Daily Times of Nigeria

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196

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197

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55

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Soldiers killed 500 in Plateau – Monarch Ï 9Ɛô Ɛ ƐƏƑƆè ƕ Əƌƕ ƍ ƊƆ ƌ Ï dƐ ƐƆ ƇƇƈƅƈ Ƌ ƌƑƌ Moses Ikyaa-Gba Jos

ÏÏÏFive communities in

the Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Nigerian gets life jail in UK for murder of Nigerian 6

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) with Mrs Tarinabo Oronto Douglas and her children at the funeral of the late Oronto Douglas, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State… at the weekend

In Sambisa, men took turns to have me, now I’m pregnant 4

FG faults oil marketers’ debt claim 4 The Yemi Osinbajo you may not know, by Enugu CJ 15

2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Politics Page Three

3

s

Editorial Lessons from Indonesia executions

A

s expected, the recent executions of convicted hard drug couriers in Indonesia has continued to draw worldwide condemnations over what many say is a barbaric and primitive way of handing justice, especially in the 21st century.

It would be recalled that last week, the Indonesian government executed eight persons among them four Nigerians for smuggling hard drugs into its territory.

Among those executed were Myuran Sukumaran, Andrew Chan, Rodrigo Gularte, Zainal Abidin, Jamiu Owolabi Abashin, Martin Anderason, Okwudili Oyatanze and Sylvester Obiekwe.

Much as we join the international community in expressing sadness at this development, it is pertinent to note that Indonesia being a sovereign country has its laws and administrative justice system that must be respected by other nations.

This fact was underscored by the Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbot even while protesting the executions of two of his countrymen. Question is how and why did these men get into the mess and sorry state that eventually cost them their lives? For example, reports and investigations show that the two Australians, Sukumaran and Chan were not new to heroine business when they were caught in 2005. They were allegedly involved in at least three drug smuggling attempts, with one being successful.

Moreover, they were also linked to a massive Asian drug cartel known as “Crescent Moon”. The Indonesian, Zainal Abidin was caught with a bag

of 58.5 kilogrammes of marijuana at his house in 2001. Rodrigo Gularte, a Brazilian was arrested trying to smuggle 5.8 kilogrammes of cocaine into Indonesia in surfboards. For the Nigerian, Martin Anderson, he was charged with possession of 50 grammes of heroin and was accused of being part of a local drug ring.

Okwudili Oyatanze was charged with swallowing 2.5 kilogrammes of heroin in capsules while luck ran out of him at Jakarta Airport while going through customs check. Nwolise’s fate was similar, as he admitted being coerced into swallowing capsules of powder that turned out to be cocaine.

He was sentenced to death in 2004.

Abashin was recruited to deliver a parcel of clothes to a woman in Indonesia; instead, the consignment contained 5.4 kilogrammes of heroin. He was arrested and convicted in 1999. In voicing condemnation over the executions, there is the need for sober reflections on the monumental scale of human tragedies caused by the actions of unconscionable hard drug traffickers.

Youths in many cities have turned to lives of crimes and other abhorrent social vices due to the influence of hard drugs. Incidentally, some of those countries condemning Indonesia over the executions are the hardest hit over the increasing abuse of hard drugs.

In all, those involved in hard drug smuggling to Indonesia knew the fate that awaited them if caught. Definitely, they paid the price for the inordinate desire to get rich quick without giving thought to the consequences. Though painful, it is a lesson for their ilk across the globe, especially in Nigeria.

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Unnecessary bickering over transition plan Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏAS the May 29 hando-

ver date draws near, the outgoing federal administration and the incoming government must not only sustain the peace that has attended the recent general elections, but also nurture it. One way to achieve that is by both the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), consciously work for a smooth transition process, a development that is novel even if necessary for nationbuilding in a democracy.

There is a need for both

parties to be less partisan in public conduct henceforth.

Recall that while speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last Wednesday, the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, said the Council took exception to some of the utterances by the Buhari transition committee, and to some of its terms of reference that looked as if the current government was being stampeded or intimidated.

The council then urged the incoming administration to avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on.

However, the President-

Words On Marble :

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elect’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement on Thursday, accused the Jonathan administration of plotting to hinder a smooth handover of power on May 29 and further alleged that the PDP-led government was not ready to fully cooperate with the incoming government, despite its public posturing in that regard.

Whichever angle this bickering is looked from, one thing is clear: it is unnecessary and the nation least desires such from both camps. Therefore, they must put aside partisanship and work in synergy for the good of the country.

Ego must be set aside for a seamless transition to happen come May 29.

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Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

“A good leader is not the person who does things right, but the person who finds the right things to do.”

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.”

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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

News 4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Soldiers killed 500 in Plateau, says monarch Continued from page 1 were a theatre of war at the weekend as an armada of men in military uniforms attacked anything in sight, literally.

By the time the smoke cleared, more than 500 persons lay dead – mostly women and children.

Some of the fleeing residents said that the mass murder was carried out by members of the State Task Force (STF) and soldiers from the 3 Armoured Division in retaliation over a recent killing of four soldiers by militia men in the area.

The spokesman of the STF, Capt. Ikedichi Iweaha denied the allegation that security personnel carried out such killings, declar-

ing that it would be unthinkable that soldiers deployed to keep the people safe would turn weapons against them and in the manner claimed.

However, Iweaha admitted that members of the STF and soldiers from the 3 Armoured Division had been deployed to keep the area safe from militiamen who he said had been carrying out daring raids around the TarabaPlateau border.

The five Taroh settlements are Saku, Wadata Kasuwa, Wadata Mission, Kurmi and Kadarko all in Wase Local government of Plateau State.

The operation took place on Saturday as the armed men, said to have been dressed in military

uniforms, attacked defenceless civilians, mostly women and children.

Mohammed Badu, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication declined comments when contacted, saying it was the duty of the STF to speak on the operation.

Also, the Senior Adviser to the state Governor, Jonah Jang, on Media who is also the Media officer of the STF, Pam Ayuba, did not pick his calls.

The Traditional ruler of Taroh, in Wase, Mr Lot Nden, confirmed the death toll which he believes to be well over 500.

He said the gun men came in large number wearing army uniforms and attacked major Taroh

Travellers on Lagos-Ibadan expressway… at the weekend

settlements.

Another eyewitness who told reporters that he escaped narrowly, added that the gunmen randomly killed women and children and destroyed houses.

He said: “The Army came in ac-

companied by 18 armoured tanks with over 5,000 men, dressed in army uniforms. They split into different camps. Some of the soldiers came through Taraba State, killing anything in sight, including men, women and children.

FG faults oil marketers’ debt claim ÏÏÏOil marketers are unneces-

Sunday.

She urged them to consider the interest of fellow citizens in any decision that they take.

Okonjo-Iweala made the appeal during an interview with reporters in Abuja.

She faulted claims by the marketers that they were being owed about N200 billion after being paid N156 billion last week, insisting that what is being owed them is about N131 billion.

The marketers had put the government’s indebtedness to them for oil subsidy at about N354,4 billion.

The Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Olawore, had said last week, “The government had paid N154.2 billion out of N354.4 billion and we are left with a balance of N200.2 billion.

Asking: “What happens to the N200.2 billion?”, he had added: “That is why we requested that the government invite us so that we can be told how it intends to liquidate the remaining N200.2

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Continued on page 6

sarily holding Nigerians to ransom, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on

‘Boko Haram members took turns to have me, now I’m pregnant’ Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏFrom one traumatized per-

son to another, the 275 women rescued last week from the evil forest of Sambisa told different tales of woes at the weekend.

During a visit to Malkoi, one of the camps for displaced persons in Yola, Adamawa State, the Daily Times met women young and old, as well as girls who may need a long time to readjust to normal living.

Some of the women disclosed that they trekked for three days before they were rescued and finally arrived in Yola.

Their disheveled and gaunt looks drew sympathy from on-

lookers. Many of them looked hunger-stricken while the children kept wailing as a result of illness and malnutrition.

Some of the women and children had to be assisted as they could not walk on their own. Another set could not alight from the vehicles that brought them from Sambisa following exhaustion and hunger.

One of the returnees is Asabe Aliyu, a 23-year-old mother of four children from Delsak, a village near Chibok town. She intermittently vomited blood an indication that she sustained internal injuries. She disclosed that beating was the order of the day in the Boko Haram camp. That was in addition to the deployment

of all forms of vulgar words.

They forced her into marrying somebody after a series of sexual assaults unleashed on her by different men on a daily basis.

Death was the punishment for any infraction or mistake, in Sambisa, under the Islamic sect.

“I was abducted six months ago in Delsak when our village was overrun by Boko Haram. First I had sojourned from my village to a forest close to Cameroun, they turned me into a sex machine.

They took turns to sleep with me.

Now, I am pregnant and I cannot identify the father,” she said in tears.

If she thought that the pregnancy would elicit compassion from the sect, Asabe was wrong.

“With my condition as a pregnant woman, I did the cooking of their food,” she lamented.

Lami Musa clutched a threeday-old baby girl. She looked tired and haggard. Her legs were swollen and a support had to be given to her before she could work.

Fighting back tears tears, she said: “They adducted the whole of my family and killed my husband at Kilkasa forest when I was four months pregnant. They took us to Sambisa forest, we were sleeping in an open field. For days, we went without water or food.”

Lami continued: “Three days ago, I gave birth to this baby girl.

As I am talking to you, I cannot ascertain the status of her health.

I have not had a bath since I was

delivered of the baby. The baby is yet to be bathed too. “ Another woman from Minchika, Maryamu Adamu said she saw hell call Sambisa. She could not tell if her two children and husband were still alive because she had not set her eyes on them since she was captured and taken to the Sambisa forest nine months ago.

She is, however, full of thanks to God that the ordeal appears to have now ended.

Her words: “I know I was dead, my existing now is just a mere shadow of life as nothing moves me. But now that I am here, I confirm that I am a living being. I thank God that I am alive. I thank God.”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

5 News

Rivers court adjourns notice seeking to restrain INEC from releasing voter register Faith Faithful Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏA

Federal High Court, in Port Harcourt, has adjourned, till further notice, on the matter seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing Voter Register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and the Rivers State Government for the conduct of the local government elections.

Justice Lambo Akombi adjourned the matter indefinitely, after hearing from

counsels to the Rivers State Government and RSIEC Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), who informed the court that he had entered an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the court to handle the matters and a motion on notice to restrain further injunctions/ proceedings on the matter.

Counsel to the PDP, E. C. Aguma told the Daily Times that they are in court to restrain INEC from handing over the Voter register to RSIEC or Rivers State Government for the elections.

Vice President, Namadi Sambo (Right); FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed (2nd right) and others during the funeral prayers for the late Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, in Abuja ...on Sunday

FG installs Navigational aids in six airports Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe

Federal Government is installing navigational aids (NAVAIDS) in six airports in the country for a better and safe airspace.

The Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Abdusalam Ibrahim, who disclosed this, at a media chat, with aviation correspondents, in Lagos, said the installations would boost operations in the country.

He explained that the navigational aids would be installed in other airports to enhance the system.

“What we are looking to is to improve upon our system.

“The NAVAID in Lagos is working very well and by the time we take it out and put in a new one.

The one that was there would be taken to another station that is not working well,” Ibrahim said.

Abdusalam said it was an opportunity for NAMA to step up to another level from where it was before.

The NAMA boss explained that a contract for the provision of facilities that would enhance communication between pilots and controllers through SMS known as controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC), had been signed between NAMA and SITA and would commence operations in June this year.

He said it was another alter-

native to voice communication, which was expected to tackle issues, where voice network was not very good in the country and to cover the oceanic regions like Lagos and Niger Delta.

Abdusalam also explained that the module-S data link was at an advance stage and would soon be activated to provide information to the aircraft from the controller at TRACON. According to Abdusalam, a lot of new air routes had been established to reduce flight time, fuel consumption among others while a regional route had also been established with the training of 40 professionals, while another 40 would be trained soon for the total coverage of the country.

ÏÏÏThe Ogun State

Government has described the worldview of the state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Gboyega Isiaka, as “too narrow”, over the latter’s criticism of the light rail project the state had signed with the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company last week.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said this, in a statement, on Sunday, in Abeokuta.

Isiaka had, last Thursday, condemned the rail project, describing it as a “misplaced priority,” shortly after submitting his petition to the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, in Abeokuta, challenging the victory of the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who won the April 11 governorship election.

He had argued that the project should not be the priority of

Ogun carpets Isiaka over attack of light rail project the state for now, as there were schools and health facilities that had decayed and needed urgent attention.

He noted that there were many things the governor did not tell the people of the state about the project.

He said: “One wonders where and when the government conceptualised the project? Was it debated at any state executive council meeting or budget retreat? Was it advertised or bidded for? “How would such humongous project be funded and under what repayment terms?”

PDP membership: Court fixes June 6 for suit against Dariye Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏA Federal High Court, sit-

Dariye

‘MOUAU builds 10 hostels with IGR in one year’

ting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has granted a motion of notice to be served on Senator Joshua Dariye to appear before it, pursuant to a suit brought before it, which makes a preelection claim that Dariye is not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

ÏÏÏThe

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, has said that it spent N1.5 billion of its internally generated revenue (IGR) to construct 10 hostels in the institution within one year.

Prof. Hillary Edeoga, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, disclosed

The court fixed June 6 for Dariye, alongside the Peoples Democratic Party, and the Independent National Electoral (INEC) as co-defendants to explain if Dariye, indeed, was a bona fide member of the PDP, especially as of the time of the party’s national assembly primaries, in December last year.

In motion number FHC/ J/M/106/2, brought in consonant with Order 6, Rule 17(1) of

the Federal High Court, Civil Procedure Rules 2009, the plaintiff, Nde Alexander Molwus, is contending that the second respondent, Senator Joshua Dariye, is a serving senator representing Plateau central senatorial zone on the platform of the Labour Party, and also an aspirant, who participated in the national assembly primaries of the PDP. Molwus, who is a card car-

rying member of the PDP and participated in the said PDP primary of December 7, 2014, with Emmanuel Goar and Sati Gogwim, as the other candidates that made the quartet, also contends further that, by the electoral guidelines for primary elections of the first defendant (PDP), only a registered member of the party, whose name is on the register of the party was qualified to contest the election.

this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday, in Umuahia, adding that this was to provide adequate accommodation for students.

He said: ``Before I was appointed, in 2011, there were only two hostels in the institution. When I came on board, I constructed 10 hostels in one year and these hostels were inaugurated by the former Minis-

ter of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai. We built these hostels from our IGR and each room has its own toilet, for the four occupants. ``We started the construction in August 2012 and completed them in August 2013. ``Having inaugurated the new hostels, we decided against charging the old rate of N10, 000 per room

per academic year, which was the rate in the old hostels nicknamed `Ajegunle’. `The new hostels, nicknamed `Abuja’ attract N60, 000. ``In fact, we made alternative accommodation arrangements for the few students we could not accommodate in the `Abuja’ hostels,” the VC said.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Nigerian gets life jail in UK for murder of another Nigerian Ngozi Okafor London

ÏÏÏThen a teenager, 24-year-old

Jeffrey Okafor (not related to this reporter), stabbed 19-year-old disc jockey (DJ), Carl Asiedu to death outside Club Life nightclub in Vauxhall, London in August 2009, before fleeing to Nigeria five days later, using his brother’s name and passport.

CCTV footage of August 17, 2009, showed Okafor and his older brother swapping clothing at the Heathrow Airport, prior to his flight to Nigeria.

He then settled down to a new

life, completed his university education and was doing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Delta State, when men from the Nigerian Police Force arrested him at a bank in Warri on September 23, last year. He was extradited to the UK two months later. The 24-year old was charged on his arrival and appeared at the Croydon Magistrate Court before the case was transferred to the Woolwich Crown Court, which has a higher jurisdiction.

Before his arrest last year, Okafor, who will serve a minimum of 17 years before being considered

for parole, had confessed of the murder to his girlfriend, Ms Merissa Anderson, before fleeing the UK. He was on the run for five years and it was on the fifth anniversary of Asiedu’s death that his family and the Police changed tactics in an effort to nail the killer. Apart from putting £10,000 on the table for anyone who could provide information leading to his arrest, a social media campaign on Facebook was launched and this eventually led to information which was used to track him down in Warri last year.

Before his conviction by jurors on Thursday last week, the

L-R: Director, Administration and Human Resources Management, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Yetunde Oni; President, Project Fix Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Kowontan; Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari; Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian American Agricultural Empowerment program, Chief Temitope Ajayi and Director-General (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhi during a courtesy visit of NAFDAC to the Emir in Ilorin…at the weekend.

Okafor, jailed in UK Woolwich Crown Court heard how Okafor had telephoned his girlfriend, Anderson, telling her he had been involved in a “madness” at the Club. Three days later, he then confessed to her that it was actually him who had stabbed Asiedu in the stomach.

Okafor, who denied the murder before the jury took just two hours in convicting him, also told his girlfriend: “You know that Ed Hardy T - shirt? Get it into a plastic bag and put it into a bin in the road,” when she visited him at his East Dulwich home in August 2009. He also gave her the pair of black gloves he wore on the night of the murder, and told her to look after them. When police later traced Anderson and interviewed her, she gave them the gloves, and traces of Asiedu’s DNA were found on them. The girlfriend revealed further that she felt under pressure, but still did as she was told.

The court heard also that when Okafor got home later on the day of the murder, he looked agitated

Govt faults oil marketers’ debt claim Continued from page 4 billion.

The Goodluck Jonathan administration will leave office on May 29. Sources say the fear of what the incoming government might do with the debt profile led the markerters to engineer the current fuel crisis, so that the issue would be fully resolved before a new government takes office.

But Okonjo Iweala said on Sunday that the figure being

claimed by the marketers could not be correct, noting that the balance that was left based on the template by the Petroleum Pricing Products Regulatory Agency is about N131 billion.

She said, “As you know, we paid N156 billion recently, N100 billion of the principle payment that we owe them and then we paid N56 billion interest rate and some remaining exchange rate differentials.

“Prior to that, we have just paid N31 billion exchange rate differentials. So at the time we

paid that last week, what we had outstanding is N98 billion.”

According to her, every week, the PPPRA sends data and that is what government only subscribe and certified as what is due to marketers.

“As at now, since we made the announcement last week, it has now risen from N98 billion to N131 billio outstanding in principle payment.

“And they are now making a demand of N200 billion and I asked them what is the balance for,” she added.

She likened the oil marketers to a small cartel that is into a no risk business based on template negotiated with PPPRA long time ago which factored in exchange rate differential, and profit margin guarantee.

This situation, she said, leaves them with absolutely no risk.

She said. “It has become a situation where we have a cartel that can ground the nation to a halt at will. I strongly suggest that the nation has to do something about it.

and said: “I am going down, the Feds are going to be on me.”

Prosecutor, Sarah Whitehouse, QC (Queen’s Counsel) told the court that prior to the stabbing of Asiedu, there was nothing serious between the latter’ group of friends and that of his killer. She also told the court: “You may hear that there was some ill-feeling between some members of the two groups, but there was nothing serious enough in the background for anyone to explain why knives should be drawn.”

Asiedu, who was with a group of friends when Okafor stabbed him on the day he met his untimely death, was being driven to the St Thomas’ Hospital in South East London, by friends when the Police stopped their car and found him slumped in the back. They tried in vain to revive him and he was pronounced dead shortly after. A post- mortem examination later revealed the cause of his death a single stab wound to the heart.

Although two of his friends who were also stabbed by two of Okafor’s group both survived, unfortunately for the university undergraduate of De Montfort University in Leicester, Asiedu didn’t make it.

Two of Okafor’s friends had been jailed a few years ago, for their parts in the incident. Twenty-four-year old Junior Ademujimi Falade, though cleared of murder, was ‘sent down’ (jailed) for eight years after a two-week retrial at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey. A 20-year old Coventry University IT undergraduate, Bolaji Kako - Are was also ‘sent down’ for 30 months in June 2011, after being convicted of violent disorder.

Okafor’s 27-year-old brother, Junior Okafor, was jailed for four years in August 2010, for preventing the course of justice. He it was who convinced their mother to pay for the plane ticket to Nigeria and also arranged for his girlfriend to drive the murderer to Heathrow Airport.

Their mother was cleared in the case.

Two other Nigerians had already been jailed for their part in the attacks.

Jailing Okafor for life in courtroom 5, on Friday, Judge Christopher Kinch QC ordered him to spend the next 17 years behind bars, before any consideration for parole.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Mark to PDP faithful: Stop bickering, form credible opposition ÏÏÏPresident of the Senate, Da-

vid Mark, has urged PDP faithful to stop bickering and face the new task of providing a credible and formidable opposition in the country.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mark's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, and made available to reporters on Sunday in Abuja.

The statement said that Mark made the appeal in Abuja at a parley with elected PDP Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

The Senate president said it

was important for PDP members to put the failure of the last elections behind them and concentrate in building a strong and united party, ready to offer credible opposition. ``There is no need weeping over lost opportunities or mistakes of yesterday. ``The failure of yesterday should be our lesson for a better today and a triumphant future. ``We must accept the ups and downs as an opposition party, that is what the PDP is now, we must remain a united family and face the reality,” he said.

Mark stressed that the not-too impressive showing of the PDP in the last elections might, in the long term, be a blessing to the party and the nation.

He said that the party must go back to the drawing board, carry out critical review and fashion out a blueprint to get itself out of its present circumstances. ``The role of opposition is strange to us, but it is not a death sentence. We should be ready for the challenges. ``We are prepared to play a credible opposition. I believe the nation and indeed, Nigerians would

be the best for it”.

He therefore called on all stakeholders in the PDP to shun bickering and resolve to work together for a united and strong party.

Mark

Mimiko assures of world class medical facility

'Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏThe Ondo State government

A section of Gamboru market In Maiduguri gutted by fire ... on Sunday

Ogun CJ frees 38 prison inmates Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏ Not less than 38 inmates on

awaiting trial from various prisons in Ogun State were over the weekend released by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade.

The release which followed a two day visit of the Chief Judge to the various prison formations was in a bid to decongest the prisons.

Among the prisons visited were Ilaro prisons where six inmates were released, 15 were released at the Ibara prison facilities.

Also 12 inmates were released from Oba prisons while 3 at the Ijebu prisons and 2 at Sagamu respectively.

Narrating her ordeal, one of the released inmate, Oluwatoyin Akanni, who had been on awaiting trial for about two years while thanking the Chief Judge for the gesture, said she was arrested following her ordeal with a lady who allegedly stole her mobile phone.

"In the process, I met some guys who I told about my predicament, but I later found out that the guys went ahead to beat the lady when they found her and she died 3 days later".

Another freed inmate at the Ijebu prison facility, Adebayo Monday, while thanking the Chief Judge also said: "I am a bricklayer and I was working on that fateful day when one of my friend found a dead body.

"They called me later to tell me one of my friends was involved in an accident. I went there and I was arrested along with my friends ."

The Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, urged all the beneficiaries not to involve in crime again but be of a noble character and also in their best behaviours.

has said it is committed to building a world class and globally recognised University of Medical Science in the state.

The state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, made the disclosure at the weekend when the accreditation team of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, led by its Registrar, Prof.

Wole Atoyebi, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Akure, the state capital.

Gov. Mimiko said the state government is determined to ensure all facilities at the Medical village in Ondo State serve as a benchmark not only in Africa but globally.

He noted that the school which was first of its kind in the country, and the whole of West Africa would help would live up to its standard and purpose The governor also assured that the present administration in the state would provide strict adherence to all the rules and laws that guide postgraduate training for a better and optimum result.

Registrar of the Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Prof.

Wole Atoyebi, said the team was in the state for inspection of facilities at the Medical village in preparation for accreditation of the Obstetrics and gynaecology.

7 News

Sarkin-Yaki drags Kebbi Gov-elect before tribunal ÏÏÏ

Gen. Bello Sarkin-Yaki (rtd), the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 11 election in Kebbi State, has filed a petition challenging the outcome of the election.

The Secretary to the state Election Petitions Tribunal, Mr. Micheal Nwagbegbe, disclosed this to reporters in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

He said that Sarkin-Yaki, in a petition number EPT/KB/ GOV/001/2015 filed before the tribunal, was contesting the declaration of Alhaji Atiku Bagudu of the All Progressives Congress as the governor-elect of the state.

He added that Bagudu and the Independent National Electoral Commission were joined as respondents.

According to him, no date has been fixed for hearing in the case.

In a separate interview, the spokesman of the governorship candidate, Mallam Haruna Usman, said the petition was sequel to an investigation by the PDP, ``which uncovered anomalies that occurred during the election''.

Ekiti APC youths leader slams EAYC Gbenga Sodeinde

Ado Ekiti The Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Femi Ogundare, has disowned Ekiti APC Youths Congress (EAYC) that criticised APC lawmakers for not attending a peace meeting called by Chief Afe Babalola, saying the group does not exist within the party structure.

He described the group as a creation of Governor Ayodele Fayose's media aide, Lere Olayinka, who he alleged had been using the phantom group as authentic APC group opposed to all actions taken so far by the party in the last few months.

Reacting to the phantom group's criticism of the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, and other lawmakers as enemies of the state and the party for refusing to attend a peace meeting called by Babalola, Ogundare said the party had earlier called the attention of decent Nigerians to the fraud the governor had been selling to the public to create an impression of divisions with APC ranks.

ÏÏÏ

8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Politics

s

PDP has a bright future

Muazu

–BoT Secretary

Contrary to speculations that with the massive loss of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last General Election, the party will die a natural death, Secretary of the party’s Board of Trustees, (BOT), Mallam Walid Jibrin has said the party still has a bright future.

The PDP lost the presidency and quite a number of the states to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)

in the just concluded elections making political observers to conclude the imminent death of the party.

Besides, with the loss of the party at the centre and in many states, a lot of the party’s bigwigs have been decamping to the opposition APC, a development that further heightened the fear that the party would soon collapse like a pack of cards.

But speaking with newsmen

in Nasarawa, Jibrin, expressed optimism that the party will soon bounce back, urging chieftains not to dump the party.

His words: “I want to tell you and the whole world that the various PDP governments since the inception of the party, had done a lot in fighting poverty, hunger, unemployment and youth restiveness as well as empowering women.

“Also promoting peace and CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Ambode: The Burden of Victory Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako

My arrest

by EFCC is political, Nyako’s son

Ambode

For Akinwumi Ambode, Governor-elect of Lagos State, victory did not come easy. Since his name cropped ever before the race started, there have been stiff opposition to his candidature, even within his own party- the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Up to the last 24 hours to the polls, court cases were still hanging on his neck acting as impediments to his victory. The cases

Tinubu

brought by fellow aspirants in the APC who lost out in the party primaries were disposed off by the judge almost on the eve of the elections.

In the days leading to the election, there were more dramatic revelations which almost scuttled his victory. Top of the dramatic escapades was the controversial meeting the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu had with the Ndigbo in Lagos.

Agbaje

The Oba, an unrelenting supporter of Ambode was quoted to have threatened the Igbos to vote for Ambode or face the consequences which included death or dispossession of their properties they made while in Lagos.

The issue drew a lot of flaks for the Oba across the state threatening the large population of Igbo voters. It took the intervention of prominent citizens including the national leaders of the APC, Asi-

waju Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the Igbos could be pacified.

Even at that, there were many Igbos who stayed away from the voting zones on Election Day to avoid casting their votes for Ambode, a development that accounted for the virtual low turnout in the gubernatorial election compared with the presidential polls.

Another reason that was reCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

First Son of former Governor of Adamawa state, Rear Admiral Murtala Hamman Yero Nyako, who recently won the central senatorial seat of the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rtd Commodore Abdul’Aziz Murtala Nyako spoke on a wide range of issues with our correspondent, TOM GARBA in Yola. He spoke on his plans for Adamawa people in his legislatives duties, why he was arrested by EFCC, why his father was impeached and other topical issues. Excerpts: You are certainly going to be one of the youngest senators from Adamawa State, how do you feel?

I feel honoured for the respect accorded me by the good people of Adamawa State who found me capable CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

9 Politics

Ambode’s victory: Matters arising CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

sponsible for the low turnout of voters in Lagos was the involvement of the Asiwaju in the process that threw up Ambode as candidate within the ruling APC. Many Lagosians believed that with Ambode having the backing of Tinubu, he would end being another lackey panding to the whims and caprices of Tinubu.

For them, if Ambode eventually wins, it will be a continuation of the present situation in Lagos where the state is regarded as a personal estate of one man.

Indeed, the opposition PDP claimed in its campaign just before the election that Ambode did not retire voluntarily from the services of the Lagos State Government but was forced out at just 52 years of age by the current state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

They alleged that it was Tinubu who ensured that compulsory retirement or sack was converted to voluntary retirement owing to the fact that he assisted Tinubu a lot when he was Accountant General of the State.

But Fashola debunked all these allegations saying he never sacked the governor-elect but that he retired with his honour and integrity intact.

This was to set the stage for a test of grits between the opposition PDP and the ruling APC to determine who blinks first.

Tinubu flanked by Ambode (l) and Fashola (r).

Lot of people wanted a change, that enough was enough. That it was time that Lagos was freed from the stranglehold of one man, hence many decided to vote for Jimi Agbaje of the PDP who was once within the progressive camp of Tinubu himself. Others who couldn’t vote for Agbaje

preferred to abstain from voting altogether.

Thus the burden of Ambode is large. How does he come out of the shadow of Tinubu? How does he prove that he is no man’s lackey but a man of his own? How does he prove that those who voted for him and his party have not

made a mistake by voting him?

How does he prove himself that inspite of the misgivings that a lot of people have of his candidature, he would be able to take Lagos to higher heights and things would not deteriorate instead?

Indeed, this is the burden of leadership hanging on Ambode.

‘Those who destabilised Adamawa to be exposed soon’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

and worthy for this noble course. I cannot thank them enough and I promise them a good representation that will sharpen my constituency and the country at large.

If you are given a choice in the red chambers to select your committee, which one will you prefer?

All my life, I have been a military man under the Nigeria Navy, shouldering many responsibilities at one time or the other. Haven gone through military discipline in my life, right from nursery to up to Nigerian defence academy (NDA), i also received international military training with the

Nyako

Abdul-Azeez

British Naval training and USA. When I discovered things were going arbitrarily during my fa-

ther’s administration, I retired as a Commodore from the Navy and his Royal Highness, the Lamido

PDP will rise again – BoT Secretary CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Adamawa gave me a traditional title of Sarkin Matasa (Youth leader) of his Emirate. I began to educate and enlighten youths in the Emirate on the negative effects of all the social vices most especially the serious dangers embedded in drugs abuse. I reawaken them from their giant sleep to, discover that they are the present leaders we need.

My brother you can see that I am a full blown military Man and full blown civilian Man. To answer your question properly I want to tell you that I love to be in a committee that has to do with security in the national assembly where I can fit in

boosting the socio-economic development of the country.

“Besides, President Jonathan had transformed the education, agriculture, economic, health, judicial, commercial sectors, the electoral system, among others.

“His transformation agenda had touched and improved the lives of every Nigerians positively. Nigerians have seen what the PDP government had done in terms of establishing and equipping secondary and tertiary education, creating job opportunities, provision of infrastructural facilities, tackling insecurity and , prompt payment of workers’ salaries,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CONTINUED on PAGE 10

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

MURTALA NYAKO:

We have serious challenge about insecurity in North East CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

an added advantage to help you meet people’s needs. Everybody needs those qualities to succeed in whatever thing one’s is doing.

Now that i have the traditional structure as Sarkin Matasa and the new office as a senator,I have to marry the two in a more organised way to help my people

to pass laws and bills that can tackle the issue of insecurity which has been a big challenge to our government; insurgency had badly affected my immediate constituency. I will work hand-in-hand with my serving friends in the Navy who presently are wearing the ranks of Brigadier to cut off all the problem of insurgencies in Nigeria especially the north east.

You dedicated the success of the past election to your father, attributing it as victory for a Adamawa people. Does it mean you are placing your father first before the people of Adamawa central?

Many people will tend to get it wrong. I am trying to appreciate my father for being the best father in the whole world. I know if my father today were a labourer or a wood hewer, he will still be a good father. My father had done so much for me. Since I was young, he made sure he allows you to do what you are doing to the best of your knowledge. I remembered when I passed out from Nigerian Defence Academy and needed him to around to decorate me with my rank but he refused saying: ‘my son you did alone, I was not there; you got all the praises from me. I thank God I was not knelling down to beg you to do that. From that day, I realised my father does not interferes with your choice of life or whatever you are doing, all he says is to be the best you can in whatever thing you are doing.

I am trying to let you understand that my father is out of the game in this my new assignment. Thank God the people of Adamawa central voted me without him being around that some would even say he influenced my

PDP will bounce back – BoT Secretary

How did you see your contest with a female opponent?

I thank God for A’ishatu Binani, she gave me a good fight.

In fact, I respect her for the good policies, pet projects and she is maintaining a good working relationship with the electorate.

Binani is a big name in our senatorial zone. I came to discover that she is more of a sister to me only that along the line, we pitched our tents in different political platforms. With the kind of courage she has in politics, the sky is going to be her limit.

What exactly led to your arrest in Gombe by EFCC? Don’t worry, I am preparing for that, when the set time comes, I am going to expose my father enemies, my enemies and those behind my father’s impeachment.

Do you have plans of arresting your political enemies?

No! I cannot do that, I’ve left all things to God to vindicate me.

Murtal Nyako votes. Without him, the people spoke, so I owe them all it takes to bring change to the state.

Despite your discipline as a military man, you still look soft and gentle?

Laughter! Considering what I’m doing now, meeting people and listening to their complaints on a daily basis, some will hurt you and some will encourage you, and you still have to go along with them, so having a virtue of vegetable as a politician is

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

among others.

“In spite of the defeat our great party, PDP, suffered during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, losing the presidential seat to APC, PDP will not and will never die. It will continue to exist and we will win all po-

‘I love to be in a committee that has to do with security in the national assembly where I can fit in to pass laws and bills that can tackle the issue of insecurity which has been a big challenge to our government; insurgency had badly affected my immediate constituency.”

TERROR BID IN ABONNEMA:

My story, by Danagogo, Sports Minister

Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo has reacted to the ugly scene in Abonnema, Rivers State during last Saturday’s election, saying the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi should be held responsible.

In a statement, Danagogo who is also Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) berated Amaechi for fomenting trouble in the area and blaming him through the use of his propaganda machinery.

Text of his statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to the fact that Governor Amaechi, in his usual style of brazenly subverting truth and creating fictitious scenarios to cover up his crimes, has unleashed his hordes of dogs to deploy his huge propaganda machinery at the expense of Rivers peoples’ funds to stand the truth on its head and tarnish my reputation in order to cover up his failed attempt to unleash terror on Abonnema to coerce my kiths and kin to vote the APC. “The truth is that Amaechi hired and brought into Abonnema over 100 armed foreign thugs on Thursday night. My people woke up on Friday morning to notice the presence of these fierce looking strange thugs.

God gave our youths the presence of mind to come together to go and ask the thugs who they were. This attracted the police and army in the local Government Area.

“Upon being convinced of the criminally deadly mission of these thugs, the army arrested them with their arms and detained them at the army base for further interrogation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

sitions in future elections”, he stressed.

He had this to say about President Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded defeat to PAC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 presidential election: “For President Jonathan to accept defeat when he lost his second term presidential ambition to the All Progressives

Congress (APC) has accorded him great respect from all Nigerians and even from the international community.

“This shows that President Jonathan is a true democrat who has the interest of Nigerians at heart and we will continue to pray for him and other newly elected leaders, to enable them to succeed.”

Mu’azu

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

11 Politics

Opposition breaks 16-year-old jinx in Benue Former Minister of State for Trade and Industries, Dr. Samuel Ortom of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has been declared winner of the Benue State governorship election held on Saturday, breaking long years of jinks against the opposition in the state.

Returning Officer for the state, Prof. Istifinus Dafwang, said Ortom polled 422,932 votes to beat seven other contestants.

The results showed that Ortoms’s closest rival in the contest, Mr Terhemen Tarzoor of the PDP scored 313,878 votes, while Mr Caleb Abahnif of APGA had 649 votes, Mr Boniface Umele of ACPN polled 1,431 votes.

Others were, Mr Oglekwu Shadrack of APA, who polled 1,595 votes, William Ligom of the LP with 2,653, Helene Ode of NNPP scored 767 votes and Samuel Gar of SDP polled 589 votes.

The results, however, showed that the PDP would retain its dominance in the state legislature, having won a total of 15 seats as against 14 by the APC and one by the Labour Party.

APC had won two out of the three senatorial seats and a majority of the federal constituencies in the state.

Suswam This is the first time that the opposition is defeating an incumbent especially the progressives beating the conservatives

Ortom The victory came in spite of the overwhelming odds against his candidature in the Peoples PDP since the warped primaries

which made him to defect APC as well as different court cases to stop him.

Before his emergence as the

Danagogo refutes Amaechi’s allegations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

While this was ongoing, many APC stalwarts like Amaechi’s Commissioner for Urban Development - Mr Isobo Jack, and the Caretaker Chairman - Mr Fenibo M Jack made several representations and appeals to the army and police to release their thugs.

“When they failed, a call was put across to the governor to come to their aid to release their thugs. To our shock and chagrin, in less than an hour, the governor arrived the police station and was shamelessly barking orders at the DPO and Army Officers to release his thugs immediately.

“This show of shame by the governor right in front of the

police station in the full public glare attracted passersby, youths and others who took exception to his dismal conduct and revolted and started booing and cursing him for bringing thugs to destroy our peaceful community.

“He was thus forced to run out of the police station and out of the community in shame. By the time I heard what was happening and rushed to the station, I only saw him driving off.

“This forced the youths to insist that the army must mount road block at the community entrance to conduct stop and search to stop arms and foreign thugs from entering our peaceful community. The effort of the army in the stop and search, yielded immense dividends as

so many more foreign thugs were arrested with arms, while others turned back and ran away.”

“The said thugs and their arms were taken away and detained at Bori Camp (the PH Army Base). It is this divine intervention by God and the army that enabled the peaceful atmosphere that pervaded throughout the Saturday elections in Abonnema and frustrated Amaechi from causing his intended mayhem as he did in our neirbouring Buguma community.

“It is thus surprising that he rather went back to deploy his dogs to make this criminal attempt to kill the truth and tarnish my reputation”.

Danagogo

fifth democratically elected governor of Benue State, Chief Ortom served as the elected chairman Guma local government on the platform of Social Democratic Party, (SDP) from 1991-1993.

He later defected to the PDP and in 2000 he was elected State Secretary of the PDP from 2003 to 2006.

Chief Ortom also won the State Vice Chairman of the PDP in 2006 to 2007 before he was elected PDP National Auditor, a position he held until he was appointed Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

However, desirous of leading Benue, Chief Ortom resigned in February this year and joined the 2015 gubernatorial race on the platform of PDP but lost to Mr Terhemen Tarzoor during the December 2014 primaries.

Not deterred, Chief Ortom quickly defected to the leading opposition APC and was unanimously accepted as a consensus candidate.

Though there were the usual political grievances within the ranks and file of the APC but he overcame them and triumphantly emerged as the governor-elect.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

You took Boko Haram for granted, PDM tells Jonathan Augustine Aminu Abuja

ÏÏÏThe National Chairman of

Shettima

the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Alhaji Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, has blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for the escalation of the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast.

He also said Jonathan misread the insurgency as a religious war, rather than a product of the absence of good governance, poor leadership, misinterpretation of the teaching of Islam and poverty

in the north-east, as the main factors responsible for the crisis.

Bashir, who spoke while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja, on Sunday, on the 2015 general election, noted that the Boko Haram insurgency was not based on religion or directed to frustrate anybody’s political ambition, rather it was essentially a socio-economic problem that had religious complexion.

“Initially, President Jonathan’s understanding of the sect’s phenomenon emanated from the wrong perception and wrong imputation that actually plunged

the country into where it is today.”

“The worst situation is that it even took Jonathan more than three years to appreciate and understand that Boko Haram is a terrible mix of lack of education, misinterpretation of what Islam and the Quran teach and stand for,” the PDM boss declared.

According to him, today every aspects of the nation’s national life is riddled and engulfed in corruption, while the military had been politicised.

Bashir also regretted that corruption was one of the legacies of

Jonathan administration, adding that poverty, unemployment, injustice, gun trafficking, struggle against inequality and general poor governance became the order of the day.

The veteran journalist also spoke extensively on youth unemployment, the economy and leadership deficit, saying that gross domestic product (GDP) in the country did not reflect on the living condition of most people, regretting further the fact that government’s inability to protect the citizenry was largely responsible for the crisis in the north-east.

thing that has happened to Rivers State.

Its Chairman, Mr. George Ariolu, said the polls were peaceful, credible and acceptable to all. It, therefore, called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to accept the outcome of the election and give Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the needed support to move the state forward.

Ariolu said this had become necessary because President Goodluck Jonathan had already set the pace by congratulating Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of APC after the presidential elections.

In the same vein, KOWA Party, in Rivers State, has congratulated the PDP governor-elect, pledging that KOWA will give Wike all required support, while

his administration lasts. It has also called on the APC to follow suit to ensure peace in the state.

Also speaking the PDP Chairman in Obio/Akpo Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Aron Chukuemeka, thanked Rivers people for voting for PDP in the last elections, stressing that it had really shown the state was for the PDP and will remain so for a long time to come.

Fire guts Maiduguri market Group, KOWA laud Wike’s victory

ÏÏÏA section of Gamboru mar-

ket, in Maiduguri, Borno State, was on Sunday, gutted by fire, which destroyed about 50 shops and goods worth millions of Naira.

Some traders told the News Agency of Nigeria, in Maiduguri, that the fire started at about 3.00 a.m.

Mallam Mohammed Ibrahim, a leader in the market, said that he noticed thick smoke from the market during the early morning prayers around 5.00 a.m.

“We were at the mosque praying, when we saw thick smoke coming out from the market.

“But we could not get to the market immediately due to the prevailing curfew in the state,” he said.

He added that when the traders eventually got to the market in the morning, they discovered that the fire had destroyed several shops and goods worth millions of Naira.

“Nobody can say specifically the source of the fire, but some traders living close by said it started around 3.00 a.m,” Ibrahim said.

Another trader, Mallam Usman Kachalla, appealed to the state government to come to the assistance of the government by rebuilding their shops.

PDP sets up post-election assessment committee

Faith Faithful Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏThe

victory of Nyesom Wike, as governor-elect in the recent gubernatorial election in Rivers State has continued to elicit reactions from several quarters.

A group known as the New Rivers Vision, Obio/Akpo chapter, described the election as the best

Two die in well fetching water Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏTwo persons have died while

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (middle); Pro-Chancellor, Delta State University, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire (left) and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victor Peretomode during the 9th Convocation Ceremony of the university at its Abraka campus, … at the weekend

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party has set up a Post-Election Assessment Committee to review and evaluate the performance of the PDP Mu’azu

in the just concluded 2015 general elections and make recommendations for the repositioning of the party.

The fifteen-member committee has the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremade, as Chairman. Others are, Gov. Godswill Akpabio of

trying to fetch water at a well in Igbawere village, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Daily Times gathered that one of the deceased, student of Business Management, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Akojede Sodeeq, was trying to fetch water from the well when he fell into it.

It was gathered that an indigene, who tried to rescue Sodeeq, also lost his life in the process.

The well was said to be located beside the polytechnic’s permanent site.

Akwa Ibom State, Gov. T.A. Orji, of Abia State, Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State, with Sen. Walid Jibril, as secretary.

The committee is to be inaugurated on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

UN denies child sex abuse cover up in CAR

A French soldier talks to curious children as he mans a roadblock in the Miskine neighbourhood of Bangui, Central African Republic.

ÏÏÏThe

United Nations has denied covering up allegations of sexual abuse of children by French soldiers in the Central African Republic.

The organisation said a senior official suspected of leaking a

confidential report has been suspended for having breached rules aimed at protecting the young victims.

The U.N. Human Rights Office which gave the clarification said it is constrained on what to say

because two investigations are under way.

U.N. spokesman, Rupert Colville, said the first and most important investigation is being conducted by French authorities, adding that the probe into ex-

tremely serious allegations of sexual abuse of children by French soldiers in the Central African Republic was started last year on July 31.

“The allegations of what happened to these children are abhorrent," Colville said. "The details, contained in interviews with alleged victims and witnesses by U.N. investigators, including one of our staff last summer, are utterly odious,” he added.

The United Nations has a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse by its peacekeepers. It said the policy does not extend to the French force in CAR, which was not under the umbrella of the U.N. Fourteen soldiers reportedly were charged with demanding sexual favours from young boys in return for food. They were part of a larger French peacekeeping force sent to the CAR to help restore order after fighting erupted in December 2013. Soldiers from Chad and Equatorial Guinea also are implicated. The French ministry of defense said the sexual abuse of around 10 children, one as young as nine, reportedly took place at a center for internally displaced people near the airport of the capital, Bangui, between December 2013 and June 2014.

Thousands of migrants rescued at sea ÏÏÏ Nearly 3,700 migrants were

rescued from boats near the coast of Libya on Saturday and early on Sunday, the Italian coastguard said.

A spokesman said rescue operations were likely to continue throughout Sunday. All of those pulled from boats were taken to Italy.

Italian authorities said the migrants were rescued by Italian and French navy vessels in 17 separate operations.

At least 1,750 people have died

Kerry arrives in Kenya after years of estrangement ÏÏÏUS Secretary of State, John

Kerry, arrived in Kenya on Sunday for talks on security co-operation, ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to his late father's home country.

this year trying to cross the Mediterranean.

The number is a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014, when 96 people died. Many more migrants are expected to make the crossing as smugglers take advantage of calmer weather.

At an emergency meeting last month to discuss the crisis, European Union leaders said they would triple the funding for rescue operations run by EU border agency Frontex, and threatened to target smugglers' boats with mili-

tary strikes.

Rescued migrants arrived on the island of Lampedusa, southern Italy, on Saturday.

Italy abandoned its Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue mission last year after some EU members - including the UK - said they could not afford to fund it.

The decision was widely criticised in April after more than 800 people died when a single boat sank - the deadliest capsize recorded in the Mediterranean.

Some of the 27 survivors of the

accident described being beaten by smugglers in an attempt to load more migrants on to the boat.

The overloaded vessel crashed into a cargo ship shortly after leaving Libya, causing panic on board.

The dead were mostly Syrians, Eritreans, and Somalis - adults and children.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said "much more" needs to be done beyond the EU's current spending plans to tackle the migration crisis in the Mediterranean.

The trip to the east African nation is the first high-level visit since 2012, and comes after a year of tensions surrounding Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta being charged by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

The ICC has since abandoned the case against Kenyatta over his role in the 2007-2008 post-election violence, citing a lack of evidence and Kenya's failure to cooperate somewhat removing Kenyatta's pariah status.

An American State Department

official said: "We've had a long relationship with Kenya that goes back more than 50 years, and we have had continuous economic and cultural ties with the Kenyans, and this has never ended.

So this trip is not about making amends.

"It's about reinforcing and deepening the relationship that we have had with Kenya and it's also partially in preparation for President Obama's trip that's going to take place at the end of July."

Kerry arrived from Sri Lanka later on Sunday and leaves on

Tuesday, during which he will also meet Kenyatta.

The fight against Somalia's alQaeda-linked al- Shabab militants will feature high on the agenda.

Kerry

13 Africa Israel warns of attack against Jews in Tunisia

ÏÏÏ Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has heard of "concrete threats" of terror attacks against Jewish or Israeli targets in Tunisia.

The Tunisian government quickly denied the claims, saying no such threats existed.

A statement from Netanyahu's office said: "Information indicates that there are plans for terrorist attacks against Israelis or Jews in Tunisia."

But a senior official in the Tunisian interior ministry said: "We have nothing on that. There are no threats."

The threats are connected to the Lag BaOmer Jewish festival, which will be celebrated on May 7, Netanyahu's statement said.

It urged Jews not to visit Tunisia during the festival.

Thousands of pilgrims visit the tombs of famous rabbis for Lag BaOmer, including on Tunisia's holiday island of Djerba, where one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world still lives.

Ravalomanana freed from house arrest ÏÏÏMadagascar President Hery

Rajaonarimampianina says he is ending the house arrest of his predecessor, Marc Ravalomanana, as part of the Indian Ocean island's peace process.

The announcement came in a speech at a national reconciliation meeting organised by the nation's churches after the president said Ravalomanana had recognised "the legitimacy of the current government".

Ravalomanana, who was ousted in a 2009 coup, has been under house arrest in the northern town of Antsiranana (also known as Diego Suarez) since returning from exile in South Africa in October 2014.

National reconciliation is one of the main points of a road map brokered by the southern African regional bloc, SADC and signed by the feuding parties in 2011 to end political crises that have long plagued the country.

Former finance minister Rajaonarimampianina became president in elections held in 2013.

That vote was designed to resolve chronic instability that brought international isolation and wrecked the Malagasy economy.

World 14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Taliban offensive forces thousands from homes

Wedding guests electrocuted in Pakistan ÏÏÏA

Pakistani police officer says eight members of a wedding party died when metal dowry furniture strapped to the bus they were travelling in struck a power line.

Police officer, Irshad Ali, said the bus carrying the wedding party home in the southern Sindh province on Sunday caught fire after striking the cable and crashed into a tree.

He said six women, a man and a child died from electrocution and more than 20 others were treated for burns and minor injuries.

Such incidents are not uncommon in Pakistan, where drivers routinely ignore traffic laws.

A general view of the Taliban office in Doha, Qatar

ÏÏÏ

Afghan officials say fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban insurgents in northern Afghanistan has forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

Meher Khuda Sabar, an official in the Refugee and Repatriation Ministry, said on Sunday about 2,000 families had been displaced since the Taliban launched a surprise attack near the city of Kunduz nine days ago.

Sabar, who heads the ministry's internal displacement depart-

ment, said fighting in villages around Kunduz had forced people into the city.

The Afghan military has rushed reinforcements to Kunduz. NATO troops are present in an advisory and training capacity.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has urged Afghanistan’s Taliban to cease its annual spring offensive and instead engage in peace talks with the Kabul government. The statement to VOA by a top Pakistani official comes as Afghan and Taliban officials together with other

13 killed in Baghdad bombing

Syrian peace talks kick off in Geneva

ÏÏÏA

police colonel said at least 13 people were killed and 39 wounded in a car bomb facing a popular restaurant in the Karrada area.

Karrada is packed with shops and restaurants and would have been busy on Saturday night, which marks the end of the weekend in Iraq.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes after a series of similar bombings in the capital.

Eleven people were killed and more than 40 wounded in a wave of car bomb attacks on Thursday and another nine were killed in two car bombings in Baghdad on Monday. The Islamic State jihadist group claimed it had carried out those attacks.

ÏÏÏMeetings

between Syria’s warring factions and the U.N.’s Syria envoy begin this week in the latest bid to kick-start stalled negotiations to end the country’s four-year-old civil war.

The talks will last from four to six weeks and will be held at mostly ambassadorial and expert level.

U.N. Syria Envoy Staffan de Mistura will hold separate indepth consultations with each of the parties on the dire situation in Syria. U.N. spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, said de Mistura will take stock of their views on reopening peace talks based on the 2012 so-called Geneva communiqué.

One of the points in this accord involves a commitment to form a transitional government.

“Everybody involved in the Syria tragedy, whether they are regional players, whether they are neighbours, whether they

stakeholders have gathered in Qatar for an unofficial dialogue.

Representatives of the Talibanled warring factions, government peace negotiators and Afghan peace activists are among the delegates attending the two-day “open discussions” in Qatar’s capital, Doha.

Officials in Pakistan said they are "anxiously awaiting” the outcome of the talks, and the country is fully supportive of any effort aimed at seeking a peaceful end to the conflict in neighbour-

are P5 members are invited. We are starting, the Special Envoy, of course, is starting with the Syrians, both government and opposition and will also be meeting the stakeholders I just mentioned, regional and international, separately, separately low key, low profile,” he stated.

Invitees reportedly include the United States, Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. However, Fawzi noted that the militant groups, Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, have not been invited

Staffan

ing Afghanistan.

Pakistan has long been accused of fueling the insurgency in Afghanistan by secretly supporting the Taliban and allowing it to use Pakistani territory for planning and executing its attacks against Afghan government installations and U.S.-led foreign forces.

However, Islamabad has, for the first time last week, denounced the “spike in violence” stemming from the Taliban spring offensive, saying peace and reconciliation is the only solution to end war.

because they are classified as terrorist organisations. But, he added people who have relationships with these groups and can communicate with them will be at the meeting.

The talks are not off to an auspicious start. They follow two previous rounds of failed peace talks – Geneva I and II. De Mistura is the third special envoy to tackle this intractable conflict. He faces an even more daunting task than his predecessors in his reach for a political solution.

If anything, the political climate and catastrophic humanitarian situation has gotten worse.

As Syria enters its fifth year of war, international agencies report more than 220,000 people have been killed and more than half the country’s population of 22 million is displaced both within and outside the country.

Death toll rises in Australian floods

ÏÏÏThe death toll from heavy

rains that inundated Australia's east coast has climbed to six, as flood warnings continued on Sunday following a severe deluge that cut power to thousands of homes and isolated numerous communities.

The eastern states of Queensland and New South Wales faced a huge clean-up task ahead, but conditions will apparently ease following days of stormy weather.

"Never before have we seen such a huge volume of rain drop in such a short period of time," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

A six-year-old boy became the sixth storm victim when he was swept away by rough seas at a beach on Saturday, police and surf lifesavers said.

The boy was walking along South Ballina beach with his father and older brother when he was pulled into the ocean by stormy waters, according to the surf lifesavers.

Police said he was rescued by fishermen and flown to a nearby hospital, where he died.

Five people, including a fiveyear-old boy, also lost their lives on Friday when two 4-wheel-drive vehicles were caught in flash flooding in Caboolture about 44km north of Brisbane.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

15 Opinion

The Yemi Osinbajo many do not know

B

Justice I.A. Umezulike

y profuse printed and oral utterances, so much had been said about General Muhammadu Buhari’s cleanliness, incorruptibility, Spartan lifestyle and unswerving mission and vision for Nigeria. The personality of General Buhari had eclipsed or dwarfed the entire APC political formation.

But not many Nigerians know that Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN possesses the above qualities and attributes in sufficient measure. He has in the past four decades maintained exceptional clean living and clean thinking. He is highly dedicated to the Nigerian cause and dream.

Above all he is an outstanding intellectual and legal genius. He took his professorial chair of the highly rated Faculty of Law, University of Lagos at a comparatively tender age. He also took the silk (the Senior Advocate of Nigeria) at a fairly very young

age.

He anchored the international conferences that led to the establishment of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Road Safety Commission and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Professor Yemi Osinbajo “It is fairly difficult to discern any pattern in policy formulation and legislation on the drug problem and this is hardly surprising. Law making in this area has always been a direct response to prevailing public opinion and exigencies of the time. Thus drug laws have been variously made on the premise that a social problem of drug use exists”.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo also spearheaded the unification of the criminal laws and procedure of Northern and Southern Nigeria. This project was awaiting the signature of former Presi-

dent Ibrahim Babangida before he stepped aside in 1993. It is disheartening that some curious officials at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, have now appropriated the authorship of that project to themselves.

He has also documented and published a widely acclaimed comprehensive Nigerian Customary Laws.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN appeared before us at the Failed Banks Tribunal, Lagos Zone from 1997 to 1999. The Judges including the writer can readily bear tribute that his oratory, elocution and presentations were exemplary.

In fact his strong sweep of thought and wonderful dialectics in court place him in the league of legal grandmasters like late Chief Rotimi Williams SAN, Late Chief Clement Obiora Akpamgbo SAN and Professor A. B. Kasumu SAN. As Attorney General of Lagos State, Professor Osinbajo recommended and saw through, the implementation of a welfare

package for Judges of Lagos State High Court, far higher and better than those enjoyed by Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He is very urbane, decorous, humble and highly respectful. He had remained religious and unspoilt notwithstanding rapid successes.

In 1991 he co-edited an epic work entitled “Democracy and the Law”. It is my surmise that the book would now come to him handy as he begins the enormous and onerous business of democratic governance and the strengthening of democratic institutions in Nigeria.

Evidently in Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, General Muhammadu Buhari has a soul-mate and a dependable comrade in the task of ensuring that Nigeria no longer staggers. I can testify that a sip of executive powers will never produce intoxication in him.

May Day: Beyond the rite of eulogy

A Gabriel Osamwonyi

s existential ordeals keep challenging the optimism of Nigerian workers, we may likely be the last group of people to agree with Charles Dickens’ rosy view of the world: “Time is rolling for an end, and the world is, in all great essentials, better, gentler, more forbearing and more hopeful, as it rolls.” We are more likely to agree with Francis Fukuyama; “History has ended.”

In fact, we dramatise what he calls “deep historical pessimists.”

All is not well with Nigerian workers. We live in hovels, work in sweatshops, drive rattletraps, wear second-hand clothes, we eat rice without meat, get health care from rundown hospitals, and our children are frequently sent out of schools due to late payment of tuition.

Everything about the Nigerian worker says the wages of honest labour is misery. Nothing about her speaks of the dignity of labour. If not, how can we explain it that our national minimum wage is less than £100, which is the estimated amount an average dog owner in U.K spends monthly on the upkeep of his dog.

It is evident that Nigerian workers are not acquainted with middleclass securities and privileges. Family vacations, social security, health

insurance, and access to mortgage loans; are otherworldly luxuries we cannot think of enjoying.

Nigerian workers are transitory poor. We are one paycheque away from poverty. Strangely, we are aliens to the worlds of the haves and have-nots. We have cars, but cannot afford to fuel them. The melancholy of emptiness greets us, when we open our refrigerators.

Nigerian wage earners are intellectually malnourished. We burn off on the treadmill of survival, dissipating creative energies in pursuits of the mundane. Our austere plight causes a form of mental and ethical hemorrhage, which makes it extremely hard for us to transcend ordinariness.

How many workers struggling with issues of bread and butter can regularly buy books in order to relish the joys of learning, cultivate higher ideals, and expand their vistas of reality? Rather, within our ranks are lovers of certificates, but loathers of knowledge, fond of obtaining higher degrees not to enhance their efficiency quotient, but to brighten their chances for plum political appointments.

Sadly, no society can attain enduring greatness, if it is hostile to the inner life of its working class. A society that cannot create a climate of thought that says; “Let the imagination rule”, “Innovate or die” is bound to regress to the backwaters

of civilisation.

In many circles, Nigerian workers are not revered as creators of wealth, enablers of national development, and agents of social harmony. Rather, we are largely seen as economic parasites, degraders of public morality, and the scum of the earth.

Nigerian workers, particularly, those in the civil service are treated like social stigma. When a civil servant speaks intelligently in highbrow intellectual or public fora, people are attracted to him like bees to honey. But that is before he answers the popular question, “what do you do?” If he says, “I am a civil servant” his would-be-friends will recoil, acting as if he emitted psycho-repellents.

Before our voice of conscience was stifled by grave ethical lapses, we embodied the spirit of progressive activism. Colonialism was defeated because of the principled fight of labour unions. During military rule, we were at the vanguard of the crusade for the restoration of democratic governance. In addition, our ethical agitation exorcised the evil spirit of third term from our land. However, today, labour unions cannot conduct credible elections, void of factional squabbles.

A look at the percentage distribution of Nigeria’s labour force by occupation suggests our economy needs overhauling. Seventy

percent of economically active Nigerians are in the agricultural sector, yet we have not attained food security. Nigeria’s food import bill is about $4.3 billion annually, which is a significant reduction from $7 billion, in recent years. While 10m percent are in industry and 20 percent in services.

Attempting to transform Nigeria without restoring the dignity of labour is counterproductive. It is insane for us to loathe the fruits of honest labour, celebrate ill-gotten wealth, and simultaneously fight corruption. Corruption cannot be uprooted, when most of the economically active population is paupers.

When our lifestyles become expressive of deep ethical convictions, and we no longer face the dilemma of a hungry monk tasked with keeping watch over a bakery, then corruption will be non-prevalent.

For the Nigerian worker there is no paradise. We have no hope of a glorious material future. We are suffering from a crisis of hopelessness, a collective depression. As long as this crisis endures it is an affront on our sensibilities for political actors and unionists to unleash torrents of graveside-like eulogies on us every Labour Day. Nigeria’s greatness may remain in limbo, if the promise of a future is not restored to her most enterprising class. Low salaries ruin the moral and material basis of enduring national progress.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

At Acorn Petroleum, we remain committed to delivering unrivaled products and services to our customers. Acorn Petroleum Plc., your new energy

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Business Times Comatose steel mill, key to industrialisation – NLC Charles Okonji The moribund Ajaokuta Steel Mill has been described by the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as critical to the resurgence of industrialisation in the country.

Consequently the Union has appealed to the incoming administration of President – Elect Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to inject life back to the Mill on assumption of office.

NLC on Friday made the appeal in Abuja, during the Workers’ Day celebration vowing to hold the incoming government accountable for campaign promises made to Nigerians and workers in particular.

The 2015 May Day celebration had the theme: ``The Working

Class, Democratic Consolidation and Economic Revival: Charting the Way to National Rebirth’’.

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, urged the incoming administration to revive the Ajaokuta Steel complex, stressing that the edifice was conceived to be the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrialisation programme. ``Unfortunately, our political class has refused to accept the simple truth that no country can truly industrialise without iron and steel industry. ``The fate of Aladja, Osogbo, Jos and Katsina steel rolling mills post privatisation is too grim to recall here.’’

Wabba advised the government which is to be inaugurated on May 29, to view development from the prism of tapping into the abun-

dant economic potential offered by the entrepreneurial drive of Nigerians.

He said that resources were locked up in the soil and that any country ``subserviently’’ reliant on importation, was only exporting jobs.

Buhari

s

17

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

Tony Nwakaegho Aminat Ibrahim, the President of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEC), on Friday assured Nigerians of improved power supply after the ongoing projects are completed.

Ibrahim told reporters in Abuja that there were many projects initiated by the present administration that would improve the supply of power.

She said that the present service charge by PHCN was not high compared to what was obtainable in other parts of the world, adding that the service charge was just for 15 days. `` We bill for only 15 days because we know that Nigerians do not use light for 24hrs in a day. ``The high rate Nigerians are complaining about is not true, if

Electricity union assures Nigerians of stable power supply you look at our rate in billing. We bill people for 15 days because we know that people don’t use light for 24 hrs in a day. ``If we look at the intention of privatisation, we will see that it is a good one and we are trying to see how we can service the nation for 24 hours. `` We know it will take time but Nigerians want that to happen immediately.

“There is a lot of investment that is going on now that by the time all the projects are concluded you will see a positive change in the electricity situation.,’’ she said.

ITF stresses youths’ involvement in economic development Emmanuel Ogbonnaya With a gaping deficit in employable youths across the country, the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Dr Mrs Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, has stressed the need for youths to acquire skills and entrepreneurship trainings that would boost their productivity and aggregate contribution to national development.

Onaeko urged trainees under the Industrial Training Fund, (ITF’s) training programmes to brace up and live up to the high academic and performance standards expected of them, in order for them to excel in their fields of endeavour.

ITF maintained that it remains committed to its objectives of producing middle and high level skilled manpower that will drive the nation’s economy forward, through the provision of global standards; technical and vocational education that will eradicate unemployment, particularly amongst youths.

Highlighting how the fund was initiating proactive measures to achieve its mandate, Dr Chukkas-

Onaeko, said students under its training programmes were challenged to imbibe knowledge provided by the fund, and take charge of leading the nation and the continent into an era of sustainable economic development.

She said the vision of economic leadership on the continent by the country can only be achieved when adequate attention and commitment is shown by all stakeholders in the quest to imbibe the nation’s youths with continuous training vocational and technical training knowledge that can create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for them and other citizens.

The ITF DG noted that while Nigerian students have excelled in various technical and vocational opportunities around the world, it was important for those getting the benefits of the world class training that the Fund provides in Nigeria, to make the most of it, become entrepreneurs and contribute to the development of the economy.

Warning the students against external and internal influences and activities that are capable of derailing their goals in life, she

urged the beneficiaries of the funds training opportunities to consider themselves opportune, considering that ITF’s graduates still remain “hot cakes” as far as employment, job creation and entrepreneurship in the nation’s industrial sector was concerned.

According to her, the leadership of the ITF has remained focused in meeting the critical manpower needs to the country, despite the challenges and high cost of providing vocational and technical trainings that meets world class standards.

She assured students undergoing skills acquisition training that the agency remains committed to providing effective training for qualified Nigerian students, irrespective of their background, adding excellence and high standards will continue to define the activities of the fund.

Pointing out some of the challenges the fund was grappling with as inherited challenges, the ITF DG urged some of its students that raised concerns over the elongated stay in the skills acquisition centre to remain calm, saying that the challenge

Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko

of securing more equipment for the centre was already being addressed by the agency, and that the students should focus on acquiring skills that would make them employers of labour after their graduation.

Arrangements for graduation of the affected students, she

added, are already in place, while calm and learning has also commenced. Adequate security and protection of students, she added, is also ensured.

We will hold incoming govt. accountable to promises, say NLC, TUC

Aviation18

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Flight cancellations: Passengers stranded at airports

DHL cargo

Nigeria lacks dedicated cargo airliner – Expert Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Executive Vice President Greater Washington Limited (GWL), Mr Owolabi Awosan, has said that one of the challenges faced by the company is that there is no dedicated aircraft for domestic air cargo logistics business in the country.

Awosan, who said this in Lagos while speaking on the activities of GWL and the challenges faced by the company in the course of carrying out its business, also informed that over 50 per cent of cargo coming into Nigeria are carried by international airlines.

He explained that unlike international routes that have dedicat-

ed aircraft for air cargo logistics such as Cargolux and Lufthansa Cargo, the domestic routes do not have that, as the same aircraft that fly passengers also carry cargoes in their under bellies .

He also explained that another challenge is the lack of airplanes with big under belly that can transport large amount of cargo at a go, adding that the absence of awareness about air cargo logistics is a challenge to the operators in the business.

Awosan stated that in view of these challenges, GWL is using the media and social media to create awareness for Nigeria to embrace air cargo logistics business.

He pointed out that with this ongoing awareness Nigeria will soon

discover that air cargo logistics is relatively cheaper, faster and safer compared to transporting cargo by any other means of transportation.

The executive Vice President argued that with air cargo logistics, the pilfering of cargo often experienced in road transport is eliminated, adding that in air cargo logistics integrity is the bedrock of the business and what is paramount is the passengers on board and assets.

On the possibility of customers tracking their air cargo at any point in time, Awosan said that it can be done using the company’s online real time According to him, “Through our “online real time” solution

which caters to tracking of consignments, incident reporting and delivery mandates; we can keep track of goods sent through our channels from their point of origin to destination which helps to minimize associated supply chain risks”.

The Executive Vice President explained that GWL is a subsidiary of Greater Group and a 2nd, 3rd and 4th party logistics company in Nigeria with core competence in supply chain management, air cargo services and custom clearing and handling, adding that presently Greater Washington is the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Turkish Airlines, Discovery Air, Aero, the cargo consolidator for Dana and Medview Airlines.

Airport police readies personnel for ICAO security audit Ahead of the international Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) security audits scheduled to be carried out on Nigeria airports in June this year, the Nigeria Police (NP) has organised a seminar to sensitise its personnel at Airport Police Command on optimal policing of the aviation sector.

Speaking at the two day seminar, with the theme, “Improving the Aviation Industry through Optimum Development of its Security Personnel”, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, the Commissioner of Police,

Airport Command, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, said that the forum was meant to upscale up the competence of the policemen attached to the aviation sector in carrying out their duties within the sector.

Gimba described the seminar as all-encompassing because it touched on topics such as crime prevention, procedure and team building, as tools to accomplish organisational goals.

The CP told participants that the seminar was meant to scale up their competence in carrying out their duties within the aviation sector bearing in mind too,

the need to prepare for retirement days.

She explained that retirement plan was incorporated into the seminar because of its prospect in enhancing performance.

According to her, “The primary aim of this seminar is to scale up the participants competences in carrying out their duties within the aviation sector. To further embellish this workshop, the issue of pre-retirement preparations is also of critical importance because of its prospects in enhancing performance”.

Gimba said that aviation sec-

tor is a highly specialised industry, multifaceted and a multiagency environment, which demands for collaboration and cooperation in order to form a synergy that would ensure seamless operational environment for optimum performance.

The CP said it was on the basis of this that Nigeria Police Force thought it wise to sensitise, brush up and update the skills of security personnel in the airport environment using seminar to meet up with their mandate especially as Nigeria prepares to face ICAO audits.

Thousands of passengers remained stranded at airports across the country as airlines were unable to get aviation fuel to fly their aircrafts.

Domestic carriers were either cancelling flights or delaying them for some hours.

But, foreign carriers were not affected by the scarcity of aviation fuel as they sourced their fuel from neighbouring countries.

Investigations carried out

by Daily Times at the Murtala Muhammed Airports in Lagos showed that getting aviation fuel by airlines has become a nightmare.

Passengers have continued to lament over their ordeals at the airport, as they spend the whole day at the airport waiting to get flights to their destinations.

Mr Ikem Aselm Chukwu, a Port Harcourt bound passenger told Daily Times that his 9:30 am flight finally left Lagos at 5:30pm after waiting a whole day at the airport.

He said government needed to get the nation out of the current economic downturn especially in the aviation sector.

As a result of this development, most airlines have continued to either cancel their flights or reschedule without giving reasons for their actions, while passengers groan in anticipation that their flights will be called for boarding.

Investigations also revealed that some Nigeria airlines operating regional flights were getting their fuel from neighbouring countries, but the situation seemed to have gotten out of hand as it has become increasingly difficult to get fuel there.

Foreign airlines were however not adversely affected by the scarcity as international flights operations continued to boom.

The Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria AON Capt Nogie Meggison described the scarcity as a painful government issue which was killing their business.

Meggison

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

19 Money

Lafarge Africa records 20% leap in Q1 profit

Mr. Guillaume Roux, Group MD/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc.

Adesola Akindele In spite of the general elections, market uncertainty and keen competition in the cement/construction sector, Lafarge Africa Friday announced a profit after tax of N8.621 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 from N7.202 billion in the same period 2014 and N14.6 billion cash from its operations.

Mr. Olusegun Osunkeye; Chairman, Board of Directors, making the announcement at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, stated that the company has delivered a good performance in spite of the general elections and market uncertainty.

The cement industry which has experienced immense growth over the past few years saw Lafarge Africa record a revenue

of N57 billion in the first quarter of 2015, which is 15 per cent higher than the preceding year of around N48 billion.

Mr. Guillaume Roux; Group Managing Director of the company stated that the company achieved stability in its operations, marked by solid performance. According to him, the consolidation of our businesses and expansion projects presents an excellent foundation for future growth.

“Our management team is fully mobilised to deliver operational excellence whilst also leveraging on the strength of the Lafarge Group,’’ he said.

Mr. Olusegun Osunkeye, noted that the company expanded in the quarter to commence aggregate business in the country through a Nigerian Ready Mix business. He explained that it is a remarkable

step for the company in achieving its objectives of delivering innovative and quality building solutions.

The statement released said that the board of directors of the company granted approval for a Mandatory Tender Offer to all qualifying shareholders of Ashaka Cement Plc in 2014.

“Consequently, the Tender Offer is now concluded and regulatory approval has been obtained for the approval of the shares transferred”. Lafarge Africa ownership stake in Ashaka Cement has increased to 82.46 per cent from 58.61 per cent. We expect final regulatory approval in the coming weeks.

Mr. Guillaume Roux pointed out that Unicem had a strong operational performance, with very solid volumes and the company generated the strongest profit margin in the group. However, he added, the operation was affected by the devaluation of the Naira, which resulted in N8.0 billion Unrealized Exchange Losses, posted in the first quarter.

Mr. Guillaume Roux added that the company expects cement demand to increase in both Nigeria and South Africa in 2015. Which he attributed to the increasing needs for housing and infrastructures in Nigeria and the presence of cash flow from South Africa.

On the future outlook, “2015 stands to be an interesting year and we are very confident about future performance. The underlying growth trend in our sales reflects the huge market opportunities for cement sales and other business lines such as Ready-Mix and Aggregates”.

Nnorom

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp); a publicly quoted conglomerate with a diversified shareholder base of over 300,000 investors, has released impressive financial results for its first quarter ended 31 March 2015.

The Group which had IPO challenges at the Nigerian Stock Exchange late last year declared a Group Profit After Tax (“PAT”) for the period under review of N2.19 billion while the PAT for the company increased from a loss position of N626.75 billion in 2013 to N687.74 billion.

The Group posted a Profit Before Tax (“PBT”) of N2.57bn for the period while the company made a profit before tax of N761.35 million compared to the Loss before Tax of N573.95 million in 2013.

Revenue for the Group stood at N9.92 billion which represents a slight drop of 5% from Q1 2014 results of N10.54 billion. The company’s revenue increased by 39% to N736 million from N528 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.

Total assets for the Group grew

Transcorp declares N2.19bn first quarter PAT by 3 per cent from N170.76billion for full year 2014 to N176.32billion for the first quarter ended 31 March 2015. The company’s total assets also grew by 3per cent from N54.24billion for full year 2014 to N55.92bilion for the first quarter ended 31 March 2015.

Commenting on the results, the President and Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp, Emmanuel Nnorom said “Transcorp performed relatively well in this first quarter despite headwinds faced by our power business. Acute gas shortages have limited our production capacity while margins are depressed by delayed implementation of MYTO 2.1 tariffs despite increased gas prices,” he said.

He continued: “The commencement of operations by the bulk trader and improvement of the security of gas pipelines will drive recovery in Q2 2015. In addition, our hotel business is expected to benefit from improving security and political outlooks in the second quarter to provide an enabling platform to achieve its occupancy targets.”

Contributory Pension: PenOp tasks employers on registration Godwin Anyebe

Oranye

In a bid to commemorate the worker’s Day in Nigeria, the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, PenOp has urged all employers to join the contributory pension scheme to secure a future for employees on retirement.

PenOp, which provides financial security in retirement, is of the view that employees deserve to be looked after and for the employees to be productive enough to grow the business, the employer has to put their future and wellbeing into consideration

by providing them with pension.

Speaking during the May Day celebration at the Onikan Stadium Lagos, Susan Oranye, Executive Secretary, PenOp said the essence of the operators’ involvement in the May Day celebration is to celebrate the Nigerian worker, celebrate the hard work that Nigerians go through every day and to encourage them to prepare for the future.

“As you work very hard today, you must remember that there will be a time when you can’t work as hard as you work today.

When you retire and your salary stops coming in, you will

still need to cater for some other needs. That is the essence of having a pension,” she explained.

According to her, “the contributory pension scheme, which has existed for about 11 years, has recorded huge success. They have paid almost 260billion to retirees from the inception to March 2015.

As at last year, we had 5.5million contributors in the contributory pension scheme, it has gone up by 6.4million and we have just ended the first quarter.”

While speaking on workers in the informal sector, she noted that the informal sector contributes to the bulk of the Nigerian

economy which cannot be ignored adding that there has to be a framework that caters for the uniqueness of the informal sector.

In this regard, she assured that the National pension Commission and PenOp are collaborating and working very hard on a framework that will accommodate the informal sector, so that everybody who works will have the opportunity to set up a retirement savings account. The framework is being discussed among the operators, stakeholders and the National Pension Commission.

ICT 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Nigeria to host Huawei West Africa Cloud Congress Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider’s congress dubbed ‘Cloud Congress West Africa’ has been scheduled to hold in Nigeria.

The meaning of Cloud is transforming from islands of virtualisation to fully interconnected cloud. This goes with challenges that requires IT infrastructure which are Open, Fusion and able to deliver the Ultimate Experience for your business.

President, Huawei West Africa Mr. Peng Song, described the

Huawei Cloud Congress West Africa (Lagos) Summit 2015, as one of the largest Cloud and IT summits dedicated to showing participants how Huawei’s devotion to make IT simple and make business agile to improve their business results.

“Together with our partners, Huawei will demonstrate complete horizontal ICT solutions, including solutions for cloud computing, green data centres, servers, Converged storage and more”, he said.

He added that Huawei experts

are ready to listen to organisations’ ideas and share their (Huawei) insights on industry trends, challenges, solutions, cooperation models, after-sales services, and consulting services.

“We are ready to host breakaway meetings to discuss your concerns in depth. We would be delighted to have you present in the conference to listen to your concerns and challenges as well as to share with you our visions and trends,” Song said.

Huawei cloud computing solution incorporates conver-

gence in the horizontal, vertical, access, and data contexts. It reshapes the IT infrastructure of conventional data centres, helping enterprises to simplify management and create business value.

For instance, Huawei FusionSphere cloud operating system incorporates the virtualization platform FusionCompute and cloud management software FusionManager, implements unified operation and management of the IT infrastructure.

Song

Airtel CEO urges spectrum, broadband implementation

Telecoms

More local ICT firms on verge of collapse Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) on Saturday called for a protectionist policy for small and medium indigenous ICT enterprises, noting that if nothing was done, more of them would collapse.

The President of ATCON, Mr Lanre Ajayi, gave the advice in Lagos, stressing that many small and medium enterprises in the ICT industry had gone under in the past years.

Ajayi said that threats to the surviving ones might eventually lead to their deaths if nothing was done.

He said that the association would hold a session to articulate the threats and challenges to the industry with a view to presenting a well-articulated

document to the government on ways forward.

According to him, the association has to rise to the occasion and the only way to address those challenges is to push for a strong policy and stronger regulation for the industry. ‘’Many companies are having challenges; even the big ones.

Everybody is expressing concern that the environment is becoming volatile. ‘’There is unfair competition from foreign players which is unfavourable to the indigenous small ICT companies,’’ he said.

Ajayi lamented a situation whereby big operators, who offered wholesale services, were also competing with the small and medium operators at the retail level.

He gave an instance of some cable companies that sold band-

widths to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and at the same time were selling megabytes directly to consumers.

According to him, the cable companies even sell at prices at which retailers cannot compete.

The ATCON President said that these small and medium indigenous ICT companies were the ones providing jobs and adding value to the economy, hence, the government must ensure their protection.

He called for a level playing field for local and foreign companies in the industry to survive. ‘’While ATCON is not against foreign players coming to the industry, the government must put in place policies that would ensure their operations do not strangulate local operators,’’ he said.

The Managing Director and chief executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya said that Nigeria’s telecom market is expected to grow in leaps and bounds if there is release of spectrum and improved broadband implementation from the present 78 per cent mobile penetration as at December 2014.

Ogunsanya made this assertion at the recent Businessday CEO’s Forum held in Lagos, while speaking on the theme ‘Nigerian Telecoms Industry: Five Years Ahead,’ adding that the broadband adoption is also set to increase as demand for more stable internet grows from the residential and business segments with more revenue expected from about 47 million subscriptions between December 2014 and December 2019.

The Airtel’s helmsman explained that the strong growth is expected from mobile financial services over the forecasting period and operators should ensure they are able to offer products to the large unbanked population of Nigeria, whilst growing demand for mobile apps and e-commerce will have a positive knock-on effect on mobile operators.

He opined that Nigeria with a large population and rising income positions stand as one of the most attractive destinations for investment on the African continent.

According to him, Nigeria still has unexploited massive bandwidth capacity from the four undersea cables which would have provided opportunities to both domestic and international investors to take advantage of the growing broadband and data industry.

He, however, noted those key issues which include spectrum availability and adequacy, Government commitment to the Na-

tional Broadband Plan (NBPlan), tackling the monster of multipletaxation, reliable and cost-effective power supply, protection of telecoms infrastructure from vandalism and resolving restrictions on telco activity in mobile money must be urgently resolved for the Nigerian telecoms industry to reach its full market potential.

He commended the NCC for making inroads towards spectrum availability and adequacy, stressing that there is an urgent need to expedite the release / award of frequency to operators due to explosive growth in mobile data traffic.

Ogunsanya lamented the incident of multiple-taxation across the three ties of government and their agencies leading to revenue loss from idle or shut down base stations and network vandalism for the industry.

He disclosed that two per cent to three per cent of Nigeria’s sites are affected by arbitrary shutdown and vandalism at any given point in time with an estimated operating costs and lost revenue costs around N9billion each year to the telecoms industry or about N20bilion if most of the arbitrary fees in some key states are upheld.

Ogunsanya

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

s

Cartoons from our Archives

1894 A riot breaks out in Haymarket Square What begins as a peaceful labour protest in Haymarket Square in Chicago, Illinois, turned into a riot, leaving more than 100 wounded and 8 police officers dead. After Chicago authorities arrested and detained nearly every anarchist and socialist in town, eight men, who were either speaker in or organizers of the protest, were charged with murder.

The day before the riot, a couple of people were killed and others were wounded in an unprovoked attack by police officers firing into a crowd of striking workers at the nearby McCormick Reaper Works.

Despite tension the following day, the crowd at Haymarket Square was listening quietly to speakers advocating a mandatory eight-hour workday for employees. As the final speaker was winding the rally down, police officers forced their way toward the stage to disperse

1948

the crowd, provoking someone to throw a bomb into the crowd.

After the explosion, officers began firing wildly in all directions, inciting a riot among protestors. About sixty police officers were wounded and eight died. Although the public was later led to believe that the deaths resulted from the bomb, seven of the eight fatalities and the great majority of the injuries were caused by shots fired by fellow officers during the confusion.

Despite the lack of evidence linking the eight anarchists to the bomb, Chicago authorities clamped down on the radicals with the full support of the public. The defendants were widely believed to be guilty before the trial began. In fact, jury selection at the trial took a full 21 days. Not a single juror was accepted in the first eight days because virtually every one was convinced that the defendants were guilty.

Daily Times May 4, 1961

Norman Mailer’s first novel, The Naked and the Dead, is published

Twenty-five-year-old Norman Mailer’s first novel, The Naked and the Dead, is published on this day in 1948. The book is critically acclaimed and widely considered one of the best novels to come out of World War II. Mailer was born in New Jersey in 1923 and raised in Brooklyn. He attended Harvard and joined the Army during World War II. After leaving the Army in 1946, he studied at the Sorbonne, where he wrote the Naked and The Dead, based on his own military experiences. The book,

1980 Tito dies Josip Broz Tito, communist leader of Yugoslavia since 1945, passed away at the age of 88 in Belgrade. During his 35-year rule, Tito guided Yugoslavia along a pathway that combined dogmatic allegiance to Marxism with an independent, and often combative, relationship with the Soviet Union.

2002

Nigerian aircraft crashes in crowded city

which closely chronicles the lives of 13 soldiers stationed in the Pacific, presents a fictional story with precise, journalistic detail.

Mailer’s next two books, Barbaray Shore (1951) and The Deer Park (1955), were savaged by critics, but his subsequent journalistic chronicles fared better.

The Armies of the Night (1968), an account of his participation in the Washington peace march of 1967, won a Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction and the National Book Award in 1969. His novel The Executioner’s Song, a fictionalized

account of the life of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, won the Pulitzer for fiction in 1980. In 1991, his four-pound novel Harlot’s Ghost explored the CIA from 1948 through the Kennedy administration.

Mailer’s reputation as a harddrinking, tough-talking anti-feminist made him a controversial literary figure in the 1970s and 1980s. His high-profile exploits included drinking binges, the alleged stabbing of his wife at a party, and a run for the mayoralty of New York.

On this day in 2002, an EAS Airline plane crashed into the town of Kano, Nigeria, killing 148 people. The Nigerian BAC 1-11500 aircraft exploded in a densely populated section of the northern Nigerian city.

The Executive Airline Services twin-engine plane took off from Kano at about 1:30 p.m. with 76 people on board headed for Lagos. Witnesses on the ground saw that the plane immediately showed signs of distress before plunging toward the ground. It then ripped through a working-class neighbourhood, shearing off the roofs of dozens of

homes and a couple of mosques.

About three full blocks of structures were destroyed.

Many of the victims on the ground were burned to death in the fiery explosion. Two passengers on the plane did manage to survive. One, Najib Ibrahim, said, I thought I had no chance. I was surrounded by fire. I was lucky because I was sitting near the exit door. Some of the passengers who died were government officials who had been attending a book party for Nigeria’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Maitama Sule.

The child of peasants, Tito became a convert to the ideals of communism as a young man. His rise to prominence in Yugoslavia began during World War II when he led resistance groups fighting against both the Nazi occupation forces and their Yugoslav collaborators. In 1944, he appealed to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin for assistance in capturing the capital city of Belgrade from its Nazi occupiers. Stalin sent units of the Red

Army to help in the attack and by early 1945 Tito declared himself ruler of a new Yugoslav Republic.

Unlike many other Eastern European nations, however, Tito’s Yugoslavia was not subjected to a lengthy Soviet occupation.

After 1945, relations between Tito and the Soviet Union deteriorated rapidly. Tito’s assistance to Greek communists was considered poor policy to Stalin, who had earlier reached an agreement

with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to accept British hegemony in Greece. In addition, Tito’s independent course in his foreign policy irritated Stalin, who expected the communist “satellite” regimes in Eastern Europe to toe the Soviet line. In 1948, Stalin expelled Yugoslavia from the Communist Information Bureau (an agency designed to coordinate communist policy in the international sphere). This action

effectively severed ties between the Soviet bloc and Yugoslavia.

Tito reacted to this by actively seeking U.S. military and economic assistance. Somewhat surprisingly, this aid was forthcoming. President Harry S. Truman and his advisors saw in Tito an opportunity to drive a wedge into the supposedly monolithic communist bloc and encourage other communist regimes to break free from Soviet domination.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

L-R: Principal, Lagos Progressive Junior Secondary School, Surulere, Mrs. Santos Anjorin Adetola; Principal, Lagos Progressive Senior Secondary School, Surulere, Mrs. Ufondu Sylvia; Executive Assistant, Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Library, Amaka Okoye; and Manager, Events and CSI, Stanbic IBTC, Ame Okwudi at the donation of books

by Stanbic IBTC to Lagos Progressive High School at the weekend

Ondo APC to new Dep Gov: Don't rejoice yet ‘Tosin Ajuwon

Akure

ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has said that the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, was only occupying the position on temporary basis as all his activities would soon be declared null and void by a competent court of law.

The party, however, said that the court of competent jurisdiction would declare Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the former state Deputy Governor, as the authentic occupier of the office when the time was ripe.

The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, told journalists, on Sunday, in Akure, the state capital, that he was optimistic that Olanusi would be restored to his position by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Adesanya said that the impeachment of Olanusi was illegal, and negated Section 188 (2) (b) of the 199 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

He added that the impeachment of Olanusi couldn’t stand the test of time.

“It is crystal clear, even to a lay man that, Olanusi's forced removal from office is illegal, an affront to the spirit and letters of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with reference to Section 188, as amended, and cannot stand the test of time. It is very certain, as sun rise, that Baba will regain his seat back,” a confident Adesanya said.

The party cautioned Oluboyo to desist from receiving any entitlement reserved for the office of the Deputy Governor, as he would refund such money he collected.

"In lieu of this, our candid advice to the illegal occupant of the office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, our brother, Mr. Laisisi Oluboyo, is that he desist from receiving any entitlement reserved for the office of the Deputy Governor, as he will certainly refund all the monies and entitlements collected during the period he holds that office to the government coffers, whenever a court of competent jurisdiction rules and nullifies Ali Olanusi's removal. All the aides appointed by him (Oluboyo) are also advice accordingly," the image-maker said.

Unpaid salaries: Osun NMA insists FG not owing Aregbesola Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏ

Osun State Branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in a letter to Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said that Federal Government was not owing the state.

It said this to clarify the claim by the Osun State Government that its inability to promptly pay salaries was due to delay and dwindling allocation from Abuja.

In a letter signed by its Chairman and the Secre-

tary of Action Committee, Dr. R.A Adebayo and Dr. Adeola Ajibare, respectively, the NMA lamented the "agony" that workers in the state were going through.

The group explained further that a meeting called at the instance of the state Head of Service with the National President of NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe and the Chairman of NMA, Oyo State branch, Dr. M.B. Olatunji, in respect of its ultimatum issued to the state government on the matter, led to the discovery of many other issues.

According to Osun State NMA, two previous letters, dated April 2 and April 24, 2015, to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, had not yielded any positive result.

It added that the situation had forced the body to issue an open letter on the matter.

The NMA regretted that despite efforts it made to broker peace on the matter, "the state governor was unavailable for mediation with all negotiating teams both at the state and national levels."

The NMA explained that

it discovered that: “Osun State has received monthly revenue from the Federation Account up till March, 2015, although there was a general reduction occasioned by the dwindling fortune of the national economy."

The NMA also frowned upon the non-payment of six months’ salaries to doctors and other civil servants in Osun, while contractors and political office holders had been the beneficiaries of the available revenue accrued to the state from the Federation Account.

23 News

Real reason Workers’ Day failed in Abia Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏ

Some reasons emerged, at the weekend, as to why the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) could not hold Workers’ Day celebration in Abia State and why the state government backed out of the celebration.

One reason was fallout of the state congress, held by NLC, in Umuahia, the state capital, on Thursday, April 23, 2015, which produced three factional leaders: the incumbent, Sylvanus Eyeh, Uchenna Obigwe and Christopher Uchenna.

Towards proving their authenticity, all factions held their own celebration at different venues.

While Uchenna Obigwe

PDP decampees’ll return – Ebonyi chieftain Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏ A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorelect from Ebonyi State, Mr. Obinna Ogba, has declared that those members who decamped from the party had made a monumental mistake, as they would surely struggle to return to the fold.

Ogba, who was elected to represent Ebonyi Central Senatorial zone, in the March 28 election, said if there was anybody who was nursing the idea of ÏÏÏA new Chief Imam has

been installed at the Coker Central Mosque, OrileIganmu, in Lagos State.

He is Alhaji Idris Olatunde Mahmud, who was turbaned last weekend by the Chief Imam of Ijora Kingdom, Alhaji Mudathir Abd Latif Faro and the Imam Oluwa from Lagos, Alhaji AbdLatif Shekoni.

Other dignitaries who witnessed the turbanning included the Babaloja-

faction celebrated at the usual Ibeku High School, the Christopher Uchenna faction assembled at Urban Primary School Road, all in Umuahia.

Eyeh, who purportedly lost his position at the congress, even with the barrage of labour stakeholders behind him, couldn’t find a place to celebrate in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, on Friday, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. A.C.B. Agbazuere, described as unfortunate, a situation where the state government received three different invitations from three factions of the Nigerian Labour Congress each laying claim to the leadership of the union.

jumping from PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party, such person should think twice.

He said such people would not last in the APC, because they did not have the same ideological leaning, adding that there was no way a PDP man would fit in there.

The senator-elect said in the next one or two years, those PDP members who jumped to APC would be retracing their steps.

Ogba

Orile Iganmu gets new Chief Imam General of Lagos State, Alhaji Abd Wasiu Balogun, the Mudir Darul Falahi of Amukoko, Sheik Musa Yahya Agboola.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Delta Hospital Board sanctions ex-MD, 41 others Joe Ogbodu Warri

ÏÏÏ

A former Medical Director of Ughelli Central Hospital, Dr. Moses Eyovwerhuvwu, and the hospital’s Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Obanovwe O. Godwin, were among thirty-nine others employees of Delta State Hospital Board that were sanctioned, Daily Times has learnt.

The workers were sanctioned after they were found wanting by the State Hospital Management Board (HMB) Disciplinary Committee for various offences ranging from embezzlement and dishonesty.

Sources said that of the 41 staff, 5 of them are medical doctors made up of

consultants, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Senior Medical Officers II and Principal Medical Officer II. Daily Times learnt that actions taken against the defaulting employees included withholding of promotion for a year, demotion in rank, reduction in steps by three steps for two years and final warning.

A reliable member of the team who confirmed the development said an April publication of The Care, a quarterly newspaper of the board, had quoted the names, stations (Hospitals), ranks, offences committed and actions taken against the 41 staff as at December, 2014.

According to the source,

the former Medical Director of Ughelli Central Hospital, Dr. Eyovwerhuvwu, who was charged with alleged embezzlement of public funds in line with PSR 04401 (I) (IV) XX(I) and section 1501 (C) of the regulations, is expected to show evidence of refund of N600, 000 and with his promotion withheld for two years.

Also, an Assistant Chief Nursing Officer of Ughelli Medical zone, Miss Eghwrudjakpor Elizabeth, charged with abandonment of duty and dishonesty, is expected to refund N297, 198. 57 to the coffers of the Delta State government.

For Dr. Obanovwe, Ortho-

paedic Surgeon for the Ughelli Central hospital, who was charged with willful act, disobedience of lawful order and dishonesty in line with PSR 04401 (I)(IV) and (XVII), he was demoted by two steps and given a final warning.

Also sanctioned was Mr. Onyenekunum Azuka, a former accountant for Ughelli Central Hospital currently serving at the Tuberculosis Leprosirium, Eku, who was also alleged to have been involved in embezzlement of public funds and failure to keep records. He was demoted in rank by one grade level and asked to refund N80, 000 to the government coffers.

RICHARD ONIKEDE ADEBAYO FOUNDATION

OSABENYI ELITE CLUB OF NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Mr. Adebayo Richard Onikede -President/Chairman.

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3. Mr Adebayo Olaoluwa Oluwatosin -Member.

4. Mr. Adebayo Akinola Idowu -Secretary.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Chief Larry Ojoko -President 2. Chief (Mrs) Edwina Egwuanumkwu -Vice President 3. Mr. Emeka Ajiel. - Secretary 4. Mr. Fred Imite - Treasurer 5. Fredrick E Ossai. - Ex-Officio Member 6. Chief Gold U Nzete - Ex-Officio Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:To Support Widows, Choir And Evangelism at St. Matthew’s Cathedral Church and All Souls Anglican Church, Ijebu’ Ijesha Osun State Nigeria.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

PAYA-YESU YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION CHIBOK The General Public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Trustees: 1. Kabu James Ntafa 2. Musa Mbitahson 3. Elisha A Tsarba Aims and objectives: 1. To assist in the welfare, social and infrastructural development of members of Chibok communities.

2. To assist the empowerment of the youths, women, children and the less privileged.

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

Signed: Trustees.

DIVINE LIBERATION OF GLORY MINISTRY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:To promote social and environmental development of Nigeria and Ndokwa in particular Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

GOLD STANDARD AND INTEGRITY CLUB OF NIGERIA The General Public is hereby notified that the above named club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Trustees: 1. Mr. Chilaka Geoffrey Nwune - President 2. Mr. Ebuka Callistus Ifeji - Secretary 3. Mr. Abuchi Sylvester Edeh – Treasurer 4. Mr. Chinedu Joseph Igwe – Financial Secretary 5. Mr. Ifeanyi Simeon Igwe – Member 6. Mr. Justus Tochukwu Odoh 7. Mr. Ikechukwu Peter Akochi – Member Aims and objectives: 1. To establish and promote love, peace, co-operation and progress among member.

2. To act as a front and avenue for the dissemination of information and ideas that will facilitate the rapid growth and development of the members.

3. To create a united front to champion the interest of members etc.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed: Chukwuezuo Nwosu ESQ (Solicitor) Tel: 08023072365, 08076581702

FELICIA OSHUNTUYI MATHEMATICS FOR LIFE FOUNDATION

MSS condoles with Sultan, NSCIA over death of Abuja Chief Imam Sodiq Adekunle

ÏÏÏ

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, has condoled with the generality of Muslims over the death of Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Musa Muhammed.

The president of the society, Kamil Kalejaiye, gave the condolence during the April Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) camp, where it trained over 2000 children.

The death of the Chief Imam was announced in a statement issued by the Secretary-General of Ni-

geria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on behalf of Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III. It was stated in the statement that the Chief Imam died after a brief illness at Abuja National Hospital on Saturday.

Kalejaiye prayed that Allah should forgive the late Chief Imam of his wrong doings and grant him paradise.

He further described the Chief Imam’s death as a lesson to the generality of Muslims and humans that everyone will die.

Kwara screens 3,799 for 2015 Hajj Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

The kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board said it has screened no fewer than 3,799 intending pilgrims for the 2015 Hajj exercise in the state.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Hajia Fatima Abolore-Jimoh, who disclosed this in an interview with Daily Times in her office on Sunday in Ilorin, said the board will select 1,931 pilgrims which is the

total number of seats allocated to the state by the National Hajji Commission of Nigeria.

Aolore-jimoh said the screening will be continuous with a view to allowing more qualified intending pilgrims to have opportunity for the holy trip.

She expressed satisfaction with conduct of intending pilgrims, who according to her, appeared for the screening.

THE FULL POWER CHURCH OF GOD The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Eyo, Isaac Effiong-Chairman.

2. Eyo, Gabriel Effiong-Vice Chairman.

3. Amadak, Owoidoho Michael.

4. Usanga, Ekong John.

5. Morgan Michael Okon.-Secretary.

6. Inyang Margaret Isaac.

7. Amadak, Imaobong Sunday.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:To preach the gospel Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: EYO, ISAAC EFFIONG - CHAIRMAN

GOD’S FOLD ASSEMBLY

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

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

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

Trustees: 1. Prophetess Olatubosun Julianah Omolola.

3. Oyewole Kehinde Bimbo.

5. Mr. Badmus Adebowale Oseni.

7. Mr Kehinde Olumuyiwa.

Trustees: 1.Osuntuyi Omoniyi 2. Akinniyi Bolanle 3. Oshuntuyi Babatunde 4.Akinbinu Bosede 5.Oshuntuyi Faith 6. Osuntuyi Mopelola.

Trustees: 1.Ngozi Charity Obiekwu Pastor 2.Oluchi Elizabeth Mbagwu Secretary 3.Martha Chidima Mbagwu Treasurer .

2. Omotosho Matthew.

4. Oyewole Taiwo Bisiola.

6. Pastor Aremu Peter Olusegun.

8. Chaplain Oladejo Isaiah Olayiwola.

Aims and objectives: 1. To propagate the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.

2. Planting New Testament churches wherever possible.

3. Training of Christian workers for the evangelistic fields.

4. Publishing of gospel literature.

5. Establishing of vocational training centers, schools and orphanages.

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

Signed: CHAPLAIN OLADEJO ISAIAH

Aims and objectives: 1. Increase understanding of mathematics across all levels of education in Nigeria from play ground to higher institution.

2. Encourage and reward students, individuals and institutions that display high level of interests, performances or skills in mathematics Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: OSHUNTUYI FAITH

Aims and objectives: Winning souls for Jesus Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed: Barr. A I OJINI

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Four SANs to lead legal tussle against Kashamu Segun Adio

Ă?Ă?Ă?Legal fireworks against

the election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prince Buruji Kashamu, as the Ogun East senator-elect, in the just concluded March 28, 2015, election, has started at the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting at the Ogun State High Court complex, Isabo, Abeokuta.

Towards achieving this objective, the Ogun East All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has engaged the services of a consortium of lawyers to be led by four Senior Advocates

May 29: Wamakko constitutes 41-member inauguration committee

of Nigeria (SAN), Alhaji Yusuf Ali, Rickey Tarfa, Abiodun Owonikoko and Mahmoud Abubakar.

At the hearing of the applications filed by Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, the three-man tribunal, headed

by Justice Tobi, granted the prayers of the applicant to inspect the electoral materials at the office of the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the Director of Organisation, Dapo Abiodun Campaign Group, Mr. Femi Adeniyi, Abiodun, an oil and gas magnate, had petitioned the three-man Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal, alleging that

the March 28, 2015 National Assembly poll was rigged in favour of Prince Buruji Kashamu, as the senatorelect.

It was gathered that Kashamu induced voters with money, even before the voting started and, during the collation of results, there were manipulations in some areas where the number of those who voted exceeded the number of those who were accredited for voting on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

Specifically, it was said that the election results on Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8Cs did not correspond in many polling units identified in four local government

New Ekiti lawmakers vow not to be stooges Gbenga Sodeinde

areas: Ijebu North, Sagamu, Remo North and Ikenne; where the election results were massively rigged in favour of Kashamu.

Also, two wards, 5 and 7, in Sagamu and a ward in Ogun waterside local governments, respectively, it was learnt, election did not take place, because the voters, who turned out to cast their votes, did not present their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), but, to their surprise, the PDP candidate was declared winner in the three wards.

However, Abiodun, has vowed to claim his mandate at the tribunal through the legal process.

6

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Ado Ekit

Ă?Ă?Ă?Twenty-six

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) newly elected legislators, who are loyalists of the Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, who will dominate the House of Assembly, have declared that they would not be rubberstamp legislators, rathar, they promised legislative activities that would help speedy development.

The lawmakers-elect , who were elected on April 11, said, at a press conference, in AdoEkiti, that matters brought before them by Fayose would be subjected to thorough debate, in the interest of the people, in accordance with constitution The lawmakers, however, disclosed that they won’t hesitate to disagree with Fayose on matters that had to do with the interest of the people, but reiterated that such disagreement won’t be allowed to affect smooth

Ilorin

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,0 4 ment, National Agency for /" Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, and Kwara State Director, NAFDAC, Mrs. Bolaji Abayomi.

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running of government at the executive level.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, a lawmaker representing Moba Constituency 1, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, assured that the next Assembly would ensure the protection of the principles of Separation of Powers, in spite of that the fact they belonged to the same party as Fayose.

On the impeachment crisis rocking the Assembly, culminating in the 19 APC lawmakers abdicating their duties, the lawmakers-elect claimed that they had reached out to Speaker Adewale Omirin on the need to tread the path of honour, but said the overtures were rebuffed.

The 26 newly elected lawmakers expressed worry and described as disheartning the actions the 19 APC lawmakers who were currently on exile, saying their actions, in the recent times, had not been in the interest of the state.

NAFDAC destroys N30b counterfeit products in six years Kehinde Akinpelu

Ă?Ă?Ă?Sokoto

State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, has approved the appointment of a 41-member committee for the inauguration of a new government in the state on May 29.

The chairman of the inauguration committee, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, disclosed this in a statement, on Sunday, in Sokoto, made available to reporters.

Gada, who is also the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), stated that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport, Alhaji Bello Sifawa, would serve as Secretary.

He said that the committee would ensure smooth handover to the incoming administration.

NAN reports that the committee consists of technocrats, academics, politicians, women and youth, including the Head of Service, Alhaji Bature Shinkafi and a former Vice-Chancellor, Usman Danfodiyo University, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu.

25 News

liferation of counterfeit products in Nigeria was as a result of the country’s inability to manufacture them locally.

Orhi said: “More than 70 percent of essential medicines for management of public health programmes were imported from other countries. So, what we have done is to encourage Nigerian local pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce medicines, so that the country can be self-sufficient in these medicines and we have succeeded. “When we started, people thought I was just dreaming but now the World Health Organisation (WHO) came to approve four pharmaceutical companies, last year alone, that their medicine now meet international standards and we can now export them.�

Orhi added that the July deadline for all manufacturers of anti-malaria and antibiotics products for ‘scratch and pick’ authentication service on their products remains sacrosanct.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Our Heritage

s

El-Anatsui

Venice Biennale awards Golden Lions to El Anatsui, others Agozino Agozino The Venice Biennale, which opens to the public from Saturday May 9, has awarded its highest honor, the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, to artist El Anatsui, saying in a statement that the prize “acknowledges not just his recent successes internationally, but also his artistic influence amongst two generations of artists working in West Africa.”

In addition, the biennale said it would give its Special Golden Lion for Services to the Arts to

Susanne Ghez, who served as executive director and chief curator of the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago for 40 years, and is currently an adjunct curator at the Art Institute of Chicago. She “is undeniably one of the most distinguished personalities in international contemporary art,” the biennale said in a statement.

The Golden Lions are presented by the biennale’s board of directors, which is chaired by Paolo Baratta, “upon the recommendation” of the exhibition’s curator, Okwui Enwezor.

Thought pyramid hosts Beings in Colour On Tuesday May 5, an art exhibition entitled, Beings in Colour, will open at Thought Pyramid Art centre, 18 Libreville street off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse 2 Abuja.

It is the first solo paintings and drawings of Okide Tochukwu who is an art activist and cultural officer. The artist who worked as a volunteer in NEPAD before being employed by the organisation will display over 20 new painting which he said he prepared for the outing. He finds time after his busy job of bureaucracy to paint, draw and promote artistic endeavors with dedication and fervor. While in university as President of the Fine Arts

body of Federal Government College Port Harcourt, he organised several excursion for students to arts schools within the country and the West African region.

Though the show is his first exhibition, he has structured and participated in different group shows first of which an exhibition was organised by him for his graduating class in 2001 which was documented.

Tochukwu worked diligently as a volunteer in NEPAD, whilst there he undertook certain critical assignments and served in various committees one of which was the Organisation of a Strategic Dialogue on Nigeria’s visa regime with theme; Easing

Meanwhile, the biennale named the members of its international jury, which will be charged with awarding prizes to the national pavilions. They are, Naomi Beckwith, curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Sabine Bergeweiser, director of the Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Mario Codognato, the chief curator of er Haus Vienna, Ranjit Hoskote, a writer and curator, Yongwoo Lee, a curator and former director of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation.

Cee Tee, oil on paper by Okide Entry Formalities Particularly Issuance of Visas to Potential Tourist and Visitors to Nigeria which held Dec.2009. This was in fulfillment of NEPAD’s mandate of promoting and marketing tourism for increased inflows and also sparking off more Intra- Africa tourism. Tochukwu has also served as member of the delegation to a meeting with the Senate Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism in March 2013 and served as committee secretary for the SNA National Abuja Children’s Art Workshop in March 2013. Tochukwu is presently secretary, Federal Government College Port Harcourt Old students Association Abuja Chapter.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

27 Our Heritage Editor: Agozino Agozino Email: emmanuel.agozino@ dailytimes.co.ng

360 arts gallery, studio berth in Lagos Agozino Agozino This collection of carved African ancestral stools and table adorns a section of the art gallery.

Potrait of King Jaja of Opobo of the Niger Delta, one of the several iamges that adorn the museum.

In oil-rich Yenagoa, dream spurs museum of immense heritage Tucked away in a quiet street within the heart of Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, is an engaging Museum of African Arts and the Azaiki Public Library.

The two facilities are home to an extraordinary collection of African and global treasurers.

AGOZINO AGOZINO reports: Though it began like a mere pursuance of an individual’s fantasy in a serene street in Yenagoa, capital of the oil rich Bayelsa State, it soon became an ambitious project, pursued with uncommon zeal.

Gradually, it has been nurtured into a world class venture.

In 1999, Bayelsa state’s pioneer Commissioner for Agriculture, the cerebral scholar, Prof.

Steve Azaiki, set out to build a private library and museum that will be accessible to the public in the state capital.

The facility, which according to him, was inspired by his desire to leave an enduring legacy in the form of an artistic monument now stands in its imposing splendor in the home land of President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The Azaiki Library now houses one of the country’s most resourceful privately funded library and private art collections.

Beyond its aesthetic dazzle, the facility is now distinguishable in several ways. In its conception, execution and functionality, the facility can stand its own among world-renowned libraries. It was set up in the mould of some of the world’s best of such globally renowned resource centres as the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston; Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta; Ronald Reagan Library in Los Angeles; Clinton Library in Little Rock, Arkansas; Library of Congress, all in the United States of America (USA); and the British Public Library in London

among others.

As the facility’s keepers guide one through, first source of thrill is that it is equipped with a vast provision that make a world class public library, comprising an elibrary, art galleries, coffee bar, lecture halls, conference halls, exhibition halls and more.

Beyond its richness in art, the facility is splendid in style. One feature of the library that rubs off on everything is in its sense of comprehensive documentation amid the thrills. Within the centre, there is the Niger Delta Museum on its third floor (also called the Museum of African Art).

The Museum tells the story of the Niger Delta region, particularly the feats of the Ijaw nation.

Vivid illustrations in the forms of drawings, literature and quotations excerpted from publications are boldly displayed everywhere. Tales of the legends of Ijaw land and the people’s chronicles dot the walls like a historical sequence of epics. Apart from the people’s travails, because of the “curse”(as stated) imposed on them by the discovery of oil a half century ago, in the belly of their earth, narratives of how the exploration turned into exploitation of the region since 1956 are also highlighted.

A striking feature of the museum is the section devoted to Ken Saro-Wiwa, the late Commonwealth prize winning writer, environmentalist and human rights activist who was killed through the instrumentality of a locally and gobally flawed court judgment in November, 1995 by the dictatorial military rule of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. The history of that judicial murder, which shook the world to its foundation, is replicated in a beautiful illustration, which featured the gallows where Saro-Wiwa was

Saro-Wiwa

finally silenced. That section of the collection is replete with replicas of the last clothes worn by the late activist who was at one time the President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

Other instruments of his gory execution were also replicated.

A visit made to the facility recently, met the final days of exhibition, ‘Life and Times of Fela Anikulapo Kuti (The Black President).’ In the show, the iconic Afrobeat music legend that passed on 14 years ago is venerated.

But how did the collector, Azaiki, get to own such a museum which has one of these large collection of treasures in private hands, come to own such works?

Prof. Azaiki, who had initiated the project, more out of passion than of the assurance that he can foot the bill, disclosed that though his family was not particularly wealthy when he began it, the drive to have a place where his people can appreciate their roots and the culture of the Ijaw nation was the major motivating force. In an age when people

would rather build hotels or other commercial centres in Lagos or Abuja for profit making, the surprise about the whole idea is that it is not a commercial venture but something to galvanise humanity to find a solace for those who thirst for learning.

Azaiki explains: “the idea was conceived in 1999 to provide opportunity for young and old Nigerians to have access to books and arts, to create a platform for people to visit, even if they were not interested in reading, and to serve as a resourceful tourists’ attraction. And rightly so, the place is fast becoming a Mecca not just for those sight-seeing but for those in quest of e-learning.”

The facility has hosted highbrow events ranging from state functions to a plethora of other outings.

Recently, the first international conference of the International Society of Comparative Education and Technology in Nigeria was held at the library. It had President Jonathan as special guest as well as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State as guests.

Such high profile activities have become regular in the facility.

The facility also hosts the initiative Azaiki Foundation, and the Public Library is stated thusly in the opening paragraph of its mission statement: “an enabling environment that will harness intellectual and material resources required for the generation of innovative ideas and the pursuit of life-long learning.”

The life of Azaiki reminds one of the story of a man who despite not having a silver spoon birth, achieved it by a dint of hard work. This explains why he has devoted greater part of his life to impacting positively on humanity, especially, his people who he provides opportunities and empowerments.

Bouying an already very busy season in the visual arts sector , a new arts shop and photography studio, 360 arts shop has recently been opened in Lagos. The official opening ceremony which witnessed a gathering of art lovers was held at Block 118, Suite 3, Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa, in Isolo area of Lagos.

360 arts shop boasts of large format printing with its HD printing machine which is capable of printing life size photographs, photo shots and art collection.

Aside from the large format print, there is an on-line arts shop, solely dedicated to the sales of art works ranging from, painting, sculpture, photography and ceramics The photography studio is a one stop shop for corporate and social events in and outside the studio environments. It is poised to revolutionise the marketing landscape of artworks in Nigeria offering modern and affordable creative photography studio space with multifunctionality in mind. The studio welcomes art collectors, photographers and creative minds alike.

360 arts shop is to help lovers of art search and buy limited materials, the online gallery features a curated collection of works from prominent and upcoming artists.

It is for lovers of art, or those who simply want to taste the thrill of collecting. The new studio is also focused on the development of unique editions, supporting traditional techniques alongside modern mediums.

Washington Chukwuemeke Uba, an artist, photographer, and brain behind the new project had some of his works also exhibited during the event.

Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were Steve Nwosu, Director, Corporate Communications, Daily Sun Newspapers Mr Johnson Oladesu a lecturer at the Onabisi Onabanjo University Ogun State, among others.

Uba

28

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Features

Ogunsola

Swiss confab to showcase Africa as world economic power

s

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

OVIE DANIEL reports upcoming ‘African Public-PrivatePartnership’ (A-PPP) Convention targeted at raising a platform for global economic networking for the next four years. His report.

An international business forum targeted at bridging the divide between sub-Saharan Africa and international business community by creating positive changes through management consulting and training is in the offing.

Tagged ‘African Public-PrivatePartnership’ (A-PPP) Convention, the confab, Daily Times gathered, is designed to structure out strategies and initiatives to assist the incoming government of General Muhamadu Buhari to

flourish in the next four years.

Billed to hold at the Conference Centre in Kloten Municipality, Kloten-Zurich, Switzerland, on October 22-23rd, 2015, the forum is described by investors as the roadmap to restoring Africa’s strongest economic potentials.

The man behind the ambitious project is Nigerian-Switzerland based Consultant, Investor and Buss Affairs Analyst, Dayo Ogunsola-Gisle, Founder/CEO of Dayo Consulting (DC).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

HIGH COST OF CEMENT:

Why Buhari administration must intervene ÏÏÏ1 ƒƆƏ ƌƆ Ɛ ƑƋƗ ƆƔƍ Ɨ ƈƐ ƇƏ ƐƈƆƏ Ƈ Ə ƆƔƍ ƏƐ é Stakeholders

‘It is futile to restrict a national economic playground to a few moguls.

The field should be plain for all players to participate’ – Engr. Uwem Bags of cements

One of three Ibeto Cement Plants

Our features desk last week felt the pulse of local manufacturers, exporters and stakeholders in the cement industry on the unabating high cost of the product nationwide. GBUBEMI GOD’SCOVENANT SNR reports.

Uneven playing grounds between two major players in the cement industry, fuelled by inconsistent Federal Government policies, have left the Nigerian building industry at the mercy of the two insatiable moguls for over a decade – Dangote Cement and Ibeto Cement Company Limited

Chairman of the major local manufacturer, Aliko Dangote, backed by a few local cement manufacturer had claimed that the nation’s market has been flooded by unbridled importation of cement, leading to a glut that is about to suffocate or cripple local production, In his reaction, Chairman/

CEO of the Ibeto Group, Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, said “there is no basis for rivalry or competition, because we import a special brand for certain consumers, which local producers have no capacity of producing.”

He therefore, dismissed the complaints of Dangote as mere antics of a monopolist who, being not

satisfied with the over 80 per cent of the market, under its control, now wants to have the whole Nigerian market for itself.

Ibeto’s Managing Director/ CEO, Dr. Cletus Ibeto says his company’s meagre five percent share of the market could not have resulted in the kind of marCONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

29 Features

Dangote

Ibese Cement Plant

Cement: ‘We suffer 40 percent cost

disadvantage’- Manufacturers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

ket saturation Dangote is complaining about.

But as the cement war has now made plain, stakeholders blame the Federal Government for the astronomical price of the product, pointing out that you cannot apply political solution to pure economic imbalance and expect to escape unhurt in a borderless world of unrestricted economic flows.

“You cannot permanently restrict a market of over 160 million people for milking by a few politically favoured players and expect no reaction. The chicken has simply come home to roost,” said a major distributor in Lagos, who craved for anonymity.

Also, production and market trends have shown that the hope of a reduced price of cement in

Convention: ‘It’s a roadmap of global networking ‘

the building industry remains a long way out of sight and the reason is not far-fetched.

Engr. Aniefiok Uwem, a private investor in the building industry, observed that there was something fundamentally wrong with a cement market having abundance of supply, while the price remains stubbornly high.

“The PDP led government has failed to recognise that there is a problem that calls for immediate policy attention. When there is a cement glut in Nigeria and the outside world cannot immediately take advantage through importation, it means our local cement industry has not been globalised because it is uncompetitive.

“It is futile to restrict the national economic playing field to a group of selected moguls in a borderless world of intense competition; the goal must always be to

make the field plain for all players – big and small – to participate.”

Furthermore, Uwem said: “Dangote cement has problems because its products are not globally competitive; cement produced in Nigeria is among the costliest in the world. Instead of complaining about glut, Dangote would have easily opted for export if its product had been globally competitive.”

The unhealthy rivalry Daily Times investigation revealed that statistics from the Ibeto camp is what disquiets the Dangote camp, and this is wellfounded.

The Ibeto Group, following the Federal Government’s ban of the importation of cement in bags, and the institution of a new policy of bulk importation and local bagging, came into the cement business, in 1997, with

the importation of ship-loads of bagged Portland Cement through the Apapa ports.

Located in Bundu Ama, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, it started producing bagged cement, at its Bagging Terminal, in June 2005.

The Terminal, an ultra- modern bagging plant, with a flat-storage capacity of 50,000 metric tons and a production capacity of 1,500,000 tons per annum, which translate to a production capacity of not less than 6,000 metric tons per day. It has two production lines, each with a capacity of 2,700 of 50kg bags per hour or designed total production capacity of 5,400 of 50kg bags per hour. This means that nine trucks carrying 600 bags each will be loaded every hour.

High cost of cement A Lagos based marketer and stakeholder, Mr. Yomi Olabode,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

communities and government leadership. Our mission is connecting public and private companies, investors, business experts and government entities to create global economic integration between African nations and the rest of the world.”

Discussing the strategy put in place to succeed in the APPP project, Dayo said, “We will

achieve by leading the discussions that will bring to fruition, partnerships that will bring new opportunities for economic prosperity between Nigeria in particular and Africa and the rest of the business world.

“Our goal is big and we are optimistic we will succeed in providing a forum for businesses to connect with investors, govern-

In this exclusive interview with our correspondent in Lagos last week, Dayo said of the importance of the convention to the incoming government.

“A-PPP convention is the first non-political, non-partisan economics-driven meeting between African and European business

in a chat with our correspondent, last week, threw some light into the rivalry among others.

“While the usual cost of Dangote cement at source is about N1, 745 per bag, the price, in any locality, ranges from N1, 800 to N1, 900; the difference, of course, is the cost of transportation and loading/offloading. The price difference between locally manufactured cement and imported ones is just about N20 only, but Dangote Cement is always higher because of demand.

“But beside the cost of power, some of the materials used for production are still being imported. If you compare the cost of running a whole cement factory in one production day, you will understand why production cost is high, and the cost, of course is passed on to the end buyer.”

Analysts note from the bitter experience of high business mortality in Nigeria, which has led to worsening poverty and unemployment, that globalisation is no respecter of nations. “You cannot cocoon any industry and expect to survive for long,” Alhaji Musiliu Ajayi, a major marketer told Daily Times.“Only competitive nations that empower their firms to produce at competitive prices are winners. While Dangote enjoyed political favour, Ibeto sought the more favourable global business environment to bask and operate, and neither is addressing the plight of our local building and construction industries.”

Ajayi pointed out that the local manufacturers of cement cannot run, for too long, away from the backlash of globalisation when the nation’s business environment remains harsh and uncompetitive.

“The organised private sector has always pointed it out that local manufacturers suffer up to 40 percent cost disadvantage when compared with their counterparts in other parts of the world.

High interest rates, erratic power supply, inefficient ports administration, smuggling, dysfunctional rail system, decrepit road network, etc. are some of the factors that have turned the nation to a graveyard of large- and smallscale businesses.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

ment officials to participate in discussions and for all participants to create a foundation for economic and social prosperity within Sub-Saharan Africa and around the world.”

On the margin of attendance expected, Dayo said the consult is expecting more than 250 parCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Features 30

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

Convention: ‘ Africa is an opportunity, not a curse’

Gbenga Fatile, Dayo Ogunsola and Monday Feyibunmi

Continued from page 29 ticipants from African and nonAfrican countries including leaders of major companies, financial investors and entrepreneurs.

“In addition, we expect the attendance of more than 150 government representatives who can guide us through the complexities of rules, regulations and expectations. There would be ‘lightball’ moments when participants learn of valuable opportunities.

“Furthermore, we expect economically and socially viable projects connected to finance solutions and we anticipate partnerships between public and private companies to form because lead-

ers are talking to one another.”

Touching on the relationship with the incoming government of President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari and the global market through his consult, Dayo said few people are aware of what it takes to prosper in Africa.

“Africa is big in economic activity and natural resources with Nigeria as its bedrock. It is filled with entrepreneurs and young people with ambition and the desire to shape their own destinies. A roadmap of global business interests and international investors will emanate from the convention which the incoming government of change will find

a ready platform to operate upon.

“Many governments have implemented resolutions that make their countries much more attractive business environments.

With over 350 people in the middle class, consumer buying power is more than Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland combined.

“You may have heard that six of the ten fastest growing markets are in Africa, but did you know that 60 percent of the world’s farming potentials are in Africa, and more than 500 African companies have one hundred million dollars worth or more in annual revenue?

“Those facts reflect what is

happening in Africa. Our economies are ready for organisations, significant business activities and global competitiveness.”

On the international network strategy, Dayo told Daily Times his consult is well connected all over the world.

“We will support the network of business projects through our existing global connections, ensuring connections to investors all over the world. We will keep government officials in the conversations; facilitate discussions between private and public companies, governments and infrastructure-development projects that deal with laws and regula-

tions.

“Moreover, we call on people all over the world to look at Africa as an opportunity rather than a cause. Economic improvement is what will eradicate diseases, create infrastructure and reduce political unrest, terrorists’ influences and corruption in government.”

A hungry man, Dayo concluded, is an angry man, “but the job that will bring dignity and the ability to feed a family will be the foundation for stability and ultimately prosperity. We encourage those who have services and products to offer to consider Africa as a ready market.”

Cement: ‘ Nigerian cement not globally competetive’- Manufacturers Continued from page 29 “It is not for nothing that the World Bank has classified Nigeria as one of the most hostile places to do business in the world. All these call for immediate government attention,” Ajayi concluded.

The Chairman, Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Makoju, in a recent interview,expressed displeasure with energy cost in Nigeria, which accounts for over 35 percent of production, whereas it is just 10 percent in China. The cost of LPFO and other petroleum products continue to soar – in a country that is hugely endowed with the product.

“Those who want to know why the prices of cement imported from far-flung parts of the world are lower than the prices of locally made brands should look at the prohibitive energy and haulage costs incurred by local producers.

China’s textiles are dominating the global market because the Chinese government, which needed to create jobs, deliberately positioned the industry for global

competition with subsidies and incentives.”

Government should also monitor closely, and when necessary, check Dangote operations.President GoodluckEbele Jonathan once said thatDangote should bring the price of cement down; it came down slightly but not for long, then it went up again.

The monopoly question Olabode reasons that wherever monopoly is permitted, there are bounds to be problems.

“Besides, the perennial power problem, government should ask Dangote to explain why the price cement is still on the high side; let the process be analysed and adjustments made to reduce the price per bag.

“Also, nobody is comfortable with the kind of monopoly that Dangote enjoys in the cement industry; too much power is given to the company. We heard a refinery is coming up in Akure and Dangote is behind it. We have Dangote cement, Dangote, Sugar, Dangote noodles, Dangote salt, Dangote rice, Dangote this, Dangote that, now we are going to have Dangote

petrol. Government need to break that monopoly.

“The man doesn’t have to do everything; let other people too have a share.Because of so much power, when it comes to competition with other people who are not as wealthy as he is, he will force them out of business.Then suppose something happens to Dangote? The country will have problems, so let the incoming government break that monopoly and set things right.” One seasoned commentator on Nigeria’s political economy was of the view that: “This type of monopoly, given our own setting and the current dynamics of the economy, if you ask me, is far from healthy. There are numerous, well-given and informed entrepreneurs, in other parts of the country, whose experience and knowledge should be tapped, in terms of investments, in the fields where Dangote seems to have an unhealthy monopoly.

Having such investors as operators, would broaden, for good – tax revenue and job creation – today’s inexplicably – and perhaps, dangerous – narrow field.”

Cletus Ibeto

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 4, 2015

A’Ibom PDP stakeholders insist on Mu’azu’s resignation ÎÎÎ In line with the planned re-

structuring of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State stakeholders of the party have reiterated their stance on the resignation of its national chairman of the party, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu.

Speaking in Uyo over the weekend, coordinator of the state’s governor elect’s campaign organization, Mr. Titus John, said the interest of the party should be paramount in the minds of every member. He maintained that the loss of the party at the presidential level could not be tolerated and that the leadership of the party have to give way for a true reorganisation of the party.

John added that those singing sectional interest in the party were doing so out of mischief.

He said that there were insinuations that the party chairman was more interested in his office than the welfare of the party and its future, adding that he should move with the time in the political environment.

John explained that the spirit of sportsmanship demanded that Mu’azu should give in and put the party first above all other personal quests.

His words, “In all sense of modesty, the leader of the party has lost an election, in what we

Abuja

ÎÎÎ National Secretary of

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Adewale Oladipo, has vowed not to resign from the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Oladipo made the vow following the demand by the PDP leaders in the Southwest that he and the National Auditor of the party, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju should resign from the NWC. The PDP National Secretary pointed out that it will be absolutely unpatriotic and against the wishes and aspirations of majority of the party members from the southwest, “through whose mandate we occupy the offices of the National Secretary and the National Auditor respectively”, if

BRIEFS AFAN urges Buhari to diversify economy ÎÎÎ The All Farmers Associa-

tion of Nigeria (AFAN), has called on President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to diversify Nigeria economy and use agriculture as a means of combating the dwindling fortune from the oil sector.

A member of the technical committee of AFAN, Dr. Tunde Arosanyin, who made this call while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja, last weekend, said agriculture remained the most vibrant option for the country whose fortune had been going down from the monolithic oil driven economy.

A’Ibom LP expels five former exco members, suspends 11 R-L: New Chairman, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Mr. Ede Dafinone; President (NCF), Chief Philip Asiodu; Council Member, Desmond Majekodunmi with Club members during the 25th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos ...recently

term to be a fair contest. So it is left for those who are in the party to understand this. For us, it is necessary and sportsmanship demands that sometimes you give in just like what happened to Jega who organised an election, did the revalidation, and said he was not interested in tenure extension.

Also speaking in the same vein, chairman of Initiative for Promotion of Civic Obligation and Sustainable Peace, Mr. Daniel Nkpanam, at the meeting, shared John’s belief, but also canvassed for the national chairmanship of the party to move to the South-South zone of the country.

Mu’azu.

I won’t resign from PDP NWC, says National Secretary Lateef Ibrahim

31 News

we concede to the demands.

Prof Oladipo, in a press statement personally signed by him on Sunday in Abuja, said, “My attention has been drawn to a communiqué purportedly issued by some PDP leaders in the Southwest calling on me, the National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo and the National Auditor, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju to resign from the National Working Committee.

“According to the communiqué, the resignation was to pave way for the dissolution of the National Working Committee as a fall out of the 2015 general election.

“However, a very careful examination of the inherent breaches in the procedures adopted in the convening of the meeting as well as the content and tone of its reso-

lution, shows an orchestration by a few individuals bent on sowing a seed of discord within the PDP fold in the zone.

“This is evident in the fact that the said communiqué, in no way reflected the views of majority of those who attended the meeting, neither did it tally with the opinion of the generality of our party members in the region.

“It is indeed undermining and a clear breach of protocol, the fact that a meeting of some leaders of the zone would be convened to discuss issues of the party’s presidential campaigns and the highest-ranking national officers of the party from the zone were excluded.

“This is in continuation of the apparent marginalisation of the National Working Committee

and the party structure at all levels in the handling of the presidential campaigns.

“Moreso, even some of those who attended the meeting were not privy to the agenda and the eventual content of the communiqué issued at the end.

“In view of the above therefore, it will be absolutely unpatriotic and against the wishes and aspirations of majority of our party members from the southwest, through whose mandate we occupy the offices of the National Secretary and the National Auditor respectively, if we concede to the demands in the communiqué, especially given the fact that as elected members of the National Working Committee, our positions have a tenure which lasts until March 2016.

ÎÎÎThe

Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Labour Party in conjunction with its national headquarters in Abuja has suspended 11 of its members and expelled five of its former state executive members.

A statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Prof.

Ekeng Anam-Ndu; state secretary, Elder Utip Etiebet, and endorsed by the National Deputy Chairman, Mr. Calistus Okafor, in Uyo, said the affected persons were investigated and found to be guilty of anti-party activities and display of unwarranted impunity.

APC challenges Dankwambo’s victory at tribunal

ÎÎÎThe All Progressives Con-

gress (APC) in Gombe State alongside its gubernatorial candidate during the last general election, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, have dragged Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Gombe.

Inuwa Yahaya and his party are seeking redress at the tribunal, saying some elements at INEC and the PDP connived and thwarted the results which Inuwa said he won.

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Political lesson from a lad Yinka Odumakin

ÎÎÎ The creative industry

in Nigeria had an evening of tributes for my friend, Oronto Natei Douglas at the Eko Hotel last Tuesday to celebrate the exit of a giant. It was an evening of tears and occasional laughter given the persona that was being celebrated.

Right from the opening prayer led by Nigerian ambassador to the U.S., Prof Ade Adefuye, through the beautiful renditions of Sammy Okposo and Timi Dakolo, to the tearful tributes of Ibinabo Fiberesima, Genevieve Nnaji, Von Kemedi and the exhortation of Pastor Hilda Dokubo, it was a night to

remember for a long time to come.

Former Governor Peter Obi, Culture Minister, Chief Edem Duke and AMCON boss, Mustafa ChikeObi were all on hand to add their voices to the night.

The greatest revelation of the night for me however was seeing Barrister Joi Nunieh dotting on Ogie Oronto-Douglas, the 10year old eldest son of the deceased throughout the event.

As we made our way out of the hall, I saw Joi still holding Ogei and she told me joyfully: “Ogei is my godson”.

Why that would appear surprising is that we live in an immature environment where people allow political prejudices to becloud relationship and in the process behave like savages. Oronto and Joi were of different political persuasions but here is Joi the godmother to Oronto’s son.

Ogei however put the whole issue in perspective in a handwritten tribute to his daddy on page 27 of “Unforgettable...” where he wrote as follows: “… you taught us to be non-tribalistic, to be friendly, to be humble and to be trusted in school. But most of all, I remember when I asked you why you were

Pupils E.K. Clark Preparatory School, Okoroba founded by the late Oronto Douglas paying last respect in Yenogoa at the weekend

in PDP and Mama Joy -my godmother was in CPC/ APC, you replied me by saying friendship comes over political parties.

When you said that, I learnt that friendship is very important in life no matter tribe, religion, political party or anything else”.

I have no doubt that Ogei will carry his father’s name forward as he wrote further in the tribute to his

dad having imbibed this lesson as a lad.

Above all, adults who behave like lunatics over politics must take their jotters and pencils to take lessons from this young boy whose mind has been framed by the one I called “one of the best of my generation”.

May Ogei’s tribe increase in the land where intolerance is the order of the day and people behave like Boko Haram if others

exercise choices different from their own.

Part of the reasons why democracy cannot grow yet in Nigeria is that most Nigerians are natural autocrats who find it difficult to allow other people to hold their views.

This tendency has made many parents to distort their children’s destinies by forcing them to take career paths they dictate against the natural inclina-

tions of these young ones.

These undemocratic demons slander those they cannot dictate to or even hire assassins to take out those they cannot dictate to. Must it be that?

Sri Chinmoy says: “Tolerance Is a secret and sacred way To enrich our human life. ~ Strength and tolerance Must be eternal partners To be victorious in life. ~India is not Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist.

India is India.

Its tolerance is more than ready To freely house all religions. ~ Tolerance is not peace, But from tolerance, In the near or distant future, Peace may blossom. ~ If I cannot have compassion-power, Let me have forgivenesspower.

If I cannot have forgiveness-power, Let me have tolerancepower.

If I cannot have tolerance-power, Let me at least delay My judgement-power.”

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

Life&

TIMES Monday, May 4, 2015

Christian

Olayinka From medicine to film making L2 P

Why you need a grey Sofa L4 P

Fertility diet

L5

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 4, 2015

Being a director is challenging Mildred Okwo. Mildred loved it and gave it to Rita Dominic. Rita immediately honed in on the character of Nikki and wanted to help tell her story. Once these top actors came concerned, Rita is the biggest female lead in our industry at the moment. I feel like she is the only one still acting. You look at that woman and you see the love for cinema in all that she does. While others are busy chasing this and that she has remained true to type, making Nigeria cinema the best that it can be.

The trailer of your movie is not looking bad. As a newbie in the industry, what brought about the project in the I wanted to do something completely different with the movie “The Guest” that would showcase my talent and that of my team but pre-production time came and a basic question arose. How do we make the money going into the production back? The answer to that question was not good so we decided to go smaller budget-wise. We went through all the projects we have lined up and less. So, we decided to write something new that would be designed to partner, Foluke Olaniyi about a story we read in a newspaper several years ago and we wrote a 120 page script inspired by it. However by the time pre production started, we discovered the movie was going to be big-budget as well.

How do you intend to make your productions different from My productions will always start with a well written and structured screenplay. No matter how “small” a able to understand, relate, connect and even go on a journey with the

- Christian Olayinka the direction the movie heads. While industry is a very lonely job as every decision however little, still often times needs the input of the director.

Hopefully as things get better in the industry, with more money and training, more people will specialize and get better at their jobs.

Share with us some of the equipments you are comfortable I am comfortable with all of them. For me, the tripod is the most important. However, I like cameras a lot. I do a lot of tests with them. As soon as a new camera comes out, I want to hold it, know

do anything unnecessarily because I have tracks and dolly on the set.

Is The Guest another regular movie or a cinema project based I shoot in such a way that I will have the latitude in post-production, ema.

Our country is blessed with a been privileged to meet some of to single out a handful of individuals when everyone is doing their job. I met a cinematographer who trained in the UK the other day and I was about lenses. I was delighted because my suspicions about Nigerian cinema heading towards greatness If you are given the opportunity to effect a change in the entertainment industry what will

reading or writing the screenplay.

-

From the beginning, my producer who is also my co-writer had her mind set on Rita Dominic. She has a gift for that sort of thing, you know, picking who should be cast in a role as soon as the idea for a story pops into our heads. I, on the other hand wanted someone that would ask for less money than Rita would. By chance, she met Femi Jacobs on

pages of the script to know if the story will deliver on its high concept.

I will also be able to tell if the characters are in sync or not which by the way is also essential in every.

from the producers and directors to gaffers and production designers, which will translate into better movers will make a substantial part of their investments back by the open-

T E A M

Life&

How easy or tough is directing a Directing a movie can be likened 9am to 5pm every day and packing them into a few weeks. Also, as a director everyone depends on you for

Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784

We have two other projects we are working on at the moment but we want to see The Guest all the way to the cinema and DVDs before we get on the road again. One thing is certain though, there are bigger and better things from Banner Films God willing.

any choice but to support me.

As a director what do you look I look out for a solid high concept whenever a story idea comes up. If

So what other project is your

when I called my parents and told them that I will rather make movies instead of being a medical

can do, limitations and so on.

If you are to reel out your

individual projects. In other words, I am not going to bring a crane on a

stand the awful quality of these pirated copies.

What is that bold step you have ever taken in

Your movie features two winners of the AMVCA awards. Why were

gave him a copy of our script. He read it, liked it, and passed it on to

ones will get a chance to watch and get the theatre experience with the same amount money at a local theatre in their neighbourhood. There are lots of people in every neighbourhood in Nigeria willing to spend money to watch a

it makes sense to bring the movies to them. Often even realize they are buying pirated copies of a movie. You bring the theatre to every street in Lagos, s o o n

piracy will also decline because the audience who sometimes spend the same amount of money on pirated copies of movies as the authentic

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893

Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478

Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 4, 2015

L3 Men’s grooming

Clean up your Nkarenyi Ukonu

act

Males tend to joke about how long a woman takes to get ready when they groom themselves, but in reality, male grooming is becoming more and more common. The

Ngoli Okafor 1. Exfoliation 2. Cleansing

Clinique exfoliating scrub

Exfoliation

breakouts It is the secret to better looking skin.

Cleansing

How to exfoliate

skin tone.

Exfoliating mask for men

Steps to using a face wash Start by washing your hands to remove any grease, grime and germs

Blemish control face wash

Nubo exfoliating cleanser

Exfoliating hand glove

Living & Decor L4

11

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 4, 2015

Grey couch

reasons to love a gray sofa

Grey and purple sofa

Nkarenyi Ukonu

Some design decisions are -

-

-

3 -

10

6

4

8 -

2 -

1

-

7 5

-

9

-

-

-

Grey sofa with orange walls

-

-

-

-

Grey couch with hot hues

11

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Light gray sofa

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 4, 2015

L5

Nutrition

Fertility Diet:

Eat &

conceive Judith Frank-Edet

JudithJudith463@yahoo.com

Good nutrition is the foundation to fertility. There is no magic food that would give you a baby bump in the next few well as male) fertility is zinc. According to research, the consumption of at least 15 mg of zinc a day can increase semen and testosterone production in men and ovulation and fertility in women. Zinc plays a positive role in female fertility by promoting

Beans: beans are an excellent fertility enhancer. One cup of beans provides the same amount of protein as a serving of meat, nurses who were actively trying to get pregnant and found

extend its shelf life. However, beyond eating a generally healthy diet, there are some foods that may be particularly helpful when trying to conceive. They are:

Dairy

Groundnut: For men, a couple of handfuls of ground-

good for the bones but also for reproductive health. Some - ids on the sperm health of 117 healthy men aged 21 to 35.

Those that ate 75 grams of Omega-3 rich groundnut experienced improvement in sperm vitality, motility, and morphology. The nut-free control group experienced no changes.

trying to conceive. So go for beans.

Fish:

Fish contains essential fats called omega-3 fatty acids, which your body needs for optimal fertility. Omega-3

contain mercury which is toxic to a developing fetus and

are trying to conceive.

Foods to avoid

Yams: State called Igbo-Ora which has the highest number of twin births in the whole world suggested that yam contains a high level of ovulation-stimulating substance called phytoestrogen which accounts for the high level of multiple births. Phy-

Carrots: Sterility, researchers from Harvard University found out that

follicle stimulating hormone and may induce a higher rate of ovulation. This chemical component is concentrated in the tion, the release of more than one egg, which usually leads

rotenoids, chemical responsible for giving foods their familiar color. The human body converts carotenoids into health-

worth the try.

healthy sperm and neutralize free radicals.

Red meat: Eating too much red meat may increase the amount of ammonia in the body, which can interfere with the detrimental for men as it increases acidity and affects sperm

Continue on page 7

Buzz Bytes L6 Stories by: Opeoluwani Akintayo & Mutiat Alli

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 4, 2015

Timi Dakolo is voice coach to Nigerian Idol contestants

Olamide to represent West Africa at AUC-AFRIMA in Ethiopia Hip-hop act and rapper, Adedeji Olamide, famously ad-

joint conference of the African Union, AU, and All Africa Mu-

ners expected at the joint conference are Ahmed Soultan

-

Timi Dakolo

Star Music Trek 2015 begins …as 2face Idibia, Davido, Wizkid, others unveiled as headlines

Olamide

Reekado Banks thrills fans @ The Stage Unplugged

-

-

Reekado Banks

Is Kunle Afolayan leaving Nigeria?

Filmmakers to enjoy BOI fund dustry announced a special product

-

Oc-

-

-

movie producers and make technical Kunle Afolayan

Rasheed Olaoluwa, MD, Band of Industry

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 4, 2015

L7 Buzz Bytes

Stories by: Opeoluwani Akintayo & Mutiat Alli

ON Set

Movie title: Black Val

Movie title: To Love a sister

Produced by: Grenville production, directed by: Aneke Twins, Produced by: Iyabo Ojo Cast: Mercy aigbe-gentry, Patience ozokwor, Aneke chidebere, Aneke chindinma, Nicholas frank, Melissa Directed by: Desmond Elliot, Sadiq Adebayo Cast: Iyabo Ojo, Tina Mba, Desmond Elliot, Belinda Effah, Priscilla Ojo, edozie, cynthiaa okereke, solomon akinyesi, princess chineke.

Location: Enugu.

Antar laniyan, Seun Akindele, Chacha, Adegbola Gbeminiyi.

Location: Ajah, Eleko, Lagos

Gossip scene BV belinda Effa and Iyabo Ojo

Cast and crew

Patience Ozorkwor Tina Mba plays aged mother alongside Desmond Elliot

Picture frame of shot

Solomon-Akiyesi on set

PHOTO OF THE DAY Davido flaunts customised gold necklace pendant on Instagram

Picture frame of shot

Nutrition

Fertility Diet: Eat & conceive Continued from page 5

Foods to avoid

Coffee: If you want to be pregnant, ditch coffee. Even a

insulin resistance, which can cause or exacerbate PCOS, a condition that affects ovulation and is one of the leading causes of female infertility.

relatively small intake of caffeine can have a seriously negative effect on conception. A study conducted by Yale University School of Medicine claims that the risk of reduced fertility is higher in women who consume caffeine, especially in women who drink more than three cups of coffee a day.

This is because the muscles in your fallopian tubes contract in smooth, rhythmic waves to help your egg on its journey to your uterus. Caffeine could however disrupt this rhythmic pattern of movement.

Alcohol:The

effects of alcohol on fertility are greater than you may think. Even moderate alcohol consumption may lower fertility. Research shows that women who conrate.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 4, 2015

Showing on

Showing on

108 M-Net Movie Showcase

131 Lifeime Channel

01:00

05:50

Mon, 4 May | Family

Mon, 4 May | 16VS

Denzel Washington is caught in a web of betrayal, manipulation and conspiracy in this action-packed thriller about a highly respected cop who makes one wrong move. Eva Mendes, Sanaa Lathan, Denzel Washington. (2003) Carl Franklin.

101 M-Net West

L8 Television

audience away with an inappropriate dance number. She is hoping that this will give them their next big win. But it

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:05 New Tricks

03:30 EastEnders 00:50 The Reluctant Fundamentalist 03:00 The Legend Of Hercules 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 Modern Family 06:30 The Newsroom 07:30 The Fixer 08:30 Celebrity Masterchef

05:00 Fool Britannia 06:00 The Thin Blue Line 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty

06:30 EastEnders

07:00 Fearless Heart 07:50 Queen Of Hearts

08:00 The Weakest Link -

08:50 The Chase 09:30 Forbidden Passions

09:35 Total Wipeout UK

lionaire?

03:25 Trisha

Show

05:00 The Test 06:05 Baggage Show

06:30 Trisha

155 AfricaMagic World 20:30 Elementary

20:20 Queen Of Hearts

22:30 Mob City

22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love

08:05 One On One 08:30 Girlfriends tigation

154 AfricaMagic Family 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 The Patient 08:35 Living With Trisha

Dumas 00:00 Rovieno

07:55 Star Gist 08:30 Prem

02:25 Jara 20:50 Crossing Lines

AJAYI

keen to X3 receive Gunners nod

Poster!

OGENYI ONAZI

X4,5 Monday, May 4, 2015

!

S E U L B UP IFT

X7

CHELSEA L EPL TITLE

IBRAHIM

scores in historic cup tie X3

Fight of the century!

Pacquiao blames loss to injury X7

X2

Monday, May 4, 2015

EXTRATIME

Expectations from ‘The Big Boss’ O

n Tuesday, April 22, Coach Stephen Keshi put pen to paper and signed a two-year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles for the second time.

The ceremony took many stakeholders of football in the country by surprise since the ceremony suffered lots of postponements in the past.

However, the sign-on ceremony was seen as a welcome development by many stakeholders of Nigerian football, while some had their reservations following a long disagreement between NFF and Keshi.

In his first spell as the head coach of the Super Eagles ‘The Big Boss’ as he is fondly called won the 2013 Africa

Cup of Nations before things went awry, thus his deal was not renewed immediately after the 2014 World Cup. As if that was not enough, Keshi failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations which made his case a bad one.

HT observed that NFF in a bid to keep Keshi on his toes on the new job, set several targets for him with a ‘threat’ that his contract will be terminated if he does not meet them.

A peep into the 53-yearold contract details showed that he will be required to sign a code of conduct clause and he is expected to work closely with the NFF technical committee which looks challenging for Keshi who might want to go out of his

way in the long run to achieve success without interference from the administrator at the Glass House.

Like a man who has turned a new leaf to life in his quest for excellence, Keshi revealed that he has learnt a lot during the passing months and sees the opportunity to serve again in the capacity of a head coach of the Super Eagles as a fresh beginning.

With both parties having agreed to work in harmony, things are once again looking up in the new dispensation.

But HT fears that the expectations of Nigerians this time will be much and highly demanding, thus there must be need for caution.

The NFF must be sincere in all its pronouncements to give Keshi the much-needed atmosphere to turn things around by rebuilding the Super Eagles to a rock-solid side.

Already the Super Eagles have been drawn in one of the toughest-looking groups, alongside seven-time champions Egypt, Tanzania and Chad for the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

From the foregoing, it’s right at this point to analyse the significance of the return of the ‘Big Boss’.

Former Executive Board member of the world football ruling body (FIFA), Dr. Amos Adamu, revealed that Keshi’s return was the return of continuity and bright future for our beautiful game.

“It is of great importance that this matter was resolved amicably and Keshi reinstated. I hope all the parties have learnt a lesson from this scenario because Keshi’s capability to take the Super Eagles to the next level is not in doubt having won the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and a coach.

“His return will definitely give him the opportunity to correct his past mistakes because no one is above making mistakes,” he said.

Former Nigerian international and ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Joe Erico said Keshi’s return is the beginning of a new dawn for Nigerian football and called on soccer fans to support Keshi in his new quest of rebuilding the senior national team to a world–conquering side.

Therefore, it is the stand of HT that Keshi must see to a seamless transition of the U-20 players to the Super Eagles because in his earlier stint, he was slow in bringing exciting young talent to the squad.

These young lads whose games are on the rise must be part of Keshi’s long-term plan and he must be willing to help develop world-class coaches back home!

“Therefore, it is the stand of HT that Keshi must see to a seamless transition of the U-20 players to the Super Eagles because in his earlier stint, he was slow in bringing exciting young talent to the squad.”

Monday, May 4, 2015

EXTRATIME

NIGERIAN PLAYERS ABROAD

WITH MIKE OTANWA

Ajayi keen to receive Arsenal’s nod

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rsenal loanee, Semi Ajayi, will have to wait until the end of the season before knowing whether he will be retained by Cardiff City.

Apparently, the Gunners hierarchy loaned the AngloNigerian out to the Championship club on March 25 to enable him get a taste of first team football.

If that was Arsenal’s intention there has been no progress, with the central defender failing to make Cardiff City’s matchday squad after five weeks at the Welsh side. ‘’We will find out if Cardiff City will offer Semi Ajayi a new contract at the end of the season,’’ the 21 - yearold’s representative said. ‘’At the moment he is just focused on playing for Cardiff City, we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.’’

Ajayi’s contract with Arsenal will run out in the summer, and there’s no word yet from the Londoners if the agreement will be extended.

Ajayi

Elohor G plays first game after one year

odswill Ekpolo Elohor returned back to the playing pitch for Barcelona B team after almost a year out injured in his side 1-0 friendly victory over CF Damm.

Coach of Barcelona B team Jordi Vinyals who coached the right full back at the Juvenile level before making the step up to the B team included him in the squad for the friendly game after watching him train for two weeks.

Elohor

F

ormer JUTH FC and Enyimba striker Moshood Kasali has said that he is excited to have scored the first-ever hat-trick since he turned professional.

The Jos-born forward scored three goals as Al Ahli club of Sudan beat Shemali 3-1 in the Sudanese league game.

He is the leading scorer in the second division league in Sudan with seven goals in nine matches for the table topping Al Ahli.

“I feel so happy and excited to score a hat-trick; that is the first time I will get three goals since I turned professional as a player. I am so delighted with this and I look forward to more of such,” Kasali enthused.

He is also dreaming of taking his side to the topflight.

“We are leading the table now and I am the top scorer in the league with seven goals. I thank God for His blessing. My dream is to help my team win promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season,” he concluded.

First hat-trick excites Kasali E

Kasali

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The Nigerian who injured his meniscus in a game for Barca B in the Catalunya Cup in May last year lasted 60 minutes as he suffered cramp and had to be replaced.

Elohor who turned 20 two weeks ago was heavily tipped to play a big role in the Barcelona B team this season in the Spanish second division after captaining the Juvenile team to success in the youth championship but the injury scuttled his ambition.

IGHALO eyes crowning moment with Watford

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espite gaining promotion to the English Premier League (EPL) next season, Watford striker, Odion Ighalo, says the job isn’t done yet.

The 25-year old has scored 20 goals in 37 games in all competitions this season for the Hornets, which has helped them earn a return to the English topflight, but he says the next goal is to win the championship.

“I feel happy that we have gained promotion to the Premier League and I feel proud to be a part of this club but we are not done yet,” he said.

“We have still have one more goal which is to win the championship and by then we will all be fulfilled,” he added.

Ighalo says it will be a complete season if they win the title.

“It will be a complete season for us because we have given so much this season and it will be our crowning moment to win it,” he stated.

Ighalo

Ibrahim scores in historic Cup triumph

x-Nigeria youth international, Rabiu Ibrahim, wrote his name in gold as he won a historic Slovakia Cup with AS Trencin.

The former Sporting Lisbon midfielder was on song in Friday’s Cup final when he leveled scores at 1-1 in the 36th minute, as his team beat FK Senica 3-2 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 apiece.

The former Gateway FC of Abeokuta star has been on good form for his side as he also scored in the cup semifinal.

Another former Nigeria U-20 star, Kingsley Madu, was the other Nigerian on the triumphant Trencin team.

Meanwhile, Nigeria international, Kenneth Omeruo, was an unused substitute as Middlesbrough kept a clean sheet at the Riverside Stadium against Brighton & Hove, while Arsenal loanee, Chuba Akpom joined the fray in the 46th minute but failed to open his goal account for Forest in his sixth appearance.

Ibrahim

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Monday, May 4, 2015

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Ogenyi Ona

Monday, May 4, 2015

EXTRATIME

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About Ogenyi Onazi

Ogenyi Eddy Onazi (born December 25, 1992) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club Lazio and the Nigeria national football team.

He began playing football on the streets of Jos at an early age in 1998. His football skills and abilities drew a lot of attention to him and afforded him the opportunity to play in some academies in the city.

His footballing abilities came to prominence when he moved to the city of Lagos to play for My People, a team founded and funded by Senior Prophet T.B Joshua.

He joined Lazio in 2011, alongside his teammate, Sani Emmanuel. The pair trialled in Italy following their impressive performances at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, in which Nigeria reached the final on home soil, losing to Switzerland.

Personal Information

azi

Name: Ogenyi Onazi Full name: Ogenyi Eddy Onazi Date of birth: December 25, 1992 (age 22) Place of birth: Jos, Nigeria Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Playing position: Central Midfielder Current team: Lazio Number: 23 Youth career El Kanemi Warriors My People 2011–2012: Lazio Senior career 2012–Present: Lazio National team 2009: Nigeria U-17 2011: Nigeria U-20

Onazi was first promoted to the Lazio first team during the 2011–12 season after impressing at youth level.

On September 22, 2014, he signed a twoyear contract extension with Italian Serie A club Lazio until 2018.

He made his debut for the Super Eagles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Liberia.

Onazi’s first goal came in just in his second international match, a 3-1 friendly win over Venezuela in Florida.

He was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and featured in every minute of all Nigeria’s games in the knockout phase, including the final which the Super eagles won.

Onazi was named in Nigeria’s final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and started in all four games as Nigeria finished second in their group and were eliminated by France at the Round of 16.

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Monday, May 4, 2015

EXTRATIME

INTERVIEW FIFA Women’s World Cup Simple Plan team

SIMPLE PLAN: Canadians are warm and welcoming International music superstars Simple Plan have sold millions of albums and toured all over the world since forming over 15 years ago, but their heart remains back home in Montreal. It was back in Canada, at an event for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by CocaCola that FIFA.com caught up with Jeff, Seb and Pierre to discuss the upcoming Women’s World Cup in the country, their connection with football in their youth, and their thoughts on the sport’s potential for growth in Canada. Excerpts: Did you grow up playing soccer?

Jeff: Yes, I did. I played all through my youth. A lot of my friends played hockey but I played soccer, I loved it. I got to travel across a few cities doing it. I wasn’t the best player, but I was definitely motivated!

Seb: I didn’t play that much, all my friends did though. It looked really cool but I was never any good at team sports. Soccer’s really big in and around Montreal.

Pierre: I played for a little bit when I was really young, then just played for fun later on in life. I was actually on a team for a couple of years. I don’t know if I was good, I think I was OK. We played a lot of soccer in our last video for ‘Summer Paradise’, it was fun, on the beach. We played against kids from Barbados, and they won. We let them win, even if they were better than us!

Do you think Canadian soccer players will ever be as loved as (hockey star) Sidney Crosby, (basketball legend) Steve Nash and (former UFC champion) Georges St-Pierre?

Jeff: It all depends on how good they get! The level is becoming better and soccer in general in Montreal is becoming a bigger thing. What’s amazing really is in the summer when you see a lot of little cafes where people watch the games and there’s a really great spirit around it. They don’t necessarily compete with hockey because it’s in the summer so I can see it growing. It has potential.

Pierre: I think in Montreal, in Canada, hockey will always have the hearts of the people - it’s always going to be the number one sport. But I think soccer can definitely gain more and more popularity. What’s great about football is that anyone can play it, you just need a ball. You can stick two shirts on the ground as your goals, that’s why it’s the most popular sport internationally. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor or live anywhere, you can play soccer. You can get amazing at it by just owning a ball, that’s it.

Women’s football is more popular than women’s hockey for sure though.

Why do you think Canada will be a good host of the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer?

Seb: Because Canadian people are awesome!

Jeff: We’re great hosts because we’re very warm, very welcoming.

The sport is getting bigger, there’s more attention towards it. In Canada, summer’s amazing.

Seb: Summer is awesome because winter is horrible!

Pierre: We’re known around the world for being one of the friendliest countries I think too. We’re always apologising for no reason! Everyone’s really friendly here, so it’s going to be a great opportunity to show the friendliness and the welcoming qualities of Canada.

FIFA Women’s World Cup action

Are you going to be around this summer?

Pierre: We’ll be here and there. We’ve got some shows coming up, we’re actually heading to Europe in August.

But we’ll be around I’m sure.

Seb: I would love to see a game. Brazil and Sweden I think are really good.

Monday, May 4, 2015

EXTRATIME

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Athletics

World Relays: Kilty disappointed over Britain’s poor show

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printer Richard Kilty said he felt “let down” by absent squad members as Great Britain’s 4x100m team failed to qualify for the Olympics via the IAAF World Relays.

GB came ninth in the heats in Nassau, narrowly missing the A final and an early shot at Rio qualification.

Britain were edged out by just 0.06 seconds before USA took gold followed by Jamaica and Japan.

“I personally feel let down by the guys that haven’t come out,” Kilty said.

“We’ve got a massive chance of a medal in Rio next year and it’s a disappointment that people aren’t making themselves available to come out here and perform.”

Teams who qualify for, and

complete, finals at the event in Nassau will be guaranteed a place in Rio next summer.

The remaining eight teams will be selected according to the world rankings as of July 2016.

Among the runners missing from the GB squad in the Bahamas are Commonwealth 100m silver medallist Adam Gemili, fellow European 4x100m champion James Dasaolu, as well as sub-10 second runner Chijindu Ujah and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

The reasons given for them skipping the trip ranged from minor injuries to permitted absence due to university exams and summer outdoor plans.

Victorious Floyd Mayweather (right) with Manny Pacquiao after their fight at the weekend.

Boxing

Shattered dream!

PACQUIAO BLAMES INJURY FOR LOSS TO MAYWEATHER

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anny Pacquiao blamed a shoulder injury for his defeat by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, claiming it stopped him from using his right hand.

American Mayweather, 38, outclassed his Philippine rival at the MGM Grand and was awarded a wide unanimous decision.

Pacquiao, 36, said he thought he

Ohuruogu

did enough to win the fight, despite most observers agreeing with the verdict.

“Three weeks before the fight I got a tear in my right shoulder,” he said. “It got better but it wasn’t 100%.”

Mayweather started the brighter of the two and rocked Pacquiao with a number of right hand counter punches in the early exchanges.

The Filipino came back at the American in the fourth round, stunning Mayweather with a left hand and again in the sixth round but was never able to back it up and Mayweather ran out a comfortable winner on the judges’ scorecards.

Pacquiao said he wanted to have an injection in the shoulder before the fight but the Nevada Athletic Commission refused.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, claimed he informed the Commission of the injury five days ago and defended the decision not to cancel the fight, the most lucrative in boxing history.

Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar said he first knew about the injury two hours before the fight, when Pacquiao’s camp requested a doctor sit in his corner, a request that was denied.

Mayweather, a five-weight world champion, said he was also carrying injuries to both arms and hands, as he also criticised those who doubted him, telling them he had made them “eat their words”.

He plans to relinquish his titles in September after his final bout which would be a non-championship fight.

Athletics

OHURUOGU returns to track in July

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orld 400m c h a m p i o n C h r i s t i n e Ohuruogu will compete at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, in the former Olympic Stadium, at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from July 24-26.

The 2008 Olympic champion will take on the world’s best 400m runners at the three-day athletics event which will also include star names such as British Olympic champions and fellow 2012 medallists Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford.

The event includes a two-day Diamond League meeting on July 24-25, with the Sainsbury’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final taking place on July 26.

The British record holder will also defend the world title she won for the second time in Moscow in 2013 when she lines up at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing in August and believes that the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games will provide an important test coming just four weeks out from the championships.

Chelsea players celebrate after winning the EPL title yesterday.

CHELSEA secure Premier League title Football

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helsea secured the Premier League title after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho’s side needed three points to complete the triumph that has become an inevitability in recent weeks as they moved out of sight of their rivals to reclaim the crown from Manchester City.

And victory was secured by Eden

Hazard’s goal on the stroke of halftime, the Belgian heading past Julian Speroni after the Palace goalkeeper had saved the PFA Player of the Year’s penalty.

That gave Mourinho his third title as Chelsea manager, and the first of his second spell in charge. It is the club’s fifth top-flight title and comes five years after their last and 60 years since their first.

The celebrations that swept around Stamford Bridge at the final whistle were fully deserved for a Chelsea side who have set the pace since the start of the season.

Chelsea - champions for the first time since 2010 - will finish the season with two trophies, having also claimed the League Cup in March with victory over Tottenham at Wembley.

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Monday, May 4, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

FEDERATION WATCH

WITH OSARETIN EMUZE

YAKMUT

vows to uplift sports development A

Yakmut

MILO BASKETBALL: Competition hots up at Atlantic Conference

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ction at the Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Competition has been keen at the Atlantic Conference holding at Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Complex in Benin. Extra Time gathered that the girls are set to battle for the semifinal tickets.

However, followers of the game see the departure of Delta State to Western Conference in Ibadan as a clear way for Bayelsa State to pick the ticket at the final of Atlantic Conference.

Coach Philip Ojo of Idia College, Benin, said they are ready to outdunk Abia Team. ‘’My team will slug it out with Marist Academy Uturu, Abia State. I am not underrating the Abia team,

cting Director General (DG), National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut, has vowed to take sports in Nigeria to the next level.

Last week, the Plateau State-born DG lived up to his billing as he paid a surprise visit to the secretariats of many sporting federations to the admiration of the workers who expressed joy at seeing him.

He assured them of government’s support and took time out to watch some of the matches at the ongoing Zenith Bank Basketball League at the Abuja National Stadium.

The DG also told Extra Time that he was delighted to be at the helm

in NSC at a time technocrats are needed to stir the ship of sports to the next level.

The former volleyball player said he would follow the footsteps of past Director Generals like Dr. Amos Adamu and Chief Patrick Ekeji who worked hard to reposition sports development in the country.

“They succeeded because they have been in sports all their lives.

Their excellent performances during their time was not by accident, but by hard work gained through experience on the job.

“I’m a career civil servant that has risen to this position, so I know what it takes to move sports forward. I will work assiduously to seeing that

but I am sure my girls will show class in the Atlantic Conference final’’.

Reacting, Marist Academy coach, Nathaniel Idobogbe, revealed that his girls have been groomed to take on any team.

In the Boys category, the stage is set for the quarterfinal matches as St Augustine Seminary Ebonyi will take on Rochas Foundation College, Owerri, while Belary School Yenogoa battles Marist Brothers Juniorate Uturu, Abia State.

In other quarter final matches, Henson Demonstration School, Benin City will battle Ritman College, Ikot Ekpene, while Emerid School Port Harcourt will slug it out with National Grammar School Nike, Enugu State.

Nigeria returns to its glorious days in sports.

“I’m also a sports administrator who played the game and administered it from the beginning, so I will surely work hard to uplift this industry,” he stressed.

Yakmut who was former Sole Administrator of Plateau State Sports Council said he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches.

“My first priority right now is the preparation for the All Africa Games coming up in Congo Brazzaville in September this year. Very soon the Athletes will be called to close camping and by the grace of God Nigeria will do very well in Congo,” he concluded.

Action at the Okpekpe Road Race.

AAG Qualifiers: Team Nigeria Okpekpe bubbles for half marathon intensify training in volleyball

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eam Nigeria volleyball male team has intensify their training at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Abuja in preparation for the All Africa Games Qualifier against Burkina Faso.

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Tony Oghuma, is optimistic that the Team Nigeria will triumph in the twolegged competition against Burkina Faso.

Oghuma who has won gold and silver as a player and coach appeals to Nigerians to pray for the team.

“We will do our best to prepare well for the qualifiers, but Nigerians should pray for us to succeed,” he stressed.

The national coach, Japheth Nuhu, corroborated Oghuma’s statement saying they are ready for Burkina Faso.

“We have been in camp for quite a while now, and we have prepared seriously for the two games, home and away matches. By the grace of Allah we shall beat them to the all Africa Games ticket,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President of NVBF, Engr Habu Gumel, said the team had been given the necessary encouragement to perform well and qualify for the All Africa Games.

“I am optimistic that both Nigeria male and female teams will be in Congo for the Games come September,” he stated.

O

wing to the enthusiasm that now heralds the hosting of the Okpekpe 10-kilometer road race, most of the indigenes of Okpekpe are back home to witness the May 16 competition.

The National President, Okpekpe Clan Development Union (OCDU), Sir Ellams Umogane, revealed to Extra time in a telephone chat that they are enthusiastic to witness the event.

He noted that since the legendary tale of the tournament has struck a chord around the world in 2013, so many indigenes and non-indigenes have vowed to come and see things for themselves this time around.

“To some people, the advertorial on the television and newspapers has put the entire clans on their toes

with great expectations for this year’s race.

“These people have insisted on witnessing this year’s event, while some of them deliberately refused to travel home for Easter because they want to be part of this year’s history making event,” Umogane said.

According to him, Okpekpe residents are already looking forward to seeing that day.

Commending the effort of the organizers of the event, Umogane noted that the community will always provide the friendly environment required for the event to thrive.

Umogane said: “You see, our joy doesn’t seem to have any bound since the maiden edition of the road race. Indeed, it has rekindled that

pride that I am an Okpekpe man.

Once, I say I am from Okpekpe, the next question people ask me is, is that not the community that hosts the road race?”

Meanwhile, former Edo State Sports Commissioner, Chris Okaeben has been named the Events Director of the 3rd IAAF Okpekpe Road Race, while Stella Nwala serves as the secretary.

The organisers have also decided to move the secretariat of the race from Benin to Auchi after a world press conference on May 12 and athletes who have not registered for the race have also been advised to pick free entry forms at various designated centres in Benin, Auchi and Okpekpe from May 5.