and matched with the school band round the town waving the flag. “Those children not attending school, seeing us with our flags wanted to go to school.

“Later,an official from the ministry of education, including the principal addressed us.

Of school uniform “ In the primary school, we had nothing like school uniforms. If you had school uniforms, you’re on top of the world”.

We didn’t even have shoes to

wear, so that somebody had no shoes was not a peculiar case.

Shoes were a luxury, and we didn’t know that people were suffering, we thought it was part of life.

“It was when you gained admission into secondary school that you could talk of sandals, and not everyone could afford it. We all wore khaki knickers”.

We didn’t even have shoes to wear, so that somebody had no shoes was not a peculiar case.

Shoes were a luxury, and we didn’t know that people were suffering, we thought it was part of life You had pressing iron for the khaki?

“We didn’t have pressing iron, but there were some that had the type of core pressing iron that had holes; they put charcoals in it or so. But generally, ironing was very rare.”

In the past 54 years, how do you compare governance in Nigeria?

“So many things went wrong, though it is not time to apportion blames, but when you’re talking of the past, seeing what is happening now, we are able to draw the lines and read between them.

Genesis of political crisis?

“In 1963, 65 before the election, I strongly believe that the colonial ministers had interest on whom to rule; that was the problem and that is the problem still tearing us apart.

Before the election, the first known political party was NCNC which was formed by Herbert

Macaulay and Azikiwe was the general secretary; later the Northern People’s Congress, NPC; then later, the Action Group, AG. The NPC controlled the North; AG the West, NCNC, the East.

NPC had almost 50 or 51 percent of members of the House of Representatives, while the West and the South had 25 percent each, which was the remaining 50.

Now, if North had 50 seats, while the other two had 50 to share among themselves; and now, with politics of division between the other two, one part began to support the North that already had 50; and the other one became the opposition, that’s the same situation we are having till CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Now I am young again, I didn’t like the work too much CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

rufi’ (power). ‘Na karufi de help me, wallahi’, he swore.

Do you like your job?

“I liked it very much before, but now I am not young again, so I don’t like it too much, but I must eat and take care of my expenses.”

Three times too many

Have you been sick before?

“Yes, I get sick sometimes, but Allah is helping me. Sometimes I wake up with headache, one

time I had backache and waste pain but I took native medicine and I was fine. That is one of the reason I want to leave the job if I have a choice; but what can I do? Go and beg money? Allah forbid.”

How many loads you carry in one day?

“Sometimes I can carry up to 25 or 35 sometimes, depending on how many customers call me; we are many here you know.”

How do you spend your money?

“Ah, that is a hard question o; I have to eat, I pay for many things. I have a small saving sha; may be one day I will take it and go home to farm.”

What is your plan for the future?

“I don’t know. Okay, I want to marry and have only one boy and one girl.”

What would you like to do if you are not carrying load?

“Anything at all outside carrying loads. I am tired.”

Features 24

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Our problem was the fear of domination CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Adediji

Fruit of the Moment The season is here; cherry is everywhere and Mother Nature has been faithful, churning out the fruits in their seasons. The rich, the poor, even the physically challenged and the visually impaired are happy for the goodness of nature.

‘Seed time and harvest time shall not seize for as long as the earth remaineth’ was the command.

Ain’t we all lucky that the Creator is not a politician?

today.

“It’s a situation that Nigerians have not freed themselves, because every man will see himself within his or her ethnic group.

The problem was the fear of domination, but by then there was no fear until when that election came in 1959 and Balewa became Prime Minister.

By 1962, two years after independence, the Federal Government had used its powers to destabilise the political situation in the West; this pitted Akintola against Awolowo. There was little or no corruption in the government.

“Today, I don’t know how many houses Ahmadu Bello had, I am yet to be told that Tafawa Balewa had estate; but now it’s much easier to find a governor or any politician who comes into power with nothing to his name and account and within few months becomes a billionaire.

“And now the masses are not helping either, the moment our relatives are appointed into office, the demands from immediate family and environment becomes higher. He is tagged ‘honorable’ so he also wants to live the life that

So when we’re talking about the leadership and the elites, the followers also have a lot to do; the followership also corrupts the leadership: Like the people, like their leaders he does not have something to support.

“The moment they say somebody is appointed a commissioner from your village, all the villagers want him to do the impossible; he himself has become a tin god.

So when we’re talking about the leadership and the elites, the followers also have a lot to do; the followership also corrupts the leadership: Like the people, like

their leaders.”

Advice on February election: Nigerians should think deep before they vote, because if we think otherwise, everybody will sit down at home; but if we believe our votes will count, we have to perform our civic responsibilities.”

Mystery of genetics One thing OBJ and Adediji have in common is that they are both introverts of degrees: short of political interests, it would take a lot of persuasion to move OBJ to a social party; and with our host, short of his pious religious affiliations, the same can be said of Adediji.

Though Adediji may not exhibit those unpredictable moves that characterise the OBJ personae, but any journalist who has had the opportunity of interviewing OBJ will notice those natural habits like wriggling of the hands, adjusting himself on the seat in response to questions, etc.

It was so much like being one on one with OBJ. Married with children and grandchildren, Lawrence Adesoji Adediji is a passionate Lattarrainian without apology.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Today in History

1920

1920 Japan’s Mazda founded On this day in 1920, Jujiro Matsuda (1875-1952) formed Toyo Cork Kogyo, a business that makes cork, in Hiroshima, Japan; just over a decade later the company produces its first automobile and eventually changes its name to Mazda. Today, Mazda is known for its affordable, quality-performance vehicles, including the Miata, the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster.

In 1931, the company launched the Mazda-Go, a three-wheeled vehicle that resembled a motorcycle with a cargo-carrier at the back. The company’s car development plans were halted during World War II and the bombing of Hiroshima. In the 1950s, Mazda began making small, four-wheel trucks. The company launched its first passenger car, the R360 Coupe, in 1960 in Japan. Seven years later, Mazda debuted the first rotary engine car, the Cosmo Sport 110S. Maz-

Japan’s Mazda founded da entered the American market in 1970, with the R100 coupe, the first mass-produced, rotarypowered car in the U.S. In 1978, the Mazda RX-7, an affordable, “peak-performing” sports car debuted. The following year, the Ford Motor Company took a 25 percent stake in the company.

In 1989, at the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda unveiled the MX-5 Miata, a two-door sports car carrying a starting price tag of $13,800. According to Mazda, the concept for the car was: “affordable to buy and use, lightweight, Jinba Ittai (‘rider and horse as one’) handling, and classic roadster looks.” The 2000 “Guinness Book of World Records” named the Miata the best-selling twoseat convertible in history.

In 1991, in another milestone for the company, a Mazda 787 B won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, becoming the first rotary-

powered car as well as the first Japanese-made auto to do so.

However, Mazda was impacted by the economic slump in Japan in the 1990s and in 1996, Ford took a controlling stake in the automaker and rescued it from potential bankruptcy. The two companies shared manufacturing facilities in several countries along with vehicle platforms and other resources.

In 2008, Ford, which had been hurt by the global economic crisis and slumping auto sales, relinquished control of Mazda by selling 20 percent of its controlling stake for around $540 million. (Also that year, General Motors sold its stake in Japanbased Suzuki Motor.)

In 2009, Mazda celebrated the 20th anniversary of the MX-5 Miata, whose sales by then had topped nearly 900,000 and which had won almost 180 major automotive awards

25

s

1945

Burma supply route cleared 1945 Burma supply route cleared A vital supply route linking India to China through Burma was finally cleared for Allied military transports on this day in 1945. The first convoy of 133 trucks under British General Mountbatten left Ledo several weeks earlier, but could not enter China until the Americans were able to remove the last Japanese troops, retreating southward from a Chinese counter-offensive. Chinese General Chiang Kai-shek said the road had broken Japan’s siege of China.

1967 Let’s abide by Aburi pact, says Ojukwu Lt.-Col.Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Governor of the East said that the recent meeting of Nigeria’s military leaders in Ghana took the decisions

aiming at reducing tension in the country.

Addressing a unit of the first battalion of the Nigerian Army at Rainbow town near Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Ojukwu said he attended the meeting in Aburi, Ghana, “contrary to advice” in order to show the East’s readiness to help solve the Nigerian crises.

The Aburi meeting he said, took decisions which the participants sincerely believed would restore confidence and make for peace and smooth administration of the country.

We returned from that conference full of hopes satisfaction,” he said. “But I have very serious doubts as to the readiness of certain members of the Supreme Military Council to adhere to those decisions”

1948 Gandhi assassinated in New Delhi Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola 1948 Gandhi assassinated in New Delhi Mohandas Gandhi, the world’s chief advocate of non-violence, was assassinated in New Delhi by a terrorist sponsored by a right-wing Hindu militia group. The murder came only 10 days after a failed attempt on Gandhi’s life. Thirty-nine-yearold Nathuram Godse shot the great Indian leader as he made his way through a small crowd to lead a prayer session.

The father of Indian independence had angered Hindu extremists by his efforts to bring peace in the wake of the British withdrawal from India.

Muslims and Hindus had been fighting a civil war since the decision to the Muslim-dominated western region of India had become separated as Pakistan.

Religious-inspired riots were breaking out all over India when Gandhi went on a hunger strike in September 1947.

The fast almost killed Gandhi but it successfully suspended the fighting. However, he was forced to fast again in January in order to finally bring the sides together for a peace pact.

Hindu extremists saw this as selling out the nation and plotted Gandhi’s death. On January 20, the group detonated explosives inside the wall of a New Delhi house where Gandhi was, but stopped short of throwing a grenade at Gandhi because they feared that bystanders would be killed.

Gandhi was instrumental in driving the British out of India. His non-violent protests and boycotts crippled England’s ability to control the populace and brought unwanted attention to one of the world’s last major bastions of colonialism.

He was a leader in the Indian National Congress, and led the revolution for independence.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Friday January 30, 2015

Our heritage

s

Waje, Omawunmi, Phyno, others at Malta Guinness Game On grand finale Singer Waje, Omawunmi, and Phyno were among the celebrities at the first season of Malta Guinness Game On reality series.

The thrilling show kicked off with an opening round of jokes and banter by humour merchants, Owen Gee and Lepacious Bose who after getting the audience in stitches handed over to another king of comedy Gordons, the official; host of the night.

Lanre and Amokachi for the final time had the opportunity to defend their passions in one minute before a recap of memories of the contestants in the house and on tasks.

Without much ado the run way was lit and came to life with the fashion team putting their best foot forward to present an amazing show on this grand finale, the football team wouldn’t be left behind as they blew the audience away with a football inspired dance piece.

Waje couldn’t but score them a 8 over ten when asked what she thought of their performance.

Noble Igwe rooting for the fashion team believed they scored 9/10. Mind-blowing performances by delectable R&B songstress, Niyola and Alobam crooner, Phyno got the entire audience rising to their feet, singing and dancing along and breaking into applause for the rapper when he was done.

The moment of truth came and Naijas true passion was finally unveiled as Olumide Ajibolade was declared final winner over Henrietta with Team Football winning 52% of the votes to Team Fashion’s 48% in the outcome of voting by Nigerians on Facebook and by SMSes across the nation.

Shocked Olumide broke into prayers as he beamed with joy and called his family to break the news in 6 words “tell them say I don win”, the crowd erupted into laughter and applause.

igbo ukwu museum disrepair

From Igbo-Ukwu

museum... with tears The Igbo-Ukwu museum in Anambra state is supposed to be one of the leading museums in Nigeria, but all is not well with the treasure house – on account of years of neglect and pilfering of its conent of its priceless artifacts. Agozino Agozino, who visited the museum, recently, writes on the almost abandon antiquity house.

Igbo Ukwu Museum run by the Anambra State Ministry of Youths, Sports and Culture, is one of the few museums owned

by State governments in Nigeria. And like other repositories

across the country, the museum has suffered unrelieved neglect.

The first thing that greets a visitor, on arriving at the entrance to the antiquity house, is that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has disconnected it for many years. And no one could tell what is being done about it or why the building, which houses priceless Igbo heritage would be in darkness.

Since 2007, when the museum was disconnected from the public electricity supply, for non-payment of bills as gathered by Daily Times, it has remained in dark-

ness. Apart from lack of electricity, the museum has no source of running water. Going inside the museum proper, one is shocked as to what the entire museum looks like. The walls and ceiling showed signed of having soaked up water for months, if not for many years, and to worsen matters, the ceiling is hanging insecurely.

Founded in 1989 according to sources, the Igbo-Ukwu Museum comprises six sections. Sadly, however, the remnants of exhibits in the museum are covered by dust and the whole house looks

unkempt. Apart from the fact that this is a museum that took off to a flying start only for it to suddenly lose steam, and would be abandoned for decades, everything inside the museum looks abandoned.

Although a national museum now operates in Igbo-Ukwu, but the Igbo-Ukwu museum opened years before the National Commission for Museum and Monument (NCMM) station started in the town, which is part of Aguata Local Government Area of

Continued on page 27

Open Mic Theatre at Tera Kulture

Waje

Today, Open Mic Theatre along with other artistes will be using their art to speak up on world issues and to encourage Nigerians to vote peacefully and perform their civic rights at Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage, Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 6pm.

The event will be a mix of not only actors but musicians and poets. Performing artistes include, Osas Ighodaro, Lala Akindoju, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Bolanle Olukanni, Adesua Etomi, Zara, Ijeoma Agu, others are Okey Uzoeshi, Lily Byoma, Ade Laoye, Diana Yekini, Abiodun

Kassim, Ayo Ajike, Odenike and many other talented actors.

Beautiful music will be performed by award-winning singer, songwriter Timi Dakolo and Bemyoda.

Titilope and Efe Paul will lend their voices through spoken word.

Timi Dakolo

Daily Times Nigeria Friday January 30, 2015

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

Afropolitan Vibes at Freedom Park Ade Bantu and his Afropolitan Vibes crew will perform tomorrow at Freedom Park, Lagos.

The show which is the first for the year will also parade highlife veteran Chris Ajilo, Neo-Soul singer Bez, Afro-Hiphop artist Aje Butter 22 and R&B songstress Ruby Gyang.

Oganizers of the show has urged Bantu’s fans to come and show him support by attending the show. “We look forward to seeing you all on Friday, January 30, 2015 at Freedom Park by 7pm. No need to worry about parking, just download the UBER app, register and enter the promo code AVIBES01 and you automatically get two free rides for N3000 off your first two

Bantu

Celebrating women through music, film To mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), The Life House will hold a women programme tagged Woman Rising to celebrate the day. The event is scheduled for Saturday March 21 and Sunday 22, 2015.

Woman Rising is the fifth in the IWD celebration series which The Life House began in 2011. Organizers of the event states that the event will be a memorable one. “Our IWD celebrations have infused various aspects of the arts, literature, visual art, dance, film over the past 5 years and this year we are proud to continue in that tradition.

Our heritage

27

Arewa, Ohaneze and Afenifere film-makers are the problem of Nollywood - Ugbomah of videographers, do you still stand by that?

Yes. For God’s sake why are they denying what they are?

They are videographers. They are shooting video. They should shut up. Let’s call a spade a spade. They are not film- makers. If we want to be specific, film is the one you shoot in celluloid; video is the one you shoot in video. So, the man who is doing this is a videographer any day. We are cinematographer.

So, they should not deny their identity. As I am talking to you, 99 percent of them cannot distinguish what I am saying because many of them have not seen celluloid before.

Veteran Nollywood filmmaker, Chief Eddie Ugbomah, is one person whose view on the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) is respected by many, while pitching him against others. In this interview at his Agbara EDIFOSA Film Village with Agozino Agozino, the Aboh, Delta State-born thespian specialist ex-rays issues in Nollywood, as well as other sundry issues.

Excerpts How do you rate Nollywood?

Nollywood is rubbish and it belongs to the gutter. It is simple. If you are not a Yoruba, Yoruba people will not listen to you.

In fact, you will hardly get a part in their movie. If you are not an Igbo, Igbo people will not give you any role to play. The hardest is Hausa. If you are not a Hausa, just forget about trying because you will not get any role. Go to any of their auditioning. You may be asked what your name is. If you don’t say your name is Uche, Obiekwe or Emeka, you will not get a part.

Are you saying that this may have affected the growth of movie industry in Nigeria?

Yes, and I will tell you. You find that the industry is saturated by illiterate producers and marketers. They are claiming what they are not. Because of all this rubbish they are doing, when people look at the Nigerian films, they will say please remove it. Because as soon as it starts, you already know how it would end. And, now, because the Igbo are the ones holding the industry, Igbo marketers will

Ugbomah

The industry is saturated by illiterate producers and marketers

If you are not an Igbo, Igbo people will not give you any role to play. The hardest is Hausa. If you are not a Hausa, just forget about trying because you will not get any role

cut the story into part one, part two, part three. They will tell you that it’s because ‘I was trying to recoup my investment.’ So you see pure trash. Part one will finish; part two will start from the middle of part one with advert, then part three will start in the middle of part two. That is cheating.

You once described Nigerian movie makers are bunch

Critics have complained that Nigeria movies are always characterized by fetish.

What is your comment?

It all boils down to one single thing, lack of true professionals in the industry today. Everybody is doing what he wants and what they are all looking for is money. But if I should look at it from a different angle, I will say that there is a way they should have presented what they want and it would still make meaning in African culture. But, if you look them you will discover that many of them are confused. I watched one movie that Pete Edochie say they should kill a woman. For more than ten minutes, they were still trying to kill the said woman. Is that possible?

Yes. There is a film that I am planning to shoot now. And my aim is to use and tell the world that there is something good in African native doctors. Not all this fake churches everywhere deceiving people.

Sorry state of Igbo-Ukwu museum Continued from page 26 Anambra State is a sorry sight.

Daily Times gathered that neglect by the successive Anambra State government may explain why, today, the structure is a shell of its old self. When it was founded, the museum represented hope. But, today, that hope has been dashed.

The museum is almost buried by weeds; the walls are damp, and the roofs are virtually caving in.

Unfortunately, efforts by Daily Times to talk to the curator of the

museum, which stands on Ekwuluobia-Nnewi road was abortive, as one staff, who craved anonymity, said that permission must be obtained before the curator can talk.

Like many other museums in Nigeria, the Igbo-Ukwu Museum had been targeted by looters, and over the years, priceless pieces of ancient bronze, sculptures, brass heads, wooden heads, masks and doors have been looted and in most cases, end up in Europe.

In one instance, the looters of

the museum, dealt the security guards a telling blow. At another time, the thieves carted away several original ancient artifacts – including a wooden face mask, believed to be shrine piece.

Traditional ruler of Igbo-Ukwu, Igwe Martin Eze, said that uncountable artifacts and other ancient art works have so far been stolen from the museum.

“It is a sad thing for us here, that art thieves don’t even respect our culture. They have looted this museum on several occasion and

at each time taking away many of the artifacts in this place,’’ Eze said.

“Three chieftaincy sword’’ a ceremonial staff, two bronze bells, five bronze amulet, five ivory bangle and three face masks were also listed among what had been looted.

The Igbo-Ukwu Museum origin could be said to date as far back to 1939, when Mr. Isaiah Anozie discovered many bronze sculptures, while digging to build a cistern in his compound.

28

Daily Times Nigeria FRIday, January 30, 2015

Money

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Chinese energy firm urged to manufacture transformers in Nigeria Stories byAugustine Aminu Minister of State, Power, Mohammed Wakil, has enjoined a Chinese company, TBEA Co Ltd, not only to develop transmission lines and build transmission Sub-stations but to also set up a transformer manufacturing company in in Nigeria, assuring that the Federal Gov-

ernment will assist it in the development of a robust transmission outlet.

Wakil stated this on Thursday at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Federal Government and the company for the development of Transmission lines and Sub stations in Nigeria.

He called on the firm to also provide adequate training for their Nigerian workforce through its support for local content policy of the government and assured that government will on its part give full cooperation in order to ensure a smooth take-off for the company in the country.

PHCN terminal benefits: Committee releases additional 1,037 names

Images of Business

R-L: Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), displays World Customs Organisation certificate for exceptional service at a ceremony in Enugu recently. With him are Barrister Umaru Kawu (middle) and Alhaji Isa Sulieman.

Augustine Aminu The Implementation committee on payment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) terminal benefits domicile with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has released another set of names that will be verified for payments.

In a press statement signed

by Timothy Oyedeji, Deputy Director (Press), the Committee Wednesday released the list of 1,037 staff categorised as active staff of PHCN, and are billed to be verified at nine designated centres across the country beginning from February 2 to February 11, 2015.

The Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows The Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali-led committee has also drawn out verification check lists for PHCN retirees, Next-of-Kins and severance which was published in The Guardian on Tuesday, the checklist for the three categories of persons to be verified, listed out documents to be presented by all beneficiaries at the nine designated payment centres.

Speaking to newsmen on the threat to public property by aggrieved union members and exworkers of PHCN, the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Power, Professor Chidi Onyia, said that Nigerians deserve to have adequate information in order to have informed position on the issues involved.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated a clear understanding of the

L-R: Assistant Executive Secretary, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Adaramola Tope; NCRIB president, Ayodapo Shoderu; Director General/Head of Mission, West African Insurance Institute (WAII), Fredrick Bowen-John, and Executive Secretary, NCRIB, Fatai Adegbenro, during a courtesy visit of Bowen-John to NCRIB secretariat, Yaba, Lagos recently.

Friesland Campina Sales Director, General Trade, Tarang Dupta, Managing Director, Mr Rahul Colaco, Corporate Affairs Director, Ore Famurewa, unveiling the Three Crowns Milk ‘healthy mum, happy families’. Photo: Taofeek Babajide.

Igali, Permanent secretary, Power minister nation’s labour law which informed his directives to the handlers of Severance Package to be diligent in the validation processes, adding that Government does not want to pay ghost workers but only the right people.

He said so far, a whopping N372 billion has already been paid out to disengaged PHCN workers, stressing that Gov-

ernment has always treated its workers with utmost dignity and respect.

Furthermore, he debunked the assertion that Government has remained insensitive to the plight of the disengaged PHCN workers, saying that the Minister has directed that all issues pertaining to this must be resolved on time.

ANTM president, Alhaji Mohammed Issa Akanbi (3rd right), cutting the cake during the association’s 1st anniversary at African tyre village recently. With him are Vice president, Okechukwu Eze-Ifeoma (centre) Patron/ Trustee member, Chief F.C Ekekwe (1st right) and other executives.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

29 Agric

Wastages, greatest threat to food security – Nestle CEO Charles Okonji Achieving food and nutrition security today and for a world population that will number more than nine billion and be 70 per cent urbanised by 2050 is a key global challenge. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), current global trends in incomes, diets and population growth suggest that 60 per cent more food will be needed in 2050.

Taking a critical look at the unfolding scenario, Paul Bulcke, Chief Executive Officer of Nestle, in a presentation made at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, believes that there are evidence which points to this being achievable, but stressed there are some increasingly urgent pressure points in the system that must be addressed, including depleting water tables, climate change, inadequate infrastructure and reductions in land availability, largely as a result of soil degradation.

He also notes that there are still huge challenges, most notably the persistence of hunger and the scale of food that is wasted. Postharvest losses and waste account for up to 50 per cent of total calories available from farm to fork.

“Nonetheless, I am confident that the required solutions to address the food and nutrition security challenge can be found.”

Paul Bulcke, Nestle CEO He called for the sustainable development of agriculture where all actors in the food value chain, starting with farmers, must be involved.

“For its part, the food industry can play a significant role. After all, the industry depends for its very existence on the reliable and sustainable provision of highquality agricultural raw materials. While not directly involved in agriculture per se, the Nestlé

food wastage approach is to seek to provide a robust framework for farmer livelihood and community development. In this respect, the importance of generating higher and more reliable incomes for farmers, notably smallholder farmers, cannot be over-emphasised,” he said.

In ensuring that farming remains attractive for the next generation as a sustainable and profitable activity, Bulcke stressed the

Adesina advocates institutionalisation of GES Augustine Aminu, Abuja Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has urged stakeholders to ensure that reforms in agricultural sector are institutionalised to secure the future of farmers.

He made the call at a stakeholder’s workshop on the draft bill for consolidation of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme held in Abuja.

The scheme is a technological process, through which registered farmers have access to farm inputs at subsidised rate via e-wallet. It is being expanded to include access to heavy farm machinery, loans, insurance and extension services.

Adesina, who was repre-

sented by Dr. Martin Fregene, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on cassava value chain, urged the stakeholders to be mindful of policy reversal. ``As we continue our drive to transform Nigeria’s agriculture, spurred by the major gains so far made, we must not lose sight of policy reversals. ``We must ensure that the policies and institutional reforms are back-up by legislation to secure the future of our farmers,’’ he said.

The minister noted that the nation’s agriculture was in exciting days as all the states were working with the Federal Government to transform the sector. ``Let us rise and build until our nation once again becomes a global power house for food

and agriculture,’’ the minister said.

Also speaking, Mr. Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said that a document called ‘GES Service Charter’ had been produced.

Adesina

need to ensure that the rural communities in which farmers live remain vibrant and provide the necessary opportunities for economic and social development.

He advocated for a broad framework that conditions the development of sustainable agriculture, be this at the national or the international level. At the national level, open markets, relevant education programmes, higher infra-

structure investment and appropriate legal frameworks, such as land rights, are needed. At the international level, the global trade regime must be appropriately designed and aligned. “The science of agriculture matters too and here we need an objective multistakeholder discussion to allow us to harness innovations and new technologies appropriately.”

Farmers commend LG over distribution of fertiliser, water pumps Augustine Aminu, Abuja Some farmers in Kirikasamma Local Government area of Jigawa State have commended the council over the distribution of fertilisers and water pumps to them.

The council had distributed more than 3, 000 bags of assorted fertiliser and 200 water pumps for irrigation to farmers during the last cropping season.

A cross section of the farmers in Kirikasamma noted that the gesture had encouraged them to improve their production in the last farming season.

Afarmer, Mallam Aminu Yusha’u, said he had received a water pumping machine and other inputs from the council.

Yusha’u said that the council had also constructed tube wells in various farms, adding that the gesture had enabled him to water his farm with ease.

“With water pump, I am planting and cultivating my farm without difficulties,” he said.

Bulama Amadu, another farmer, said the distribution of the machines had encouraged irrigation activities.

Amadu also said that the gesture had encouraged farmers to produce variety of crops.

He called for the expansion of the programme to enable more farmers benefit.

“We are calling for more support from the government this dry season in order to boost our output,” he said.

Auto 30

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

4

safest cars of 2015 G HIGHLI

HTS

2015 Subaru Legacy 2015 Volvo S60 2015 Hyundai Genesis 2015 Mazda CX-5

Niyi Omo-Okiri Safety is no longer a backburner priority for new-car shoppers. Across most types of vehicle shoppers, it’s one of the top concerns. Many families, as we recommend, start their shopping process by weeding out potential vehicles that simply don’t make the cut in occupant safety.

However, in 2015 that’s less straightforward than it’s been in the past. There are so many five-star government safety ratings; so many well-stocked safety feature lists, and so many top safety picks from the Federal Road Safety Commission that it’s hard to filter out those that are the best from those that are merely better than average.

2015 Subaru Legacy “The Legacy has pegged the Top Safety Pick+ meter, and it’s a perfect five-star performer.”

The 2015 Subaru Legacy achieves top-notch results in every single category. What makes it stand out, even above other models that achieve the same, is that it’s also one of the few

models to manage the ‘Superior’ front crash prevention rating when equipped with the optional EyeSight system. Even better, we think, is that you don’t have to go for the most expensive model in the line-up to get that potential life-saver; it’s available on the affordable premium models, where you can add it and get a sedan with things like Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and a system that can brake you to a stop short of an imminent collision in some cases, or lessen the severity of one by reducing speeds.

2015 Volvo S60 “The 2015 Volvo S60 has strong crash-test scores and an impressive array of electronic safety systems.”

Going by test results and crash-test ratings, the 2015 Volvo S60 could be the safest car on the market. It’s the paragon of safety if you place a lot of emphasis on crash-test results, with a perfect flush of five-star ratings in every single area. And there’s a lot of active safety on offer,

if you’re willing to check a few option boxes. It’s also for years been one of the top performers, with some of the lowest rates of injury related insurance losses among luxury sedans.

2015 Hyundai Genesis “With respect to active-safety features, the 2015 Hyundai Genesis has now caught up to the best from Germany, Japan, or Detroit.”

The Genesis serves as the flagship luxury model for Hyundai’s range of vehicles, but it deserves to make shoppers’ shortlists as much for safety as for features and creature comforts, The Automatic Emergency Braking system that’s available in the Genesis, as part of the Technology Package, is one of the few active-safety systems to be rated as ‘Superior’ in testing.

Furthermore, the fully optioned Genesis has a critical mass of active-safety items (what Hyundai calls the Sensory Surround Safety System), including things like Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Lane Change Assist (LCA)—as well as Lane Keep As-

sist (LKA), which will actually make mild steering corrections to help keep you in your lane if attention lapses.

2015 Mazda CX-5 “The CX-5 is a safety superstar, with excellent crash-test ratings and an advanced forward-collision warning system.”

Going by crash-test results, the 2015 Mazda CX-5 is the top performer in its class, with five stars in all the federal crash categories, as well as top ‘good’ results in every single category—and the ‘Advanced’ rating for front crash prevention when equipped with the optional Smart City Brake Support, which will brake you automatically for hazards at speeds ranging from 4 to 19 mph.

To get that feature, you do need to step-up to the top-of-theline Grand Touring model and its Technology Package.

2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class “The 2015 M-Class has some standout active-safety features, as well as top-tier crash-test ratings.”

Mercedes-Benz has, for decades, made some of the ve-

hicles with the lowest rates of fatality and injury.

Relatively few of its current models have been rated by both U.S. agencies—which keeps more of them from being given a perfect ‘10’ in safety—but the M-Class stands as an exception.

It’s earned top ratings in both crash-test protocols, and its set of active-safety items is one of the best in its class. Collision Prevention Assist is a standard feature on the M-Class, as is Attention Assist, which can warn you if it thinks you’re too drowsy. Add the optional PreSafe Brake feature that’s part of the Driver Assistance Package, and you add even more accidentprevention odds improvement.

With it, the M-Class earns a ‘Superior’ rating.

By the way, there’s change in store for this model line, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of safety. Look for the upcoming 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLEClass to continue the M-Class form factor (and its underpinnings), albeit with new badging, a refreshed cabin and other enhancements.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday,January 30, 2015

31

–Pay loader

sale market on the Mushin Isolo Road; he is one of the few load-

28

pay loaders in Daleko and built up his carrying capacity from

auto parts dealer opposite the CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Bello at work

Daily Times Nigeria FRIday, January 30, 2015

Money

s

Down memory lane with an OBJ look alike Chinese energy firm urged to manufacture transformers in Nigeria Stories byAugustine Aminu

Features

Minister of State, Power, Mohammed Wakil, has enjoined a Chinese company, TBEA Co Ltd, not only to develop transmission lines and build transmission Sub-stations but to also set up a transformer manufacturing company in in Nigeria, assuring that the Federal Gov-

He called on the firm to also provide adequate training for their Nigerian workforce through its support for local

at the signing of Memorandum

content policy of the govern-

of Understanding (MoU) between Federal Government and

ment and assured that govern-

13 World

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Images of Business

Business

ernment will assist it in the development of a robust transmission outlet.

Wakil stated this on Thursday

News

Politics

Philippine’s ISISterminal threatensISIS to behead Obama, mayor asarrested, Down memory PHCN threatens to Carnival escorted to benefits: Ogboru promises Politics 18 visit terror on behead USA, France Obama, lane with an graft hearing PHCN terminal benefits: the company for the development of Transmission lines and Sub stations in Nigeria.

ment will on its part give full cooperation in order to ensure

a smooth take-off for the company in the country.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

ÏÏÏ Committee in ÏÏÏ 28 visit terrorCarnival on asrevolution OBJ look alike Committee releases Ogboru P 18 releases Delta USA, France promises revolution in Delta additional 1,037 names L21 additional P13ATS in Pastor Tunde At a1,037 department called Apostolic Training School, Latter Rain Assembly, anyone visiting the main auditorium during names Bakare’s the ATS hour, especially at Maturity Class pupils section, would blink Augustine Aminu

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015

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The Implementation committee on payment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) terminal benefits domicile with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has released another set of names that will be verified for payments.

In a press statement signed

by Timothy Oyedeji, Deputy Director (Press), the Committee Wednesday released the list of 1,037 staff categorised as active staff of PHCN, and are billed to be verified at nine designated centres across the country beginning from February 2 to February 11, 2015.

The Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows The Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali-led committee has also drawn out verification check lists for PHCN retirees, Next-of-Kins and severance which was published in The Guardian on Tuesday, the checklist for the three categories of persons to be verified, listed out documents to be presented by all beneficiaries at the nine designated payment centres.

Speaking to newsmen on the threat to public property by aggrieved union members and exworkers of PHCN, the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Power, Professor Chidi Onyia, said that Nigerians deserve to have adequate information in order to have informed position on the issues involved.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated a clear understanding of the

In a new video from Islamic State militants they have threatened to behead Barack Obama, turn America into a Muslim province and visit France and Belgium with car bombs and explosive charges.

The footage shows a blackclad ISIS jihadist standing over a Kurdish soldier and saying, “Know, oh Obama, that we will reach America. Know also that we will cut off your head in the White House and transform America into a Muslim province.” Islamic State militants issued a direct threat at the U.S. president in their latest video Islamic State militants issued a direct threat at the U.S. president in their latest video Addressing France and Belgium citizens, he says, “We advise you that we will come to you with car bombs and explosive charges and will cut off your heads.”

Then he personally speaks to the Kurdish leader Masoud Barazani, who is currently leading the fight against ISIS in Iraq,“As for

you, oh Masoud, you dog, we are launch a missile, we will send covered by Memri TV which R-L: Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director General, Standards Organisation of going to beheadNigeria you (SON), and throw you backOrganisation the headcertificate of one for of exyour translated it from Arabic. Eardisplays World Customs at a .ceremony in EnuguYou recently. him arechildren Barrister you into the trashceptional bin ofservice history soldiers. areWith killing lier this month, jihadist gunmen Umaru Kawu (middle) and Alhaji Isa Sulieman.

Know that we are men who fear and bombarding civilians while killed 17 people in a terror attack no-one. We will institute the laws claiming that this is forbidden in in Paris. Days later Belgium inof Allah, may he be exalted and your constitution.” telligence services smashed a ing area of the state who had CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 praised. This is the fate of one of The video ends with the hossuspect Islamist plot to kill a pothronged the city in solidarity um, venue of the campaign rally with the party flag bearer. your soldiers, and every time you tage being beheaded. It was dis- lice officerPresent or judge. at the flag off rally was a beehive of activities as Ogboru was ushered into the stadium amidst tumultuous crowd who had besieged the stadium to catch a glimpse of him.

Lovers of Ogboru project, mainly artisans and traders had thronged the venue with their wares and other chewable items which they had branded after the name Ogboru. There were ‘OgboL-R: Assistant Executive Secretary, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurru’sShofried chicken’, ‘Ogboru Hot ance Brokers (NCRIB), Adaramola Tope; NCRIB president, Ayodapo Rice’ Ogboru Cool drink’ lined up deru; Director General/Head of Mission, West African Insurance Institute at the entrance of the stadium by (WAII), Fredrick Bowen-John, and Executive Secretary, NCRIB, Fatai Adegpetty traders who catches on the benro, during a courtesy visit of Bowen-John to NCRIB secretariat, Yaba, day’s event to make brick busiLagos recently. ness.

One of the cyclists said they would mobilise for Ogboru over and over again until his mandate is restored in the state. “We love Ogboru so much hence the huge solidarity. No one paid us, we are happy doing it for him. He is a civilian general and that is why you see that anytime he is contesting, people voluntarily mobilise and work for his success”.

The Warri city roads were partially locked for hours as Ogboru, popularly known as “the peoples general’ mainly among the youths, rode in a motorcade to the stadium.

The heavy gridlock snared along the Warri/Sapele road following the sea of supporters mainly youths, market women and people from Urhobo speak-

were members of the National Executive of Labour Party led

by Alhaji Abdulkadri Salam and host of other party faithful who had mobilised from the 25 local government councils across the state.

Addressing the crowd, Ogboru who was flanked by his wife and his running mate, Elder Peter Ovie Erebi said that the era of mismanagement of public resources meant for development of the state was over.

He said that if elected, his administration would not embezzle state funds rather use it judiciously for massive infrastruc-

The mayor of the Philippines’ main financial district has been arrested for contempt and escorted to a Senate hearing to answer allegations of corruption after he repeatedly snubbed the tural development of the state.

“Change has come. No more legislature. shall Delta be in political and economic darkness. No more shall Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin we witness corruption, dirty environment, lack of water and Binay Jr was picked up by Senate mismanagement of the treasury.

“Your pains, aims, aspirations security personnel on Thursday and agenda for Delta State are same as mine. We are going to on orders of lawmakers investitransform the state within the shortest possible time. gating allegedly anomalous conHe urged Deltans to choose the right leaders saying: “When tracts in the city. Binay Jr sucwe choose our leaders, they beaccountable to us through ceeded his father Jejomar come Binay a transparent government”.

“Today therefore we have a as mayor of the country’s wealthrare opportunity and responsibilityelectto vote for that leader whose iest city after the latter wasgovernment will impact evidently on our people. I enjoin you my ed vice president in 2010. people to therefore support us in this noble quest to transform our He refused to answer questions state,” he stressed. on advice of his lawyers andSpeaking was at the rally, former governorship aspirant under released after three hours. the platform of the PDP, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, who recently dumpedas the party to join forces The Binays have emerged with Ogboru said that his support and for Ogboru was because a powerful political dynasty Ogboru will add value to governance ofas Delta State. the father has been mentioned Omo-Agege who is the Labour Party’s candidate for Delta a possible presidential contender Central Senatorial District said in 2016. They have been dogged that a vote for Ogboru is a vote for transformation of the state by criticism of nepotism and alpointing out that Ogboru had always won previous elections in leged corruption, which thethey state but was often robbed of deny.

several times at a real life OBJ look alike.

GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR had an encounter with him and reports.

He said that if elected, his

One cannot start a personal- have your documents, sir? I said Thoroughly used to the administration would not embezzle state do funds rather ity interview with an indefati- yes, which one you want to see? tion his OBJ lookalike use it judiciously for massivehas anyone told gable Baba Iyabo, Olusegun Later he asked: draws to him, Adediji m infrastructural of the Aremu Obasanjo lookalike with- you that you development look like Obasanjo?” the way people react whe state Friesland Campina Sales Director, General Trade, Tarang Dupta, Managout starting from there, so the (He rocked with laughter at the see him and said he has c ing Director, Mr Rahul Colaco, Corporate Affairs Director, Ore Famurewa, unveiling the Three Crowns Milk ‘healthy mum, happy families’. Photo: call for an end toBabajide. the US embargo drew support from several Latin American presidents Taofeek first Castro’s sensible question to ask was,at the summit recall). terms with it.

PDP Reconciliation: has anyone told you before you Italian leaders Anger in Abia you ever wondered in yo look like Obasanjo?

Igali, Permanent secretary, Power minister forHave why you look like Obasanjo? nation’s labour law demands which in- ernment has always treated its Cuba Guantanamo Bay in return for US ties rally yes” (a very long laughter). formed his directives to the han- workers“O with utmost dignity consensus dlers of Severance Package to and respect.

“I don’t worry about i ÏÏÏ Cuban President Raul CasBarackbeen Obama announced on De- by supports the United States’ unDemands also include an end to be diligent in the validation pro“I have accosted many Furthermore, he debunked tro adding demanded that the the United cesses, that Government 17 that they would move altered goal of reforming Cuba’s US support for Cuban dissidents president assertioncember that Government who I am, and he is who he does not want to paythe ghost workremained insensitive to the States return US navalhas base at toward renewing full diplomatic single-party political system and and Cuba’s removal from the US people that I look like Obasanjo, ers but only the right people. plight of the disengaged PHCN Guantanamo Bay before the two relations reopening embassies centrally planned economy. list of state sponsors of terrorism. ÏÏÏItaly’s political created both of us; why e He said so far, a whopping workers, saying that the by Minisleaders are ANTM president, Alhaji Mohammed Issa Akanbi (3rd right), cutting the nations normal relaeach other’s Cuba has said it welcomes the Castro also wants the US to pay holding talks to try to reach agreeN372 billion re-establish has already been terand has directed that all issues countries.

Iinam always quick to point out cake during the association’s 1st anniversary at African tyre village recentre- ly. With him are Vice president, Okechukwu Eze-Ifeoma (centre) Patron/ paid out to disengaged PHCN pertaining to this tions.

Themust twobegovernments heldChief ne-F.C Ekekwe measures butand has noexecutives. intention of hundreds of millions of dollars in ment on candidates look alike is best known Trustee member, (1st right) other as parliament workers, stressing that Gov- solved on time. that gotiations I am innot Obasanjo; that Castro also said the US should Havana last week to changing itswe system. damages for losses caused by the prepares to vote for a new presilift the half-century trade embar- discuss both the reopening of emBut I must stress that I do Castro emphasised an even embargo. dent. The post is largely ceremoniare related, and not go on Cuba and compensate his not bassies and the broader agenda of connected broader list of Cuban demands, al, but the vote is seen as an imporand I don’t want to be lin country for damages in exchange re-establishing normal relations. saying that while diplomatic ties tant moment for Prime Minister in anyObama wayhas . I loosened am Adediji, from Ilefor reconcilliation. the trade may be re-established, normal Matteo Renzi. discussed alongside Obasa Castro told a summit of the embargo with a range of mea- relations with the US depend on a Mr Renzi is said to back constisha, Oshun State; he is Obasanjo, Community of Latin American sures designed to increase eco- series of concessions that appear tutional court judgeAll Sergio Matefforts to probe and Caribbean States on Wednes- nomic ties with Cuba and increase highly unlikely in the near future. from Abeokuta, Ogun State.” tarella, but any candidate needs day that Cuba and the US are the number of Cubans who don’t He demanded that the US end a two-thirds majority in the his first about opinion on Ob working toward full diplomatic dependTimes on the communist state the Daily wanted to transmission know of anti-Castro three rounds of voting. relations but “if these problems for their livelihoods. radio and television broadcasts and civilian r More than 1,000the peoplemilitary are set to aren’t resolved, this diplomatic how people react when and they see The Obama administration deliver “just compensation vote in the procedure, which will rapprochement wouldn’t make says removing barriers to US to our people for the human and in the country an start at 15:00 (14:00played GMT) on Thurshim at first sight. any sense”. travel, remittances and exports economic damage that they’re day and is expected to continue unCastro and US President to Cuba is a tactical change that suffered.” ing up the polity at will, m Raul Castro til a fourth round on Saturday.

“Everywhere I go, people look Under the constitution, any Italstiff resistance. Adediji ian citizen over 50 can be nominatat me several times. There was a ed by MPs, and then the Chamber refused to be embroiled The last Soviet leader “Where a ‘hot’ one. I fearthey they of Deputies day IÏÏÏ travelled to Benin for a will so-that lead“all Asof lead I tolaughed, also and Senate are joined Mikhail Gorbachev has accused us? A Cold War is already be- could take the risk,” Gorbachev by 58 regional representatives to controversy over OBJ’s pe the Unitedand Statesintended of drawing to ing waged openly. What’s next?” said, apparently referring to the there cial outing return laughed, and I said, I hope islist of candidates. vote on the Russia into a new Cold War and asked the 83-year-old former So- United States.

Giorgio Napolitano Jan) An(15attempt to make him the same day . After Ore, no wahala o?” They said and says he fears hostilities can escaviet where president who during his Gorbachev in November last no, Giorgio Napolitano had been due late into armed conflict. lighter, humorous side of h time in power eased relations year warned that the world was to serve until 2020 but stood down they have roadblocks, some methego.

The many United States “has al- with the West but is they vilified let in “on brink of a new Cold because of poor health ready drawn us into a new Cold Russia for allowing the breakup War.” No candidate islookalike likely to win be- image revealed policemen flagged down the ve“ThereIn were lighter occasions War, trying openly to achieve its of the USSR. his latest comments, Gor- fore the fourth round, when only ofof the reason for his cautio idea of triumphalism,” “Unfortunately I cannot say bachev criticised the West for a simple majority 505 votes is hicle,main and one took a closer look also, like one that happened at a Gorbachev said in an interview. for sure that a Cold War won’t imposing sanctions on Russia. needed.

“In a clean society, at me; his eyes widened.

Latter Rain Assembly. A small would mind such a thing; “Then he called the others , and boy looked at me and said to the society is a little bit dirty they came. people there, ‘Quick, come see don’t need any part of it.

“The whole looking was so Obasanjo!’ do? Come to a roundtable Nigeria of my dreams. I am “SoaI may truth a house divided don’t.” suspicious, and since they were look like him, but I After this, Daily Times saying anything looking, adon’tagainst know him beyond ev- not, canconference and explore not not interested inbutlifting itselfwhat will to know about him.

I asked them, is there anything erybody knows of him. I’ve not the possibility of a peace- finger to salvage the counnot stand.

That would beCONTINUED ON P wrong? met him, and we have nothing in “Then the first one said, do youde-common.” ful disintegration process. try because those who hoping against hope and Ogboru

In a clean society, nobody would mind such a thing; but our society is a little bit dirty, and I don’t need any part of it. I really don’t Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

Last December, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Abia State held its primaries ahead of next month’s elections in the state. Though the party hierarchy and the state government said the primaries were free and fair, it was not without bickering, murmur and anger from those who lost.

There should never have been a country Kalu

Their anger stemmed from allegations that winners at the primaries had earlier been selected, while the names of delegates were allegedly hidden from those who will not win.

At the end of the exercise, there were happy winners and there were angry losers.

“There is anger in the land”, as Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Chairman of the party would later put it.

Expectedly, many who lost were aggrieved. Some left the

party, some remained in the party, but apathetic, while some exhibited strong traits of anger, having lost and spent much money in the exercise.

The party became seemingly on the brink of collapsing in the state and victory for PDP in the next coming election seemed threatened.

In what appears as a wise de-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Gorbachev warns of risk of ‘new Cold War’

ÎÎÎWhen the late great lit-

erary icon Chinua Achebe, signed out of this plane of existence with his memoirs of the Nigerian civil war entitled There was a Country, there was the usual hue and cry about not just the merits and demerits of the book, but also the justification or otherwise of the genocide visited on the Igbos by the federal government and which was euphemistically labeled a civil war. But I have always held the view that the failure of the Biafran attempt at independence is one of the biggest calamities to befall Africa.

That the Nigerian experience is not working is crystal-clear, except to the willfully-blind. That it will not (or cannot) work in the years to come is obvious to the discerning. That the unity of Nigeria is not (or non) negotiable is the biggest lie ever told since the serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of creation.

Everything in this life is negotiable, except death.

One may choose not to believe in God or, believing in His existence choose not to worship Him. One may choose not to eat, or sleep, or travel, or marry, or not to commit adultery, or to fornicate, or not to tithe or pay taxes. One may even “negotiate” the aging process through the various “youth without age” elixir being offered by contemporary advances in medical science and technology which help to considerably slow down the aging process,

but it does not matter what you do, you can’t get out of dying. We all must die, either willingly or unwilling.

Nobody can cheat death.

You may consider youth without age a possibility, but life without death is an impossibility.

So, nobody should feed us the bunkum that the unity of this country is not negotiable, especially not Ibrahim Babangida. Babangida, the former military maximum ruler who ruled Nigeria like a personal fiefdom for eight harrowing years (1985–1993) and who had to be forcibly ejected from power with his tail between his legs like a frightened kangaroo. Unrepentant as ever, he had the temerity to excuse his eight years of misrule with the irreverent question: How long is eight years in the life of a nation? This was the same unfaithful ruler who annulled an election on which he had expended an unbelievable amount of public resources and national time, only to tell the world sheepishly in the aftermath of the sordid affair that his hands were tied and that he was in the hold of a faceless cabal who would not accept the verdict of the people who had come out to vote massively for Moshood Kashimawo Abiola. For me, that incident on June 12, 1993 marked the death of any flicker of hope I might have had about the success of the Nigerian experiment. For me, that was the day any feeling of patrio-

tism for Nigeria died. The issue, for me, was not so much Abiola being denied Adediji his mandate, but that such a horrendous crime could be carried out successfully against the expressed and express wish of an entire people. This is the same man, among others like him—the Obasanjos and the David Marks—who mouth such empty phrases. The unity of this country is not negotiable. See who is talking! Of course, the fly will always cling to the man with open sores.

It is obvious that if Biafra had succeeded it would have worked. At least it would have worked better for Nigeria. In that short space of time when Biafra was fighting for her life, Biafrans proved the truism of necessity being the mother of invention through their innovativeness, pragmatism and patriotism. She had little or nothing but recall or research how she dared the federal might for close to three years. Now, imagine what would have happened in the aftermath of that war if her dreams had been realized. Today, howbeit debatable, she’d have been the Korea or China of Africa. I have no doubt that the Nigerian federation is holding down the Igbos.

Now, my thesis is, since Nigeria did not work yesterday, and since it is not working today, we must be realistic and pragmatic and forward-thinking and admit that it is not likely to work tomorrow. So what to

The logic is, if we find it impossible to forge ahead, we can at least go back for a reappraisal of our situation. That the amalgamation of 1914 was a blunder is a widely accepted fact; that the collective independence of 1960 was an ill-advised agreement is not in doubt in light of its aftermath; and that the intrusion of the military into government and governance has been nothing but a curse is incontrovertible.

It is generally expected that it is the best of the best that rise to the top in any field of endeavor. I can’t help but wonder if those military men who ruled Nigeria were the best the military had to offer. If indeed it is so, hmmmm! As we say in Yoruba, Oro p’esi je. The issue has swallowed the response.

I am not a proud Nigerian because this is not the

stroyed it know themselves and should roll up their sleeves. Some are dead and gone to hell, but a lot of them are alive and well and they continue to siphon the nation’s resources, milk it dry and rubbish the masses. They then turn around to brazenly appeal to base sentiments: we have no other country. Let us stay here and salvage it together. The question is: Did we ruin it together? Let those who ruined it (along with their children) rally round to salvage it. As for me, I am a very proud Yoruba man who would consider and pursue the possibility of a Yoruba republic with excitement and vigor. Nigerians are not one people.

Nigeria is not one country.

The peoples that make up this geopolitical entity do not share the same vision.

They are all pulling in different directions and of

fighting a losing battle.

We have differences. Let us not forget our differences. Let us remember them.

Let us acknowledge them.

Let us understand our differences. If we cannot progress in unity as one nation, why don’t we consider the possibility of moving forward as different republics peacefully? That some others such as Yugoslavia went to war is neither here nor there, because some others such as Czechoslovakia did not. The choice is ours, but let’s remember that the mathematicians tell us if A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C. We can’t keep doing things the same way as have always done and expect to get a different result. That would be wishful thinking.

Ogunlewe, PhD, is with the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo

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Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08169118913, 08075038528

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Nigerians are not fooled by propaganda

Some Nigerians are still pinching themselves to confirm that they are not in the dreamland: that, after almost 30 years of being comatose, the railways are truly back and running, moving thousands of people and goods across the length and breadth of the country; that the country is now self-sufficient in the local production of rice; that good roads in the country have increased from 5,000 kilometres of the recent past to 30,000 kilometres.

In this interview with LATEEF IBRAHIM of our Abuja Bureau, the Culture and Tourism minister, Chief Edem Duke, says that for these and many more dreams-turned-reality, Nigerians are seeing through the lies and propaganda of the opposition against the re-election bid of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

He adds that the coming election contest that is pitting the President against 72-year-old Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is a no-contest.

Excerpts‌

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

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against Jonathan – Edem Duke

W

ould you say that the recently signed peace accord

by President Goodluck Jonathan, General Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidates of 12 others parties is being adhered to?

First and foremost, it is difficult for you to sign a memorandum of understanding and claim to be speaking or taking responsibility for people that you do not even know what their actions tomorrow morning will be. But I think that many of the parties signed it in good faith because it is a fundamental element of their own manifestoes and principles. For some others, they may have signed it under moral pressure that the nation is watching and that if we do not sign, we can be easily identified as agents of violence. But then, leading on to the elections and most importantly, when the elections results are announced, that is when we will truly see whether they adhered to the spirit of the memorandum of understanding.

Despite this peace accord, there are fears that the elections may be violent going by the happenings at the campaign rallies of the parties‌ The President has never anticipated, planned or alluded to violence as a means of securing power and I want to believe that that is not an expression of weakness, but one of strength. There are security forces capable of dealing with the issues of violence and the PDP government continues to counsel against violence. But for the APC, violence is one of the most recurrent words in their lexicon, not only in the words that they speak, but in their expression, in their body language and in the actual act of embarking on violence. It is something that is almost second nature to them and we have seen it in the past.

Today, they started early by traumatising the psyche of the Nigerian people. It is as if to say that Nigeria is under siege, psychologically. Therefore, there is anxiety amongst people that democrats are in power. But a ‘new kind of

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Duke:Jonathan ended tears on democrats’ are already telling us; one, that they will form a parallel government, that is an invitation to violence. I just want to add to the counsel of the President that the political ambition of the President or any Nigerian is not worth a drop of blood of any other Nigerian. So, those who are threatening the stability of the country are better advised that it is only when there is a country that political parties can aspire to rule.

What will the next four years in office of Dr Goodluck Jonathan bring to Nigerians?

The next four years of Jonathan’s administration will be four years of phenomenal growth and development and this will be occurring in various spheres of governmental and human endeavours. The building blocks are already in place, the various initiatives of the present administration have been powered; powered by policies, powered by investments and powered by commitments and what we will be seeing will be the delivery on those visions and those policies. We will be seeing the manifestation. Can you imagine the state of the nation when every state capital is connected to the rail line? At this point in time, it is still looking magical to many communities that the train has started to move. And it is also interesting that some APC Governors paid for coaches to carry their people home to celebrate Christmas. Today, goods are being convened by the trains.

Today, from a paltry 5,000 kilometres of good roads across the country, the government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has increased this, in such a short time, to about 30, 000 kilometres of roads. So, goods are moving, commerce is moving and people are moving. The nation has come alive and there is hope for the future. And when you look at agricultural transformation that is going on, the replacement of imports by locally produced foodstuffs, there is great hope in the rejuvenation of agriculture. Now, when you think about the initiatives for youth

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roads, boosted healthcare system and today we are talking about a few thousands of youth who have been helped to start off their own businesses. In the next four years, we would have built up a directorate of youth across the land. And one thing that has brought a lot of pressure to me, in person, has been the President’s commitment to raise 1 billion US dollars to rebuild lives in the North-East of Nigeria, rebuild businesses, reposition the economy, rebuild schools, rebuild communities and restore the dignity of the people of that part of the country. I think the next four years will be the crescendo of the transformation agenda.

Do you think that the presidential candidate of the APC, General Buhari can truly fight corruption as he has been promising at the various campaign rallies of his party across the country?

General Muhammadu Buhari has only been using corruption as a popular word in the political rallies of the APC. First and foremost, this is a respectable Nigerian who, in the Abacha years, was given charge of the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. And at the end of the day, he used a consortium, whose abbreviation was APC, to execute jobs and they ended up short-changing Nigeria with about N225 billion. Secondly, this is a gentleman who told us that he was unable to buy his nomination form and at that point in time, nobody saw him as a credible candidate, so, nobody came to his rescue. Rather, he said on public and national television that he called his bank manager and told him that “whatever the state of my account, whether blue, black or red, just give me the twenty something million to go and buy a form”.

I am curious to know who that bank manager is. And I am sure the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) will be interested in knowing the processes and the collateral that were provided and the processes of approving that loan. Now, a man who could hardly buy his own nomination form is traversing Nigeria in colourful and highly expensive rallies and

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

FG boosted local content in oil campaigns, criss-crossing the country in private jet, which may have been donated by campaign supporters. But again, did he call to question the source of funding of the APC, the platform on which he is running? Has he ever queried the ‘proprietor’ of APC as to how he acquired his wealth, having left the Unites States of America not too long ago? And some people have said that part of the agenda of adopting the distinguished SAN (Senior Advocate of Nigeria), Professor Yemi Osinbajo, aka Professor Yemi Oshinbade, as a presidential running mate is because Buhari wants to end up fighting in court and he knows that when that time comes, the big financiers in APC will be counting their losses and of course, he would have one very passionate and committed lawyer, who will be traversing the court, who is familiar with the court, who will continue the battle for him so that in the hopeful tradition of the horrific past APC government, they can gain victory in the court. But Nigerians are alive, Nigerians can see the dark and imminent cloud of disharmony, the dark and imminent cloud of travesty of justice, the dark and imminent cloud of dictatorship and they will not mortgage the future of this country to APC proprietors and its landlords.

What is your take on the controversy surrounding the school certificate of General Buhari?

The controversy is very saddening. At this age and time, we are still arguing over the genuineness or otherwise of a secondary school certificate of someone who had presided over the affairs of this nation in the capacity of Head of State? You can only fool some people some of the times, you cannot fool all people all the time. To start with, the presidency of this great country, Nigeria, is too big and too demanding for a secondary school certificate holder. The incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has set a record that others after him

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sector, Nigeria now exports rice have to use as the standard measurement. How would it sound that the President of Nigeria with over 167 million population, is a school certificate holder and that even the said certificate is being questioned. Is it not strange? I have always said it and I am repeating it that General Buhari does not have the mental capability to govern this country again.

He certainly does not. Age is also not on his side. At 72 plus, General Buhari is too old to shoulder the responsibilities of this country. In addition, he is no longer in tune with happenings in the international community. When you check out those that are calling the political shots in the comity on nations, they are young people in their forties and fifties. Look at President Barak Obama of America and the British Prime Minister, David Cameron. They are young, energetic and upwardly mobile.

They are constantly on top of their game. Can a 72-year old Buhari perform like the modern day younger Presidents globally? The answer is no.

Don’t you think that General Buhari’s experience as a former military Head of State would be of immense advantage to the country?

The answer is capital NO. There is a whole lot of difference between being a military Head of State and a democratically elected President. Military Head of States rule with military fiat, while democratically elected Presidents go through the normal democratic norms and processes before taking decisions. Don’t forget that General Buhari left office, as Head of State, in 1985. That was thirty years ago. So, what experience will be there for him again? By the way, what has he been doing since leaving office 30 years ago? When General Yakubu Gowon left office, he went back to school and he did not stop until he bagged a doctorate degree.

Gowon has, ever since returning to the country, involved himself in so many activities that have stood him out as an undisputable elder statesman. Former President Shehu Shagari has also been doing

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Jonathan ‘ll take Nigeria to greater heights – Edem Duke same. But what has Buhari done, since leaving office to portray him as an elder statesman? General Buhari has been contesting for the nation’s presidency since 2003. After every election, he goes back to his cocoon only to re-appear on the political scene after four years. He has failed to attend the National Economic Council meetings where past Presidents and Heads of State come out to contribute their quotas to issues affecting the nation and proffering solutions. Is that how to be an elder statesman? In 2011, after he lost in his bid to become the President of the country, he told the whole world that that was his last time of contesting for the office. Between then and now, what has happened that he could no longer be a man of his words? He is popularly referred to as ‘Mr. Integrity’, but where is his integrity on this vow which he has reneged on now? He keeps saying, in all his party’s rallies, that he would end Boko Haram insurgency in the North East region within a month or two of his assumption of office, but what he has failed to tell Nigerians and indeed the world is the strategies which he intends to use to end the insecurity in the North East.

How would you assess the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan in the coming election?

Very bright. Dr Jonathan is the most qualified for the job.

He has gone through all the necessary stages to make him the most qualified, the most experienced and the most suitable for the nation’s presidency. He has been a deputy governor, a governor, a vice president, an acting president and president. The president is well educated and young. He is a very good listener and tackles all issues with ease. You need to see the kind of contributions he brings to the Federal Executive Council meetings and how he deals with issues arising at the meeting. Most issues that we, the Ministers, consider as being complicated, the president has answers to them. His speed is another thing that usually surprises

us. From the way he discusses freely and at ease with presidents of other countries anytime he is out of the country or when he is welcoming them to Nigeria, you will not be left in any doubt that he needs to be re-elected for a second term in office to ensure that the various programmes he has started are brought to fruition. You don’t change a winning team for the sake of change. President Goodluck Jonathan is doing very well in virtually all the areas. For instance, in the area of fighting corruption in the country, I will rate him very high. Why? Because he has done everything possible to make sure that the various anti-corruption agencies and bodies are strengthened to position them very well for the task of fighting corruption.

Dr. Jonathan is a president who does not like making too much noise about the various feats he has been recording in this area. Because he does not make much noise in the fight against corruption, many people are thus thinking, though erroneously, that he is not doing much. He is doing a lot.

The president also identifies with all the various tribes in the country, especially in the way he appears. He does not wait for when he is looking for votes before appearing in their attires. He is not like the APC presidential candidate who will wait till when election is around the corner, when he is seeking for votes, before remembering that the Yorubas, the Igbos and the SouthSoutherners have some forms of dressing. General Buhari made his first suit after he had emerged as the candidate of his party. Re-electing Dr. Jonathan for a second time in office will further give people from other minority ethnic groups the sense of belonging that they are part and parcel of the Nigerian project, where they can aspire to any level and that this country is not exclusively owned by a particular set of people. An additional 48 months in office for the President is not too much.

Forty-eight months is not an eternity as some people may be seeing it. It is such a short period.

Life&

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Omotola @ 20 on stage

Eniola Badmus and age saga PL4 Natural treatment of pimples

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My kidnap ordeal not a stunt L2 Nkiru Sylvanus

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

The truth about my rumoured secret wedding

Nigerian Idol judges reward contestant with flight ticket Andrew Ekejiuba

-Nkiru Slyvanus Delectable Nollywood actress/producer, Nkiru Slyvanus has carved a niche for herself in the entertainment industry since her debut in the movie Cry for Help.

The former special assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State also made a landmark achievement since she assumed office as the Director-General of the Imo State Film Academy. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, the light-skinned actress narrates her ordeal in the kidnappers’ den, among other issues.

What was your experience when you were kidnapped?

Well, first it was a terrible experience, because, for sure, you would not want your freedom taken away from you by anybody, not to talk of an enemy; one thing we should also understand is that, both good and bad things happen to us, but, your ability to walk out of it and be strong is what makes you a better person. For me, I am happy that I am alive today and we are gathered here for my wonderful work entitled The Voice.

Does your kidnap ordeal haunt you sometimes?

Well, it happened in 2012 and I have been able to push it behind me, you just have to walk out of it and move on. If I allowed it to haunt me all the time, I would not be opportune to do other things. I just have to be me and bounce back to life and that, I think, I have been able to achieve.

When you were kidnapped, what were you fed with by your kidnappers?

Being in such a situation won’t make you think about food. I was amongst strangers who were fully armed and every time my life jumps into my mouth as if I was going to spill it out. I was so scared, hunger wasn’t even a problem. For almost five days, I had nothing to eat aside drinking water.

How were you able to pick up so quickly?

I have always, and, will forever remain a very strong person and positive as well. I believe so much in God, when I came out of the ordeal, I was grateful to God for sparing

my life, because so many people have been kidnapped and they never came out of the shock. I considered it as a life experience and my ability to be able to always pick myself up quickly, makes me who I am today.

You were kidnapped from a movie location. What came into your mind immediately and what was the next line of action for the movie?

Yes, it was a big coincidence.

It was just like I was Nkiru

daydreaming because I was, actually, kidnapped where I was shooting my new movie and, but, now the said movie is a reality. Sincerely, when I was kidnapped, I felt everything had fallen apart but with perseverance, I knew I was going to scale through.

Did the kidnap affect your character?

What it actually did was to make the character bigger, stronger and better and that you will attest to when you finally see the movie. I said to myself when I was held captive that no matter the ordeal I may be passing through, if I am able to scale through, my production starts again and that I, eventually, did.

What influenced your decision to produce The Voice?

It was a story and an ability to make a change. With the movie, I speak for the voiceless in the society and, as such, making every bit of our opportunities count in life.

T h e Voice did not parade A-list artistes, was that intentional?

It was a matter of choice. At the time of production, we were looking for people who could actually key into the characters that we wanted. That, I was able to get from those I featured and it wasn’t about getting popular faces. It was just about getting the right cast for the job.

Recently, we have seen actors delving into film production. Was it fear, that new actors will surpass you, which made you go into production?

No, I disagree with that because I am not scared of anybody. I am who I am and I can never be anybody other than myself. The sky is open to everyone. You can, actually, find a place for yourself out there, so for me, it’s all about passion, encouraging people, doing wonderful work and creating opportunities.

Back to the kidnap saga, many people felt you used it as a publicity stunt. Is that true?

Well, I will not wish my enemies to be kidnapped, but, if you were to be kept in the bush for more than five days, simply,

because you want to pull a stunt then, more grease to your elbow. For me, it was a terrible experience and I do not wish that even for my worst enemy.

How much was the ransom paid?

Well, I would not want to disclose such an amount unless you want me kidnapped again and that I am not prepared for at all.

There is this buzz around town about you not minding being a second wife?

I had an interview with Channels Television and was asked if I could be a second wife by any reason and I said yes. You never can say never, life is full of surprises.

You can say you can’t do something and at the end of the day, you find yourself involved in it. Being a second wife is not a crime, it is all about finding the right person. If you find the right person who is married and willing to take you in and you are also willing to take the step, what stops you? I am saying it, categorically, that if I am in that situation and I am able to find a man who I love, trust, appreciate and want to spend the rest of my life with and he is married, sorry, I will marry him wholeheartedly.

In a nut shell, you approve polygamy?

I am not saying that I am approving polygamy. What I am saying, in essence, is Continues on page 3

In a rare show of appreciation for exceptional talent, the three celebrity judges on the Nigerian Idol Season Five, Dare ‘Art’ Alade, Yinka Davies and Dede Mabiaku, demonstrated their commitment to helping budding music talents realise their dreams when they offered to pay for the flight ticket of a contestant during the Abuja auditions held recently.

Ame Igiri, 24, had hoped for an opportunity to showcase her talent after failing in the first screening hurdle at the Port Harcourt auditions, a week earlier. Thankfully, a female friend saw her determination and sponsored her trip by road from Enugu, where she had been residing since moving from Calabar, Cross River State four years ago.

“I was not expecting that,” an elated Ame said. “During my audition, I flopped at some point, but I believe my finishing did the magic, I was highly favoured. God just did it for me because it came as a surprise.”

Ame was also the first contestant at the Abuja auditions to be awarded a Golden Ticket by the judges, thus making her one of the top 100 contestants for the top 12 slots.

The Golden Ticket is, usually, awarded to any exceptional talent identified by the judges in an unanimous decision.

Auditions are expected to continue in Ibadan at Kakanfo Inn, Ring Road on Saturday, January 31 and February 1. Lagos will host the last leg a week after at the Dream Studios, Omole , Lagos.

NISS Abuja Auditions—Ame Igiri displaying her Golden Ticket.

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, January 30, 2015

L3 Music Review

2face,

others challenge Nigerian youths to vote!

Opeoluwani Akintayo

With the general election scheduled for February, fast approaching, youth and music authority, MTV Base is using its influence to motivate Nigerian youths to make their votes count.

To engage the young electorate, MTV Base (DStv channel 322) is running its special editorial campaign Choose or Lose which encourages young people to vote for candidates they believe will make the greatest impact in the development of the country and their future. The campaign, which rolls out on TV, digital and social media platforms, features celebrities as well as members of the public as they underline the important message of youth participation in the electoral process. Some of the

2Face

personalities that have already lent support to the campaign include: Ben Murray-Bruce, 2Face Idibia, Banky W, Ebuka, Sound Sultan, MTV Shuga star, Emmanuel Ikubese, Davido, Falz, Reminisce, Emma Nyra, Solid Star, Oreka, Omalicha and Yemi Alade.

Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa commented, “The future of Nigeria will be determined by the viability of the structures and policies that the government puts in place to support her youth, to ensure that they can realise their full potential. It is critical that the Nigerian youth, who make up the majority of the population, turn out in full force to cast their votes for the candidate they believe is best to lead Nigeria to greater heights.”

Davido

My secret wedding Continued from page 2 that we should not discriminate against any women being a second wife, because you cannot tell another person’s story better than the person involved.

There was also this rumour that you secretly got married to the Vice President’s media aide?

Well, as you can see for yourself, I am still very much single and partying.

How has your work as the Director-General of a film institute been?

Well, I must be sincere, it has not been easy as I thought, but, with the help of my team members, we are, gradually, bringing life to Imo State through the film academy. We are also working towards making the state a centre of attraction where quality movies will be shot.

Banky W

Solid Star

Buzz Byte L4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

Much Ado about

Eniola Badmus’ real age

Opeoluwani Akintayo

o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng

Eniola

Omotola Jalade Ekehinde

launches #igatvalue

Omotola

In celebration of her 20th anniversary on stage, Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has launched the #igatvalue campaign.

The screen goddess and mother of four, launched her campaign on the Day 2 of her tour, omosexy@20.

She visited one of the biggest schools in Abuja, Stella Maris College where she was treated to a warm welcome by staff and students of the school.

During her presentation to the school, Omotola spoke to the students on the need to believe in Nigeria.

She didn’t take the centre stage alone, other speakers such as President of Gothni , Mr Linus Okorie and the UNICEF Education Officer, Mrs Judith Giwa-Amu, were around to add colour to the day.

Dr Sid’s

wife jets out to London

Simi

The late Justice Esiri’s son and Mavin Records act, Dr. Sid, and his lovely wife, Simi Osomo will soon become proud parents pretty soon.

News reaching us has it that heavily pregnant Simi arrived London on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 and is due to put to bed very soon.

According to our source, Simi and her husband were spotted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport last Wednesday, waiting to board a flight out of the country.

Life & Times confirmed that Sid was all over his pregnant wife at the airport, as the couple cuddled, with Simi almost not wanting to leave her husband behind.

And, of course, bystanders who, immediately recognised Sid, stole glances at the couple, with a few asking for photographs from the Mavin star.

Simi, eventually, left without her husband, and is expected to stay in London until she welcomes the couple’s first child.

It’s not a new thing having to stumble on arguments concerning Nigerian entertainers and what their real ages are.

Trust us, it has become more like a ‘war’ getting them to confirm their ages, yet, they are often quick to deny whenever a number which they don’t like surfaces.

Back to the reason for our headache. Eniola Badmus shows up on Twitter to start the age debate thing again.

“Stop adding to my age. I can’t b older dan my senior sisters and brothers. I repeat am nt 37 years old get ur facts right...” she tweeted.

As if that wasn’t enough, she went on “Aging is inevitable, Maturing is optional”.

Okay, we get it. So she wants us to believe she isn’t 37. Should we blame those who think she is? No thanks to her plus size body frame.

We remember last year when losing weight seemed like her main priority, but, she quickly slipped into getting too comfortable in her old skin.

So Life & Times went digging.

We discovered of a truth, Eniola Badmus isn’t 37. So she was right about not being 37. Shame on you all bad belle!

Her real age? She’s 38. How does that make you feel?

Eniola Badmus was born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on the September 7, 1977. She had her primary and secondary school in Ijebu-Ode. Studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan, and her second degree, Economics from Lagos State University,

LASU. That’s an impressive profile.

Eniola is one of the few educated Yoruba actresses. Besides, her acting prowess cuts across both the Yoruba and English speaking movies in Nigeria.

Since she denied being 37, Life & Times put a call to her, for a chat that we knew wouldn’t end well. And, it didn’t end well as the actress, practically, hung up on us.

Yet, we didn’t give up trying.

We sent a text which read, “From investigation, you’re not 37.

You’re 38. Sept.7, 1977”.

The reply we got from the actress will shock you! “Lol…e b like say na u born mi”.

Wow! But she could have just confirmed her age to put an end to it just like Gbemi OlateruOlagbegi, Uti Nwachukwu, Chika Ike and a few others did!

Olamide drops campaign song for Buhari Mutiat Alli Now we know the reason why General Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo attended Olamide’s album launch, recently.

Olamide expressed his support for the Buhari/Osinbajo camp (APC) after releasing two APC campaign songs, APC Ese (Thank You) and The Change We Want.

Aside just releasing his own songs to support the duo, Olamide had featured in some other campaign songs for APC.

Olamide

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

L5 Extra

Kendall Jenner in rumoured sex with Brother-in-law!

Scott and Kendall

Taylor Swift replies nude photo threats Taylor Swift’s social media accounts were hijacked on Tuesday, January 27, by so-called elite hackers who threatened to release nude photos of the pop superstar in exchange for bit coins. Swift, however, retorted that there were no naked pictures and told the offenders to “have fun” finding any.

The story began early Tuesday when several updates were tweeted from Swift’s accounts, instructing her 50 million-plus fans to follow two specific members of the Lizard Squad, @ lizzard and @veriuser.

The Lizard Squad is a group of hackers who claimed they were behind North Korea’s Internet shutdown amidst the Sony leak scandal. Over the holidays, the same group apparently took down the entire PlayStation and Xbox Live gaming networks. They were also reportedly responsible for Monday evening’s temporary Facebook and Instagram issues.

Someone from Swift’s team promptly deleted the tweets, but the hackers claimed that they had access to nude photos of her. The accounts @lizzard and @veruser were suspended by

Kendall

Swift Twitter as of Tuesday afternoon.

Swift, 25, meanwhile, took to her Tumblr to address the hacking. “My twitter got hacked but don’t worry,” she wrote to fans. “Twitter is deleting the hacker tweets and locking my account until they can figure out how this happened and get me new passwords. Never a dull moment.”

After her account was unlocked, Swift responded to the intrusion with several lighthearted tweet.

“Cause the hackers gonna hack, hack, hack, hack, hack. PS any hackers saying they have ‘nudes’? Psssh you’d love that wouldn’t you! Have fun photo shopping cause you got NOTHING”.

David Oyelowo backs Benedict Cumberbatch over racial remarks

Oyelowo David Oyelowo has defended his friend, Benedict Cumberbatch, over racial remarks the Imitation Game star made about diversity in the film industry.

The Imitation Game star used the term “coloured” when referring to black actors whilst discussing the lack of diversity in the UK’s performing arts scene and the Selma star has since contacted his friend to offer his support.

He said: “I reached out to him in support and said I think it’s ridiculous...

“When you look at what he was actually saying it’s clear that he’s a huge supporter of black performers ... To attack him for a term, as opposed to what he was actually

saying, I think is very disingenuous and is indicative of the age we live in where people are looking for sound bites as opposed to substance.”

Oyelowo, 38, also revealed that he agreed with Benedict’s original comments, insisting that there is a lack of equality within the creative arts industry.

He added to BBC’s Newsbeat: “You can see that in the fact every time a film of this size and stature comes up. We’re talking about diversity again and that’s because there isn’t enough of it...

“Excellence is the best weapon against prejudice.

I intend to be part of the solution and not the problem. You’ve just got to keep on banging out good performances.”

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old The Hobbit star recently apologised for using the “offensive” term.

He said: “I’m devastated to have caused offence by using this outmoded terminology. I offer my sincere apologies. I make no excuse for my being an idiot and know the damage is done.

“I can only hope this incident will highlight the need for correct usage of terminology that is accurate and inoffensive.”

This has to be the most laughable rumour ever!

Now, it’s no longer that Scott is dating Khloe. The latest is that Scott and Kendall allegedly had sex while Kourtney was pregnant with their third child.

Kendall, 19, and Scott 31, have been spotted together for some time, going shopping, eating lunch, things that most family members do together.

But Star claims that Kourtney Kardashian, 35, had been growing increasingly uncomfortable with the way Scott is always “checking out” Kendall.

The allegations also claim that Scott had gone from “protective” big brother to “corrupter.”

The explosive report alleged that Kendall and Scott had sex at a party and that a mutual friend informed Kourtney about the devastating news. Kourtney is reportedly not speaking to Scott or Kendall and said “they’re dead to me” when she learnt about it.

Well, both Scott and Kendall have denied the allegation.

Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon sued by ex-nanny Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are being sued by their former nanny, Simonette DaCosta, who claims she was unfairly fired for forming a close bond with their children.

According to Times Live, Simonette DaCosta has filed a lawsuit against the #Beautiful hit maker and the America’s Got Talent host, who split last summer after six-years of marriage, claiming she was unfairly fired because she showed too much affection to their three-yearold twins, Moroccan and Monroe.

DaCosta, who was hired as a full-time nanny by the estranged duo when their children were infants, claims the 44-year-old singer became jealous when she developed a very close relationship with them.

She also alleges that she was overworked and sometimes forced to look after the twins for more than 100-hours a week.

DaCosta is seeking back pay and other damages.

Carey admitted last February that she regularly fired nannies for interfering with the bond she has with her children.

She said at the time: “Unfortunately I have to have nannies but I’ve very hands-on. I fire nannies like this and I hate doing it, but I have to because if they try to make themselves more important in the baby’s mind than me...”

Cannon also confirmed in April that the singer fired their children’s minders “every other week.”

He explained: “It’s something about a woman and her children...you know, the minute the child chooses to go to the nanny before they go to the mom -- I would have an issue with Nick and Mariah that, too”, he said.

Mixed Grill L6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

e r e h W ’ ‘N hen W

Screening of October1st movie @ Lagos Law School, Thur 29th-1st Feb. 2015

Quotes

Lyrics

My cousin CAN’t have kids. Yet everywhere she goes, randoms call her “mummy”. It actually hurts her cos she knows she CAN’T have kids. BUT, that’s extreme maybe. I do wonder though, why ppl go around calling people older or in authority, “mummy”. Like even at work…”

Tosyn Bucknor

“Too much information too many discrepancies too much confusion, regardless we just need to move forward as a nation. #who2votefor?”— Weird MC

D’banj 10th Anniversary concert tagged “Feeling the Nigga” come January 31, 2015 at the Ocean view Victoria Island.

“I feel good about this year already! Don’t give a f*** abt what they say abt us! #keeptalking we LOVE it all!! No more basic shiiii!!!”—Seyi Shay Sanko Song title: aya- Sanko Artiste: Tim

Chorus:

Live with Official praiz at De Place VI, 30th January, 2015.

“Men are attracted to curvy women because they look like women! I’m talking about size 12 to 16. However, one man’s meat is another man’s mattress, that I know too well. It’s all about proportion; you can be petite but curvy and voluptuous, or big and tall but curvy and voluptuous. BIG doesn’t necessarily mean the woman is obese.”

Charly Boy CIROC LIFE @Escape Night Life, 243B Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island. Sat. Jan 31st, 2015

Some of them them ma know me Some of them them no know me Some of them keep for me everytime the people dancing some of them the wanner wine for me Some of them put it down for me i love the way the ladies wine for me Every monday night.

Daga - eh everybody - Eh i like the way you do it - eh uhm My people say all my ladies winam’eh - Daga see this girls them’eh All my people here you dey eh all the ladies where wouna dey Move your body to the beating eh

Lagos Country Club New Year Party, Fri. 30th Jan, 2015 @ Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Love me - Love me Need me - Need me all my ladies every body them want me This sexy body girls them need me she say she love me she love me she want me yeah she want me all my people everybody love me sexy body girls everybody Sanko See this girl them hear me Sanko people them ma feel me from the Sanko Hmm you dont care were i dont dey go See the girl them ma wan to the hear me sanko AH HA Apostles every year see the people them ma feel filiing me like go anywere that i go, them wan to go

see right now meet them on my floor I like the way them fit run floor All my ladies wanner jump front the ladies every body wanner move front i like the way you step just dey too follow Girls them dey wine nam all my homies them ma jump front the girls everybody them ma twist dem everbody dance see see i like the way them di put me down i like the way them di twist me down me i like the way girls wine it down me i love them, me i love them I like the way them dey jump around Me i like the way them di twist me down me i love the way girls them wine it down asay me i love them, me i love them Love me - Love me Need me - Need me all my ladies everybody them want me This sexy body girls them need me she say she love me she love me she want me yeah she want me all my people every body love me sexy body girls everybody Sanko See this girl them hear me Sanko people them ma feel me from the Sanko Hmm you dont care were i dont dey go See the girl them ma wan to the hear me sanko AH HA Apostles every year see the people them ma feel filiing me like go anywere that i go. dager - ah ha them ma ready now

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

L7 Nutrition

Foods that treat, prevent pimples Judith Frank-Edet What we eat has a powerful effect on our skin. While there are foods that can complicate matters on our skins, some help prevent skin pigments like pimples and help keep skin clear. It’s always annoying to look at your face in the mirror and see some other things sitting on your skin. Yes, if you have done all that needs to be done to get rid of your pimples and it’s not gone, it’s time for a diet switch.

Take note, it’s not limited to these foods; surely there are others foods that can treat pimples but these are the most effective ones.

They are; Spinach Spinach is one effective veggie you can eat to clear up pimples.

To get rid of pimples, you could either cook it or make a face mask by blending it with a little water and applying it on your face for 20 minutes. This will remove dirt, oil and inflammation from your skin, thus refreshing and rejuvenating it from within. You can also drink spinach juice with other vegetable juices mixed as you like it. Drink this juice daily and you will have pimples kissing you goodbye.

Cocoa Naa, I don’t mean that you should grab the next bar of chocolate you see. Cocoa is actually a wonderful anti-pimples agent that you have probably not heard of yet. Here I mean dark cocoa, or alkalized cocoa powder. Dark Cocoa powder contains 100% cacao content. It is very rich in taste, contains no sugar and is great for your skin. Though it is lower in antioxidants than regular cocoa, it is higher in alkalinity. You can get them in popular stores and pharmacies in Nigeria.

Fish (salmons, tuna) Changing your diet from beef to meat might just do the trick. Fish is rich in Healthy omega-3 fatty acids and this boost your skin’s defenses against UV damage. In a study published in the April 2009, researchers found that adults those who ate a little more than 5 ounces of omega-3-rich fish such as salmon and tuna each week decreased the development of precancerous skin lesions by almost 30 percent. You see why you should prefer fish?

Carrot If you are the kind of person that has cravings for sugar, this might be your favorite.

Carrots are rich in Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, which is a powerful weapon against pimples. Eating carrots with a healthy diet will reduce pimples significantly, in as little as 2 week. Carrots are also naturally sweet, so they help keep you from reaching for those problematic foods that lead to pimples like sugar, junk food and fast food.

Honey Honey is a natural acne treatment that can help cure acne in two different ways.

Eating honey reduces sensitivity of the skin. Using honey masks and kills bacteria on the skin. So both ways you are safe. But the best kind of honey for treating acne is pure and natural honey, collected from bees that feed on tea tree bushes. Some of you may have tried it and it never really worked, that because you probably used refined honey.

Pure honey can do the magic.

Avocado This tasty green fruit, rich in vitamin E, can also increase your skin’s vitality, The fruit and seed contain powerful natural chemicals and antioxidants that have been shown to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, pimples and eczema.

GOLDEN QUOTE Food is medicine. Bad food is bad medicine and Good food is good medicine. Take away the bad food, put in the good food and magic happens.

-Mark Hyman

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 30, 2015

L8 Television

Showing on

Showing on 143 CBS Drama

105 Movies Family

03:10

09:30

Fri, 30 Jan | PG 13

Fri, 30 Jan | PG

‘S2/E15 – 2/15’. Vincent, a noble man-beast, and Catherine, a lawyer, unite as the tunnel dwellers’ world collides with that of the surface.

Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Daniel Radcliffe returns in the magical third instalment of this acclaimed franchise. This time, an escaped convict threatens Harry’s life.

118 Telemundo

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?

128 SONY MAX

120 BBC Entertainment

00:00 The Cube 00:20 Top Gear 01:15 Inspector George Gently 02:50 EastEnders 03:20 The Weakest Link 04:10 Top Gear 05:00 Fool Britannia 05:25 QI 05:55 Spy 06:25 EastEnders 06:55 Antiques Roadshow 07:50 The Weakest Link 08:40 QI 09:10 Would I Lie To You? 09:40 Hell's Kitchen USA 10:25 Deal Or No Deal 11:05 My Family 11:40 My Family 12:20 Top Gear 13:15 Come Dine With Me 14:10 The Cube 15:05 The Weakest Link 16:00 Casualty 17:00 The Chase 18:00 The Cube 19:00 Silent Witness 20:00 The Graham Norton Show 20:55 QI 21:35 Would I Lie To You? 22:10 Live At The Apollo

252 Silverbird

00:00 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 00:30 Born To Dance 01:30 Nellyville 08:50 I Bet You Will

00:20 Unbeatable Banzuke

09:15 Killer Karaoke

00:45 Unbeatable Banzuke

10:15 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's...

01:10 Rude Tube 01:35 Poorman's Bikini Beach 02:00 Ninja Cheerleaders 03:20 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's...

04:10 Unbeatable Banzuke 04:35 Unbeatable Banzuke 05:00 Ninja Warrior 05:25 Ninja Warrior 05:50 I Bet You Will 07:05 World's Most Amazing Videos 07:55 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's...

06:00 Soul Sessions

12:15 Cheaters

09:00 BET Presents: 2Face Idibia

13:15 World's Most Amazing Videos

09:30 The DEFinition: Outkast Reloaded

14:15 World's Wildest Police Videos

10:00 Hell Date

15:15 Video Zonkers

10:30 Hell Date

15:40 1000 Ways To Die

11:00 The Wendy Williams Show

16:10 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's...

12:00 Real Husbands Of Hollywood

17:05 World's Most Amazing Videos

06:15 Cheaters

04:00 Late Night Heat 07:00 Soul Sessions

18:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 19:00 Killer Karaoke 20:00 Tattoo Nightmares

08:00 Soul Sessions

12:30 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 13:00 Let's Stay Together 13:30 Let's Stay Together 14:00 Apollo Live 15:00 The Wendy Williams Show

253 AIT

06:00 Symphony

00:30 Movie:

15:00 Matters Arising

06:30 Insights For Living

02:30 Nowhere To Be Found

15:30 State Of The Nation

07:00 STV AM News

03:00 Focus Nigeria

16:00 World News 16:30 Nickelodeon

10:30 STV Sports Café

04:00 What Life Took From Me

11:00 Triple M Show

05:00 Oremus

11:30 Nowhere To Be Found

06:00 Kaakaki

12:05 Music Africa

03:30 BET Now

11:15 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's...

14:00 Gbedu On The Move

09:30 De Market Place

02:30 Centric Comedy All Stars

00:00 Cheaters

00:00 AIT Midnight News

07:30 Today On Stv

135 BET

14:05 Tales Of Eve

09:00 Giant Strides

14:30 Footprints

09:30 Making Of A Chef

17:30 NAFDAC & Your Health 18:00 Sports Today 18:30 One Mic 19:00 Amazon 20:00 AIT News Hour

00:00 Health Monitor

15:00 Excite On TV

00:30 Boom Town

15:30 Brights

01:00 Music Africa

16:05 Nickelodeon

02:00 Boom Town

11:00 The Money Show

17:00 The Benjamins

02:30 STV Sports Café

17:30 Video Wheels Lifestyle

12:00 AIT Reports

22:00 What Life Took From Me

03:00 Local Movie

18:02 MTV Base

13:00 Sports Extra

16:30 Jara

05:00 Gospel Rhythms

19:00 STV News @ 7

05:30 Dig Your Well

13:30 Dateline Abuja

17:00 The Johnsons

19:30 Taste of Love

10:00 Focus Nigeria

21:00 Primetime Africa

17:30 Lies That Bind

20:00 The 5 Brides

18:00 Affections

20:30 Katemba Mu Kkooti

18:30 Foot Prints

21:00 Jara

19:00 Kings Of Segou

21:30 Tinsel

19:30 Tinsel

22:00 The Dzigbordi Show

XT Exclusive

AMEOBI joins Crystal Palace X2

o

Poster!

Offiong Edem

X4,5 Thursday, January 29, 2015

STARS OF YESTERYEAR

!

S L A E R F O BATTLE

, d i r d a M d a d e i Soc X2

TARIBO: Celebrating Nigeria’s defence ace X6

INTERVIEW

t h g i m test X2

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Murray X8 books final ticket

FURMAN opens up on Bafana’s AFCON crash

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X2

Friday, January 30, 2015

EXTRATIME

Madrid, Sociedad face tough La Liga test Missing in action! Real Madrid’s hitman, Cristiano Ronaldo, will miss Saturday’s La Liga cracker against Real Sociedad following his two-match ban.

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eal Sociedad have made a habit of defeating La Liga’s elite sides this term, but faces a tough test at Real Madrid on Saturday.

Sociedad’s chances of doing a first league double over Real Madrid since 2004 may also receive a significant boost with Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga’s leading marksman, set to miss out through suspension.

Of Sociedad’s five league wins this season, three have come against Real, Barcelona and

Atletico Madrid, highlighting their ability of crushing La Liga top teams.

And while David Moyes was not in charge when Sociedad beat Real Madrid 4-2 in August, his players are sure to hold fond memories of a clash that saw them come from two goals down to win.

Ronaldo also missed that clash, with fitness issues preventing him from appearing in San Sebastian.

His absence on this occasion

comes after the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner was suspended for two matches for kicking out at Cordoba defender Edimar and then raising a hand to strike him in the face last Saturday.

Ronaldo lost his temper after failing to make an impact in the clash against the Liga strugglers and was given his marching orders with eight minutes left, although there was still time for Gareth Bale to net an 89th-minute penalty in a 2-1 win.

Having scored 36 goals in 31

appearances in all competitions this season, Ronaldo will undoubtedly be a massive loss, but his absence could pave the way for promising youngster Jese Rodriguez to be involved from the start.

Madrid, also without Luka Modric (thigh), are not out for revenge against Sociedad, with midfielder Isco saying this week they preferred to focus on themselves.

It remains to be seen whether Madrid will give new signing

Crystal Palace signs Ameobi

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rystal Palace have completed the signing of free agent Shola Ameobi on a deal until the end of the season.

The Nigeria striker has been searching for a new club since cancelling his contract with Turkish side Gaziantep at the end of last month.

Ameobi was linked with a move to West Brom, but he has instead opted for a reunion with Palace boss Alan Pardew, with whom he worked at Newcastle United.

The 33-year-old came through the youth ranks at St James’ Park and went on to score 79 goals in 397 first-team games for the club.

Upon leaving at the end of his con-

tract last season, Ameobi plumped for a move abroad but he made just 11 appearances, scoring four goals, before deciding to return to England.

Speaking on his move, Ameobi said he glad to return to the Premiership.

“I’m very excited to be here, I wanted to get back in the Premier League and having worked with the manager before it’s been great to come back and hopefully help us avoid the relegation battle.

“I had a couple of other clubs interested but I think my relationship with Alan and how much I enjoyed working with him was one of the big factors in my decision.”

Blatter submits FIFA bid

S

epp Blatter has officially entered FIFA’s presidential race.

The current president is running for a fifth term and could face as many as five challengers for his role.

A message on Blatter’s twitter page said: “This is a key date in the electoral calendar. I’ve made my submission, now the electoral committee follow a process.”

The 78-year-old last weekend effectively told his critics within UEFA to put up or shut up - and within two days Dutch FA boss Michael van Praag and former Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo had declared their candidacies.

Both say they have the five nominations from FIFA-affiliated national associations needed to make it onto the ballot paper, with the Scottish FA among six confirmed van Praag backers.

SUPER 6: Wolves eye win against Pillars

W Former Newcastle star, Shola Ameobi joins Crystal Palace until the end of the season.

arri Wolves forward, Joseph Osadiaye, has said his side will unsettle Kano Pillars in today’s Super 6 matchday 4 clash at the Abuja National Stadium.

The Seasiders are yet to pick a point in the three matches so far played in the six-team preseason annual football showpiece.

Osadiaye said his side will certainly win its first match of the tournament against the Nigerian champions, Pillars.

Friday, January 30, 2015

EXTRATIME

X3

AFCON 2015

Kasperczak

k a z c r e p s Ka tasks CAF over casting of lots M ali coach Henryk Kasperczak believes CAF should find a better way to separate teams with identical records for future Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

The Eagles and Syli Nationale of Guinea played to a 1-1 draw in their final Group D Match on Wednesday, meaning they ended in second

and third place (behind group winners and quarterfinal qualifiers Ivory Coast) and have identical records.

A drawing of lots was conducted later on Thursday to determine which of the two progresses into the last eight.

“We now need to respect the rules, we don’t have choice.

But, CAF must have to find a more sporting formula

to separate teams in such situation,” said Kasperczak.

The Polish coach feels that his team had enough chances to win the match outright and avoid the 50-50 situation of drawing lots yesterday.

“The team confirmed their qualities. The turning point of the game was the penalty missed by Seydou Keita,” said Kasperczak.

“We have a lot of regrets with all the chances we had.

We were in control in the second half but couldn’t convert our opportunities.

But overall it remains a great satisfaction.

“We are not happy with the result as we deserved better.

We played in their own half which means that the team is good.”

Renard defends Toure’s team role

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vory Coast coach Herve Renard has defended reigning African Player of the Year Yaya Toure, saying that he doesn’t enjoy the same advantages for the Elephants as he does for club team Manchester City.

The younger Toure brother has been criticised for failing to produce the kind of barnstorming performances for Ivory Coast at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations that he regularly does in the Premier League.

However, Renard explains that Toure has a different role in the national team and doesn’t have a midfield partner such as Fernandinho who allows him freedom to join the attack.

“Yaya Touré doesn’t have here the same environment he has at Manchester City,” Renard said in a pre-match press conference.

“In his club, there are some players like Fernandinho who work very hard for Yaya. But in the national team there is no such player able to free Yaya.”

Mathlouthi expects tough battle against hosts

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unisia goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi does not expect an easy clash against Equatorial Guinea in the quarterfinal of the Africa Cup of Nations in Bata this Saturday.

The Carthage Eagles qualified for the quarterfinals of the AFCON after they finished top of Group B with five points ahead of second-placed DR Congo with three. The Tunisians have now set up an interesting clash with the AFCON hosts Equatorial Guinea.

Etoile du Sahel goalkeeper

Mathlouthi

Mathlouthi warned that the hosts will push the Carthage Eagles to the limits.

The 30-year-old also stressed that there will be no room for error when they face the Equatorial Guineans at the Estadio de Bata.

“If we play on Saturday the same way that we did against DR Congo I am sure we will win, I am sure about that. We just need to stop making the same mistakes that happened in our previous matches,” Mathlouthi said.

“The mission against Equa-

torial Guinea will not be easy, because they will play in their land and in the front of their fans and that will help them.

“Our team have enough days before the next match to prepare, and it will give us a good chance. We are not afraid of them and we will fight to qualify for the semifinals.”

Saturday’s quarterfinal between the host nation and Tunisia had earlier been scheduled for Estadio de Ebebiyín but has since been shifted to Bata by CAF citing poor pitch conditions.

Neghi salutes Algerian fighting spirit

A Neghi

lgeria assistant coach Nabil Neghiz has said the Desert Foxes put up a spirited performance to defeat Senegal 2-0 in Malabo in their group game on Tuesday.

The Desert Foxes scored a goal in each half through Riyad Mahrez and Nabil Bentaleb to qualify for the quar-

Toure terfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Looking back at the win over Senegal, Neghiz revealed how their pre-match talk helped the team to overcome the West Africans.

“It was our day because we played very well. We faced a very tough team, but we stud-

ied them very well so we treated them well too,” Neghiz said.

“We talked with our players to play our way, which is usually fast passes and then play the ball in behind their defence.

“We will prepare well for the quarterfinal match and hope we can win the next game and reach the final to win the title.”

QUARTERFINAL FIXTURES JAN 31: Congo v Congo DR 18:00 (Bata) JAN 31: Tunisia v Equatorial Guinea 21:30 (Ebebeyin) FEB 1: Ghana v 2ND Group D 18:00 (Malabo) FEB 1: Cote d’Ivoire v Algeria 21:30 (Malabo)

X4

Friday, January 30, 2015

EXTRATIME

“I started playing table tennis on my granny’s dinning with my sister whenever she attended church services or meetings. One day, I decided to go outside our home to play because I was bored playing at home. I paid to play at a tennis centre in our street and I enjoyed it. I was a regular player of the game there and I became popular in the neighbourhood because I was winning games.”

“Table tennis has given me a lot in life. I have travelled to many countries because of the game. I’m known everywhere and I’m happy about this…I want to win an Olympic medal to be among the world’s best table tennis players and I believe I can realise my dream.”

E

ffiong

Friday, January 30, 2015

EXTRATIME

MAT PERSONAL INFORge ria Nationality: Born: Place Of Birth: Weight: Sport:

ION

Ni 28) December 31, 1986 (Age Calabar, Nigeria 64 Kilograms (141 Lb) Table Tennis

MEDAL RECORD All-Africa Games Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver:

2007 Algiers (Doubles) 2007 Algiers (Team) 2011 Maputo (Singles) 2011 Maputo (Doubles) ubles) 2011 Maputo (Mixed Do 2011 Maputo (Team)

Edem

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X5

X6

Friday, January 30, 2015

EXTRATIME

Stars of Yesteryear

t s e W o b i r a T s ’ a i r e Nig

rock-solid defender!

T

aribo West is a Nigerian former professional footballer who hailed from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and played as a defender.

Born on March 26, 1974, he represented the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles, in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups where he proved his mettle as a rock-solid defender.

West is also known for the various unusual and colourful hairstyles that he sported over the years before retiring from the game that brought him great fame and honour for the country.

CLUB CAREER West began his football career with Sharks of Port Harcourt in 1991 before moving over to Julius Berger of Lagos where he featured prominently during the 1992/93 season.

He later moved to France in January 1993, spending four and half years at Auxerre and was part of a successful team that won the league championship and two French Cups.

His superlative form at the rear of Auxerre’s defence line stood him out, as Serie A club Internazionale came calling for his services.

West grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he played a vital role in capturing the UEFA Cup in 1998 with Inter.

However, West later found himself at the centre of heated transfer speculation at the end of the 1998–99 season following clashes with former Internazionale coach Mircea Lucescu.

As soon Marcello Lippi took over Internazionale, it became apparent that West had to leave.

After many months of talks with vari-

Taribo West (l) and Brian Laudrup in FIFA World Cup France 98 (Nigeria Vs Denmark)

ous clubs, including Newcastle United, Liverpool, Ajax and Juventus, West joined Inter’s cross-town rivals A.C. Milan, and made just 4 appearances in his sole season there.

He also helped Milan to secure a berth in the following season’s UEFA Champions League.

As providence had it, West spent brief spells with Derby County where he was a hugely influential performer for The Rams. He also played in Germany for top club, Kaiserslautern.

From records, West was again playing the spotlight of Europe when he was acquired by Partizan from Serbia. With Partizan, West played a crucial role in defence under then manager Lothar Matthäus and helped Partizan get to the Champions League group stage, where they were drawn in a group with Real Madrid, Porto

West (r) with Teddy Shedingham during Sir Alex Ferguson’s testimonial match

and Marseille.

After that, in early August 2004, he signed a one-year contract with Al-Arabi Sports Club.

From Al-Arabi Sports Club, on July 5, 2005, West was on the move again as he was signed up by Football League Championship side Plymouth Argyle, but only made four appearances.

In August 2005, Derby County fans sent shirts to West’s hometown in Nigeria in a campaign backed by BBC Radio Derby.

On August 18, 2007, it was getting clearer that West’s career was waning as he signed a one-year contract with Iranian club Paykan. He failed to make a start with the club, having his contract terminated by mutual consent only three months later.

In February 2008, West reportedly claimed to be joining Spanish Segunda División club Xerez, but the club’s president

West (r) made his name with Inter Milan but also played a few games for rivals AC Milan

denied any knowledge of his arrival.

In April 2013, a shocking revelation emerged from Zarko Zecevic, former president of Partizan Belgrade, who claimed that when West joined the club, he said he was 28 years old, but was in fact 12 years older. As expected, West denied the accusation.

INTERNATIONAL CAREER West was capped 41 times by the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles, and played in the 1998 (all matches and minutes). He also made two appearances at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Japan/Korea One of the highlights of West’s career was his involvement with the Dream Team that captured the men’s Olympic soccer gold at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.

West (r) with Teddy Shedingham during Sir Alex Ferguson’s testimonial match

Friday, January 30, 2015

EXTRATIME

Interview

X7

FURMAN rues Bafana’s AFCON crash

End of the road! Bafana Bafana captain Dean Furman (left) and other players dejected after crashing out of the ongoing 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.

Bafana Bafana captain, Dean Furman, says South Africa only has itself to blame for crashing out of the ongoing CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. South Africa lost 2-1 to Ghana in the final Group C match on Tuesday, 23 January at Stade de Mongomo. At the end, Bafana Bafana finished bottom of the group with just one point and three goals. They suffered two defeats and played 1-1 draw with Senegal.

SAFA Media spoke to Captain Dean Furman after the match. Excerpts: What’s your reaction on the huge disappointment of seeing Bafana Bafana crushing out of the AFCON tourney in Equatorial Guinea?

Yes, it is a big disappointment that we crashed out in such manner. We came here with high hopes and realistically we let ourselves down in a similar way in all the three games and that is something we have to look into.

We took the lead brilliantly and we

much for We thank them so have been their support, they The Miniswith us all the way. here and en be ter of Sport has s, we ge sa es m relayed their , we ed int po ap dis are just so but er, rth fu em th ke couldn’t ta d. ou pr them we hope we made t ou ing th no We fought, we left ck ba e m there and we will co stronger!

played some outstanding football throughout the tournament. We have a lot of positives to talk about though, but we have to look at where we went wrong. There are many areas where we still need to improve, but overall we will take the experience of this tournament. We had a lot of young players in their first AFCON and we have to learn from where we went wrong and hopefully next time around we will be a lot stronger.

Bafana scored first in all three matches, but could not protect the lead, what could be the reason?

It was evident in all three games that we dropped a little too deep, inviting pressure on ourselves against these top teams with top strikers, and you will get punished, and that’s exactly what happened to us.

We have to work on our game of staying solid while still allowing ourselves to play the exciting, expanding game of football that has won us so many fans over here.

There are many positives to take but those are the key areas to work on to make this team a success.

In all three matches in the tournament, the clash against Ghana wasn’t one of Bafana’s best. What actually went wrong?

Yes it wasn’t our best performance. I thought at times we played good football where we grew into the game a little bit.

After a bit of a shaky start in the second half we lost our composure on the ball against Ghana. We stopped passing and stopped playing the way we are used to and started slashing our clearances. Maybe there was so much at stake and we were so eager to

get over the line a bit, our style of play just deserted us. That is something we need to learn from and take into account but it will certainly make us stronger as individuals and as a team.

Which game would you say was one of the best matches for South Africa in the tournament?

I think the first two definitely stood out for me. The first 60 or 70 minutes we played some top football and it was a pleasure being in the team and that’s the overall disappointment. We took three teams all the way and we were in a position to beat three top teams in this continent, and to go crushing out with only one point to show for it is a major disappointment for us.

We have to turn our performances back into victories and points because this is a football tournament. The tournament is all about points only and that is something we need to learn as well. But I am proud to have been in this team, with some exciting youngsters with great talent and that’s something we have displayed in the three games.

On the basis of this tournament, can you hazard a guess on the future of South African football?

It looks great. The U-20s just won a tournament in Russia and we are proud of them. There are a lot of youngsters in this Bafana Bafana team making their first AFCON appearance and maybe at times their lack of experience showed a little bit, but we will only be stronger for it going forward and will definitely learn a lot from this tournament.

What’s your overall impression of the team in this tournament?

I think it was exciting and we had so many plaudits for our style of play. We did our best, but we have to work on what really went wrong in this tournament if we want to improve as a team and be reaching further stages in these tournaments.

Surely, the first game we should have won and be in a more comfortable position going into the last game, but it wasn’t to be. We now have to look into the next campaign.

Any improvement on the last AFCON if you compare the two?

Hard to say. In the last AFCON we went further in the competition only to lose out on penalties. But it was a very different team, very different set up, different coaching staff and now we are building for the future, and with that in mind, it is an exciting time.

Personally, how was the tournament for you, especially as captain?

It was an absolute honour to lead the team out. Just being involved in this team is a privilege but to be captain was a great honour and something I will cherish for the rest of my career.

What’s your message to the fans back home who have been supporting and are equally disappointed by Bafana’s poor show?

We thank them so much for their support, they have been with us all the way.

The Minister of Sport has been here and relayed their messages, we are just so disappointed, we couldn’t take them further, but we hope we made them proud. We fought, we left nothing out there and we will come back stronger!

Furman

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Friday, January 30, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME Briefs

Mancini hints at Toure bid

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nter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has hinted he could be set to bid for Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure in the summer.

The former City manager brought Toure to the Premier League ahead of his first full season in charge at the Etihad, signing the Ivorian for £24m from Barcelona in 2010.

Inter have been linked with a move for Lucas Leiva, but with Liverpool reluctant to sell Mancini may now turn his attention to an

ambitious summer move for Toure.

“Yaya is one of the strongest players in the world,” Mancini said. “He still is.

“He has played in so many teams. He has been in leagues in Belgium, Russia, Spain and England. Italy is the one missing. This could be the right opportunity for him to come and try.

“We are building a team. There are players that change the look of a team, and Yaya is one of them.

“Next year we could try. We

A

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident new signing Gabriel Paulista has all the qualities needed to adapt to the English Premier League.

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Bubka challenges Coe for IAAF presidency Ukrainian Sergey Bubka will challenge fellow Olympic champion Sebastian Coe for the presidency of the International Association of Athletics Federations. Bubka, a former pole vaulter, won an Olympic gold in 1988 as well as six consecutive world championship titles. The 51-year-old, who also set 35 world records, wants to replace Lamine Diack when he steps down in August.

Brazilian centre-back Gabriel completed his move to the Emirates Stadium from Villarreal on Wednesday, in a deal that saw Joel Campbell head in the other direction on loan.

Paulista, who can also play at full-back, spent two years in La Liga and Wenger believes the defender has already proved that he is capable of coping with a new environment.

“He has good pace, he’s good in the challenge and he’s tall - so he can adapt to English football,” Wenger said.

“Maybe it will take some time to adapt completely, but overall it’s very good to have him.

San Siro.

Destro has made 16 league appearances for Roma this season, although half of those have come from the bench.

The 23-year-old has scored five goals in that time and Milan will be hoping the forward can help lift them into contention for European qualification.

Milan sit 11th in Serie A, 23 points adrift of league leaders Juventus.

Mancini

Pogba’s Juve departure imminent –Agent

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Destro okays Milan move

oma striker Mattia Destro has agreed a deal to join Serie A rivals Milan.

The Italy international has been heavily linked with a move away from Stadio Olimpico, but Roma coach Rudi Garcia ruled it out earlier this month.

However, Milan - yet to announce any details of the transfer - confirmed on Thursday that Destro is set to switch to

Andy Murray came storming back after a poor start to beat Tomas Berdych and reach his fourth Australian Open final. The British number one lost a tense first set but recovered to win 6-7 (6-8) 6-0 6-3 7-5. It will be the sixth seed’s eighth Grand Slam final and first working with Amelie Mauresmo, with ex-coach Dani Vallverdu now in Berdych’s corner. Murray, 27, will play the winner of Friday’s semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka.

need to bring three champions, and we will see that we will be ready to fight for the Scudetto.”

Toure, who is currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, is under contract with the City for the next two-and-ahalf seasons.

The 31-year-old has scored seven goals in 18 Premier League appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this term.

Inter are currently 10th in Serie A, 23 points adrift of leaders Juventus.

Wenger: Paulista will adapt to EPL action

Paulista

Murray in fourth Aussie Open final

Pogba

espite signing a new contract, Paul Pogba could leave Juventus by the end of next season, according to his agent.

The France international recently signed a new contract that will keep him in Turin until 2019, but he remains one of the hottest properties in European football.

And agent Mino Raiola claims his client is unlikely to see out his new deal.

“His contract renewal was an easy decision. Not signing a new deal would have created a problem for Juventus and a weakness for Paul,” he said.

“I want the club that buys him to believe in him and be willing to pay for him. If Paul leaves Juventus, it is for the absolute top. If it does not happen this year, it will be next year.

“Paul is at the same level economically as the other big stars and has a similar reputation, so he could stay for another year. “But Paul is the only major star who is available at the end of the season. If you cannot take Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you can only go for Paul.

Allenby

Allenby maintains ‘kidnap’ claim Golfer Robert Allenby says police are continuing to investigate his claim that he was kidnapped, robbed, beaten and dumped in a park in Hawaii. The Australian reported that he had been abducted from a wine bar on January 17 after missing the cut at the Sony Open in Honolulu the previous day.

Allenby, 43, says he cannot remember a two-and-a-half-hour period from the night when he suffered facial injuries.

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES Saturday, January 31, 2015 Hull City v Newcastle 13:45 Crystal Palace v Everton 16:00 Liverpool v West Ham16:00 Man United v Leicester16:00 Stoke City v QPR 16:00 Sunderland v Burnley 16:00 West Brom v Tottenham16:00 Chelsea v Man City 18:30 Sunday, February 1, 2015 Arsenal v Aston Villa 14:30 Southampton v Swansea 17:00