Daily Times of Nigeria Newspaper - 8th of April

EXCHANGE RATES AS AT 7th April 2015.

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN)

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 7th April 2015.

GAINERS

Selling(NGN)

LOSERS

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

NESTLE

980

43.40

4.43%

SEPLAT

400.71

-43.28

POUNDS STERLING

291.8048

292.5492

293.2936

GLAXOSMITH

56.26

5.22

9.28%

FO

207.5

-7.50

-3.61%

160

-6.25

-3.91%

133.37

-5.63

-4.22%

EURO

212.66

SWISS FRANC

213.2025

203.6364

204.1558

213.745

TOTAL

182

1.93

1.06%

NB

204.6753

CAP

35.66

1.66

4.66%

GUINNESS

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.82

ABUJA Low 26°C High 39°C

ENUGU Low 26°C High 37°C

KANO Low 26°C High 44°C

LAGOS Low 26°C High 35°C

MAIDUGURI Low 32°C High 47°C

-10.80%

N150

P/HARCOURT Low 24°C High 32°C

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APC can’t afford to lose Lagos – Buhari 6

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One dies as soldiers stop 6 anti-Fayose lawmakers’ sitting

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Politics Page Three

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Editorial Marking World Health Day

Y

esterday, April 7, the international community marked the World Health Day. The day, which coincides with the establishment of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948, is held every year to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health. The theme of this year’s celebration “Food Safety” intends to highlight the dangers associated with unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances that are responsible for more than 200 diseases and is linked to the deaths of more than two million people annually, mostly children. As a body, the World Health Organisation advocates food safety as a shared responsibility from farmers and manufacturers to vendors and consumers, while raising awareness on the role each has to play in ensuring that the food we consume is safe.

Definitely, the theme for this year is very apt, especially for Nigeria and her citizens. Available statistics show that more than malnutrition contributes more than 50 percent of mortality among children less than five years. In recent times, there has been unprecedented number of food-borne disease outbreak, hence the need to improve the quality of food processing in the country. Experts posit that the contamination of food and feeds arising from naturally occurring toxicants, microbiological contaminants, and chemical contaminants such as additives used above the permitted levels, pesticide and veterinary residues in food or as toxic components from food

processing could have deleterious effects in humans and animals. Bacterial food-borne diseases caused by species of Salmonella, Clostridium, Campylobacter and Escherichia including presence of mycotoxins produced by toxigenic fungi in food and feed exacerbates endemic diseases such as malaria, hepatitis, HIV with consequent acute and chronic effects. Similarly, improper use of food additives such as artificial sweeteners could result in various ailments ranging from gastrointestinal disorders to carcinogenesis and death. A WHO manual for Integrated Food borne Disease Surveillance, states that ensuring food safety is a critical and fundamental component of public health and food security.

It also noted that efficient food safety and quality programmes reduce food losses by about 30 percent, which is important for food security. The report shows that key response gaps include lack of policy coherence among the different sectors, inadequate food safety capacities, inadequate financial investments, fragmented food control systems, weak food borne disease surveillance, obsolete food regulation and weak law enforcement and the inability of small- and medium-scale producers to provide safe food. That is why a coalition of Civil Society Organisation(CSOs) are advocating a food and nutrition secured Nigeria. We therefore urge Nigerians to desist from consuming fatty food and ensure their food, is properly cooked, even as government at all levels should take full responsibility of campaigning for food safety, personal hygiene and exclusive breast feeding by nursing mothers.

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Blinded by partisanship or mischief?

Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏSince

President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat in the March 28, 2015 general election, a subtle campaign has been undertaken by some politicians and their sympathisers to diminish the statesmanship in the action.

Recall that hours before the the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the result on April 1, 2015, declaring General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the poll, Jonathan had telephoned Buhari to concede defeat and congratulate him over his victory.

That singular action not

only doused the tension that had built up across Nigeria, but also averted spilling of the blood of countless citizens and the destruction of property. Rather than boil as widely expected by several countries, international and local doomsday prophets, Jonathan’s action blew away the dark clouds that hung over Nigeria on account of the poll.

That decision by Jonathan to concede defeat shamed the hawks that had assembled their war arsenals to feast on Nigeria and Nigerians.

The arms and ammunition they had stockpiled for sale to groups in Nigeria to fight against one another could not be deployed. They were roundly disappointed, all because true to his word, President Jonathan refused to allow his ambition to result

Words On Marble :

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in the spilling of the blood of any Nigerian.

But those who want to diminish the statesmanship in Jonathan’s action must realise that no presidential candidate in the history of Nigeria from independence had ever lost, much less concede defeat . Even where they were roundly defeated, these candidates cried foul over the poll result, wasted the nation’s precious time in endless litigation, and even stoked crises which resulted in the deaths of many Nigerians.

So, while those who want Nigerians to believe that Jonathan’s action is nothing spectacular can continue in their chosen path, they must realise that but for that action, the peace pervading Nigeria at present would have been in tatters.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

Chief Commercial Officer

Deputy Editors

Noel Anosike

Doyin Awomosu

Group Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Tunji Okegbola

Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Acting Bureau Chief, Northern Operations Lateef Ibrahim

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Segun Adio Okay Osuji

Sports Editor

Andrew Ekejiuba

Head of Operations Innocent Nwankwo

Adetayo Adelaja Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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

Angela Davis

Barbara Jordan

Malcolm X

Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary’s life.

When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.

Fairness is an across-theboard requirement for all our interactions with each other ...Fairness treats everybody the same.

Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

I’ll work with Buhari – Edwin Clark

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (left); and PresidentElect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) during a courtesy visit to Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State… on Tuesday

Nigerian troops capture Alagarno

Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏNigerian

troops, Tuesday morning, recaptured Alagarno in Borno State, after an early morning successful raids on all terrorists camps. The town is the major haven of terrorists, ahead of Sambisa forest, and it was been used as camps.

The Defence Headquarters, in a statement signed by Major General Chris Olukolade, said that a number of weapons and equipment were captured during the operation.

“Items captured from the terrorists included armoured vehicles, several arms and ammunition of various sizes and calibres, power generating sets, grenades and improvised explosives devices (IEDs), bows and arrows, megaphones and rolls of copper cable, which the terrorists used as one of the materials to make IEDs.” “Cordon and search as well as mop-up of the community is still ongoing to make the environment safe for displaced locals to return,” he assured.

He explained that aside being one of the strongholds of terrorists in the state, Alagarno also provided routes used by the terrorists to neighbouring towns and countries.

Presidential poll renews hope of a new Nigeria – Akin-Atere

ÏÏÏA former Minister of Infor-

mation and leader of the Ijaws of South South , Chief Edwin Clark, has pledged to work with the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(rtd.).

Clark said he would support the new president the way he supported the late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

The Ijaw leader stated this in a congratulatory message sent to Gen. Buhari.

The statement read in part, “I

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congratulate you and reassure you that as you get to commence the process of peaceful transition and government, you will have my full support, as a man who strongly believes in the unity of Nigeria, just as I supported our most respected late President, Umaru Yar’Adua, and his successor, President Jonathan, as along as you will, at all times, uphold the dignity of Nigeria and those things that bind us together as one united country.

“Remember that part of our old National Anthem, which says, ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’

“This was exactly what the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa stood for, and the late Martin Luther Kings Jnr of the United States of America fought and died for.”

Osinbajo receives 5,000 PDP defectors in Kaduna Sunday Isuwa Abuja

ÏÏÏVice

President-elect, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, received over 5,000 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decampees into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southern Kaduna area of Kaduna State.

Prominent among the decapees were Maj. Gen. S. B. S. Biliyock (retd), a former member of the House of Representatives, Ruth Jummai Ango; a former

commissioner and Attorney General, Barrister Zakari A. Sogfa, and 114 immediate past councillors from eight local government areas of the zone.

While speaking during a meeting with the leadership of churches in Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, Osinbajo, who said that the PDP did great harm to the Nigerian nation, using religion and playing divisive politics, also added that only righteousness will redeem Nigeria and not manipulation of reli-

gion for political power.

According to Osinbajo, if Nigerians don’t stand up to kill corruption, the menace will kill the country and collapse its weak institutions. “The PDP has done more harm to Nigeria, playing the religious card to just consolidate power. It is dangerous and more deadly for this nation.

I am here to say that only righteousness exalts a nation, and the people of Southern Kaduna must rise up to ensure that manipulators of religion are defeated.

“What Nigerians need is nothing but a government that will make necessary sacrifice for peace and development of the country. When I was nominated as running mate, many criticised me that ‘why will I agree to pair with an extremist?’ We all know it is manipulation. Buhari never participated in anything related to extremism. It was purely blackmail and, at the end, the truth is out. I urge the people here to stand firm and support what will bring about the common good.”

Defection rumour: Ondo APC vows to reject Mimiko Tosin Ajuwon

ÏÏÏThe All Progressives Con-

gress (APC) in Ondo State has said it would not accept Governor Olusegun Mimiko into its fold, despite rumours of his plans to defect to the party.

In a statement issued to journalists by its Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, on Tuesday, in Akure, it said the governor cannot use the party to redeem his lost political image.

ÏÏÏThe Bishop of

the Diocese of Awori (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Revd. (Dr.) Johnson Akin-Atere, said the peaceful conduct of the March 28 presidential election has rekindled hope of a new nation, where peace and justice shall reign.

According to a statement by the Diocesan Communicator, Mr. Seyi Shodipo, the bishop made this remark during a ser-

Adesanya disclosed that the party was aware of Governor Mimiko reaching out to its National leaders, but noted that he won’t be accepted if he defected to the APC. “It should be noted that no leader of our party will welcome or accept Governor Olusegun Mimiko into our great party. He cannot use our party to heal the political injuries and bruises he has suffered.

“He is no longer popular among

the people and he is trying to use his defection rumours to sway the mind of the good people of the Sunshine State to feel pity for him,” he revealed.

According to him, the news making the rounds in the state that the governor has defected to the APC, is a political gimmick orchestrated by his social media handlers and loyalist. “The rumour is untrue and unfounded.

We cannot accept ‘a political liability’ into our celebrated party,

which represents the hope of the masses.

“It is the oppression and tyranny, which Governor Mimiko meted out to our people that gave us the strength to work harder to salvage our people from the claws of a rudderless government. The rumour of Governor Mimiko’s defection is another gimmick to play political manoeuvring, for which he has been known to be a master,” he declared.

mon at a special Easter Sunday service, with the theme: ‘Good hope through Grace’, based on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, held at the Cathedral of St. James Church, Ota, Ogun State.

Atere stressed that the election of General Muhammadu Buhari had raised the hope of Nigerians, with the promise of change, while President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of

defeat portrayed him as a worthy ambassador of peace, whose rare character gave hope that Nigeria was on the path to greatness.

Shodipo said the bishop charged Nigerians to give glory to God for making the people’s heart to rejoice greatly as a result of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections as it was the Lord’s doing.

“With the tension, fear and

hopelessness preceding the polls, God, in His infinite mercy, caused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to postpone the elections to March 28 and April 11, thereby enabling the Christians to call on God, more fervently, with fasting and prayers, during the just concluded Lenten period,” he said.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Lagos too important for APC to lose – Buhari Akinjide Akintola Political Editor

ÏÏÏLagos State is too important

for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to lose, according to the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

The declaration on Tuesday came on the heels of anger over a statement credited to the paramount ruler of the metropolis, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, that Igbo people in the state should either vote for APC’s Governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, or face dire consequences.

The national leader of the APC,

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the party’s leadership in the state distanced themselves from the statement. However, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo given the monarch 48 hours to retract it.

Senator Tinubu declared that the Oba is not a card carrying member of the APC, hence has no locus standi to speak on behalf of the party.

Both Buhari and Tinubu spoke at a rally in Orile Iganmu, Lagos, to assure the Igbo and Lagos residents generally that the state belongs to all. The assurance is coming even as the youth council of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo gave the monarch 48 hours

to retract the offending statement.

Others who commented on the controversy are Joe Igbokwe, spokesman of the APC in Lagos and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who said Igbos will not be intimidated while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to suspend the first class monarch over the issue.

The Daily Times gathered that the palace has since Monday when the story broke out been inundated with calls from within and outside the country from people who wanted to know the actual situa-

Cross section of Lagos Igbo Medicine Dealers Association of Nigeria, during their adoption of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode candidacy on Tuesday in Lagos.

tion of things. Palace Spokesman said the monarch would not make any further comment, in response to the ultimatum by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Gen. Buhari, at the APC rally in Orile, appealed to Lagos residents to vote en-masse for the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State.

His words: “Defy all elements, whatever it may be, and vote for APC from top to bottom,”.

According to the President-elect, Lagos, with its huge investments could not be toyed with. “Don’t attempt to be on the wrong side of the centre because we are now the centre. Tell your neighbours, your relatives and even the opposition party to please bury the hatchet and fall in line and vote for APC,’’ Buhari urged.

He assured residents that they stood to benefit a lot if they voted for the APC. Buhari said that he would prioritise investment in Lagos infrastructure, noting that the state is a “mini Nigeria”, adding, “Gov. Babatunde Fashola has told me how much the state has been spending to maintain Federal Government infrastructure, including roads, buildings and other institutions”.

He told Ambode, “who will be the next governor of the state,” to “harass me sufficiently to honour my undertaking,” while also commending Tinubu for all he had done in terms of mobilising revenue to sustain development in the state.

Photo: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE

Tinubu who also spoke at the rally said he was the first Yoruba governor to ever appoint an Igbo commissioner, saying the Peoples Democratic Party, having failed to win last week’s presidential elections, were desperately trying to pull the APC into the Akiolu controversy.

He said the Coordinator of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, Ifeanyi Ubah, and the PDP leader, Bode George, were only making baseless accusations against the APC. Tinubu said, “The oba is not a politician. His job is to accommodate all political parties, whether PDP, APC or SDP. So, what did he (Ubah) go and do at the palace?

“To you Igbos, don’t we pay your children’s school fees like others?

Or is it the palace that pays for it?

When we conducted an exam and a spelling competition, an Igbo boy, Ebuka, from Anambra, came first and he became the governor for one day.

“Those that won the competition three times in a row were Igbo.

Ebuka was sent to Switzerland computer school and then Obafemi Awolowo University. We did not say he was an Igbo boy and he would not enjoy. He became an executive in Oando and he is now in Canada.

“Another boy, Felix, won and went to Switzerland and OAU. We paid his scholarship; we did not deny him because he is Igbo.”

Continued on page 12

Pro-Fayose protests rock Ekiti

We’ll not challenge Buhari’s victory, says PDP

Gbenga Sodeinde Ado-Ekiti

ÏÏÏThe

Ï d ƋƗƈƆƏ Ƅ Ə ^ Ƌ Ɠƌ ƊƆƏ ƇƏ ƌ Ɔ ƐƆƏƈ Ɨ &ƊƈƐƈ ÏÏÏEkiti

State was on the boil again yesterday. This time, soldiers, policemen, lawmakers and party thugs were in the thick of the conflagration. The unrest claimed a life.

The cause was a coordinated protest during which major roads leading to Ado Ekiti were blocked to prevent 19 All Progressive Congress (APC) lawmakers from entering Ado Ekiti to carry through the impeachment process against the state governor, Ayodele Fayose.

In fact a man got killed as police and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed in Efon-Alaye.

The victim, identified as Modupe Olaiya, was said to have been hit by a bullet during a gun duel between party thugs and policeman battling to dismantle the road blocks that

paralysed commercial activities in Ado Ekiti and major border towns.

The APC lawmakers had on Friday served impeachment notice on Fayose alleging gross misconduct.

Fayose’s supporters had thronged and blocked major roads as early as 6am with bonfires and lorries to prevent the APC lawmakers coming from Osogbo, Osun State to enter the town.

Efforts by the APC lawmakers to hold a sitting was aborted as soldiers stationed at Ita Ore were said to have prevented their convoy from entering the state.

A hilux van marked AA 363 YEK , conveying gun-wielding thugs to the Assembly had collided with a police patrol van at Secretariat Road in Ado Ekiti, where three people were said to have been arrested among the goons.

Apart from Ado Ekiti, pro-Fayose protests were also held in major towns like Efon Alaaye, Iworoko,

Fayose Aisegba, Ikere, Ise, Ogotun Igbemo, obstructing human and vehicular movements for several hours.

Some Senior Secondary School 3 students, currently sitting for the West African School Certificate ExContinued on page 12

national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has said that it will not challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in the court of law.

Rather, it would support the President-elect, to protect the nation’s democracy, ensure unity and even development of Nigeria, until “PDP regains control of the centre in the next four years”.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who made the declaration at a press conference entitled: Nigeria on the Brink of Dictatorship, in Abuja on Tuesday, however, raised the alarm that the APC was plotting to impose a oneparty system on the country.

He said “The PDP invited you today to address a matter of serious national importance, a grievous development and worrisome trend, which is not only inimical

to the stability of our nation, but, also the collective well-being of all citizens.

“Because we are convinced that the APC lacks what it takes to sustain our democracy, PDP is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that it returned to power in the next four years, to save the nation’s democracy and re-channel our vision of a greater Nigeria”.

“Our nation and its citizens are facing a serious threat. We are on the verge of a quick slide into dictatorship and the personal freedom we all enjoy today is about to be obliterated”, he added.

“PDP recognises that there were irregularities in the presidential election, but we decided that promoting unity is paramount to us.

It is the wish of this party that we will not do anything that will disturb the President-elect, and we will not condone the harassment of our members”, he added.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Nigerian Muslims task Buhari on campaign promises

A cross section of protesters in support of Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose in Ado Ekiti… on Tuesday

Ola Yekeen Ilorin

ÏÏÏNigerian

Muslims have charged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to ensure that he fulfils his promises to the Nigerian people.

The Muslims, under the auspices of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), gave the charge on Tuesday, in Ilorin, at a special prayer for the continued peace, progress and development of the country.

The prayer was convened and held at the Ilorin residence of the Secretary General of the Association, Professor Is-haq Oloyede.

The NSCIA General Secretary, who was also the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, said the prayer was informed by the peaceful conduct and tranquility that followed last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He observed that it was the grace of God that defused the tension and fear of post-election violence that preceded the March 28 polls, in which the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), emerged winner.

Ex- minister blames Al-Makura for Buhari’s loss in Nasarawa Rabiu Omaku Lafia

ÏÏÏThe erstwhile Minister of

Communications and former Military Governor of Kwara state, General Ahmed Aboki (retd), has accused the Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, as the root cause of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s defeat at the presidential election in the state during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Aboki, the former National chairman of the party, NorthCentral, made the affirmation in a telephone interview with our reporter, that governor AlMakura deliberately planned the failure of Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential poll.

Rivers: 16 parties seek removal of REC, Head of Operations Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏSixteen

political parties from Rivers State, on Tuesday, stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, demanding the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state.

The parties specifically accused the REC in the state, Ms Gesilia Khan, of impinging on the integrity of the March 28 presidential election.

The coalition of parties equally accused the REC of conniving with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship can-

didate, Nyesom Wike, to “doctor the result of the election”.

The parties further canvassed for the removal of the Head of Operations INEC in Rivers, Mr. Bocco Ekong, for conniving with the REC. They accused Ms Khan of committing several electoral offences The party leaders made reference to an earlier petition on the need to cancel the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State, on the ground that they were marred by several malpractices perpetrated by some INEC officials, in collusion with PDP. Other allegations by the par-

ties against the REC included; postings of ad hoc electoral personnel, the recruitment of Supervisory Presiding Officers as well as the substitution of properly trained corps members, who will serve as presiding officers with a list containing names of PDP members, submitted by Wike, their governorship candidate.

The parties alleged that under the directive of the REC, the PDP governorship candidate “supervised the collation of results at the state collation centre even though she knew full well that Nyesom Wike is not the PDP State agent. The PDP agent was Emeka Woke.”

Abia gov sacks four council bosses Ifeanyi Onwuneme Umuahia

ÏÏÏAhead

of Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections, Abia State government has sacked four council and two deputies.

Their replacements were screened and confirmed by the state House of Assembly, in a matter of hours.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ude Ukochukwu, said the dropping of the chairmen and deputies was sequel to a request

by Governor Theodore Orji, “to avert security challenges in some sensitive areas”.

Hon. Okochukwu charged the newly sworn-in council bosses “to ensure that the security of the Local Government Areas is paramount, especially in the election period.”

Theodore

There are speculations that the sudden changes might not be unconnected with the outcome of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), performed below expectations in the state, especially in the four Local Government Areas.

An All Progressive Grand Al-

liance (APGA) chieftain from Ugba in Umuahia North Local Government of the state, Chief Daniel Ocho, observed that the governor, who was the senatorial candidate for Abia Central, lost in his Ugba primary school polling unit and Local Government Area.

Chief Ocho also noted that the affected council areas where the chairmen were suddenly replaced are the most populous in the state, being urban and semi urban areas.

The new chairmen and their deputies include Mr Chimaobi Ebisike for Aba North, Hon. Obioma Ekpem for Aba South, Suleman Ukandu for Umuahia North, Emeka Onuoha for Umuahia South and Dr. Kate Obiechena as deputy Aba South, Aja Ogwo as deputy for Aba North.

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Jonathan warns against negative triumphalism Lateef Ibrahim/Augustine Aminu, Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident Goodluck Jonathan

has warned against negative celebration of the election victory of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect.

Jonathan also restated the need for the country to continue the healing process that he has initiated by conceding defeat.

The president, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost to Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by his media aide, Reuben Abati, the president declared: “As the nation prepares for Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan calls on all Nigerians to remain peaceful, united and law-abiding.

“The President condemns the very unseemly attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others, heat up the polity and cause public disorder and disaffection in the aftermath of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“President Jonathan is especially concerned about the negative triumphalism that has been put on display by certain elements since March 31 which flies in the face of his personal commitment to post-election peace, unity and national stability.

“The President calls on all those, who through their actions and utterances, have been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections to cease and desist from actions that detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria.

“President Jonathan also condemns the undue harassment of public officials serving under his administration and urges all affected persons to continue to perform their lawful duties without fear.

Jonathan

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Politics OGUN 2015:

APC’s fluke victory won’t affect Labour’s chances Sina Kawonise

Labour Party Candidate

– Kawonise

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

Eminent academic, Mr. Sina Kawonise is the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Ogun State. After winning his party’s nomination, the party substituted his name with another person but he went to court to challenge the decision. Just two days to the Presidential election, the courts cleared him for the contest. In this interview, he said the development would not affect his chances in the election even as he described the victory of the

APC at the presidential election in the state as a fluke. Excerpts: The last Presidential and National Assembly elections in Ogun State, were a twohorse race between the PDP and the APC. Your party, Labour, was nowhere. What happened?

A pattern emerged from that election. In 2011, we voted three times, the presidential elections, the national assembly elections and the governor-

ship/ house of assembly elections. In 2015, the Presidential elections and the National Assembly elections were lumped together in a day and that introduced the distortions that we had. Those who wanted to vote Buhari voted APC all through.

Indeed, if you saw the single ballot paper that we were given, they wrote federal constituency, in very tiny fonts. People don’t know federal constituCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

OBANIKORO

Agbaje won’t be anybody’s lackey Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro in this interview with Deputy Political Editor, JONATHAN EZE, explains that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Saturday’s election in Lagos, Jimi Agbaje has an edge over his opponent and that his support for him is total. Excerpts: How do you feel about the President’s loss at the presidential poll?

It is painful. But as a Muslim, I have to take the loss in my strides –God gives, God takes. The fact that President Jonathan came from nowhere to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, almost effortlessly, was an act of God. In the same way that Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) won the just concluded presidential election is also an act of God. The PDP has always said that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years. But after 16 years, the party has lost grip on power at the centre. What hap-

Obanikoro

Hitting Iroko in the jugular

Emmanuel Ayodele, Akure H e came into limelight in 1999 at the commencement of the present democratic dispensation.

Dr Rahman Olusegun Mimiko, incumbent Governor of Ondo State became prominent immediately he was made commissioner for health by late Chief Adebayo Adefarati, who was elected Gov-

ernor of Ondo State in 1999 on the ticket of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, (AD). Mimiko, from Ondo West area of the state introduced the health Rangers’ Scheme which earned him fame and became a member of Adefarati’s kitchen cabinet.

Some of the late former governor’s aides had immediately saw the desperate lust for power in

pened?

Let me make this clear: man proposes, God disposes. The point is encapsulated in the statement I made earlier that it is only God that counts.

But, didn’t anything go wrong to the extent that the president lost in the poll?

A lot went wrong. Nevertheless, in the face of all those wrongs, if God had wanted the President to be re-elected, he would have been returned as the president. Something will always go wrong in human endeavours, anyway; it is human. Many things went wrong and there is no doubt about that because the presidential poll was an election we were supposed to win.

What exactly will you say went wrong?

For me, I think it is too early to be deliberating on that. I do not want people to characterise us

“The fact that President Jonathan came from nowhere to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, almost effortlessly, was an act of God. In the same way that Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) won the just concluded presidential election is also an act of God.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Mimiko and moved immediately to checkmate him. Late Chief Adefarati was warned but he turned deaf ears because of his trust in this growing ‘Iroko” a nick name for Mimiko. He was rumoured to be nursing a governorship ambition to stop Adefarati from his second term ambition, an allegation Mimiko denied each time he was confronted with the allega-

tion by his boss. in what was seen as a confirmation of the rumour, he later resigned from late Adefarati’s cabinet and announced his governorship ambition and his decision to challenge his boss at the primary election of the AD. But the structures of the party CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

9

Politics

KAWONISE

Ogun people regard Amosun as history CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ency, they know House of Representatives. Those who wanted to vote labour had extra work to do to find it. I myself had to put on my glasses to see it. So, those who wanted to vote Buhari voted APC all through. Those who wanted to vote Jonathan voted PDP all through unlike what happened in 2011. What I’m saying is that any party that didn’t have a presidential candidate scored nothing in the national assembly elections because it was a two horse race. It was that distortion. If the Presidential election had been separated from the national assembly election as it happened in 2011, the result would have been different. That’s number one.

Number two, the ruling on my case came last week Thursday, few days to the Presidential and national assembly elections. The governorship candidate of any party is the alter ego and the symbol of that party and when I was at that time not in the race, it affected our chances. Not that even if I was there, there was probably it would have made impact because we didn’t have a presidential candidate. I will give you an example because I’m trying to be fair and objective in everything that I do.

Everyone in Ogun State knows that in Ogun West Senatorial district, it is SDP that is in control and would have won. They have a very popular candidate. SDP is not popular in Ogun State, its not on the ground but it has that singular popular candidate for the senate - Biyi Otegbeye, they call him BOT because he was everywhere. Everybody knew that if you are contesting against BOT in Ogun West, you are just wasting your time. But this Buhari aura just truncated his plans.

The conclusion I draw from there is that those who won on the platform of APC did not

win on their own merit or on the strength of their popularity or recognition but romped unto victory on the roller coaster of the Buhari aura. So, that is what happened.

But beyond that, if you look at 2011, President Jonathan won with even wider margin in the south west than what Buhari won now in south west, except for Osun where ACN won. It was not even Buhari who won there. So, what happened?

When that result came out, the PDP rolled out the drums thinking that because our people had voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan of PDP, they would definitely vote for PDP in the governorship elec-

Otegbeye

“SDP is not popular in Ogun State. It’s not on the ground but it has that singular popular candidate for the senate - Biyi Otegbeye, they call him BOT because he was everywhere. “

Kawonise

“I took my time and I heard what the people were saying and it was corroborated everywhere. As they were voting and saying ‘Sai Buhari’, they were cursing Amosun that this does not translate into anything for him.”

tion but the people voted ACN. They voted PDP in the Presidential election and voted ACN in the governorship election.

And that is exactly what is going to happen again. We were on the queue there. I did not allow myself to enjoy any privilege, I took my time and I heard what the people were saying and it was corroborated everywhere.

As they were voting and saying ‘Sai Buhari’, they were cursing Amosun that this does not translate into anything for him.

The same thing in Oyo, it is generally believed that the party that is going to form the next government in that state is Accord Party yet it could not win any seat there. So, it’s a distor-

“Now, to buttress my point, the governorship candidate of PDP, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) is from Ogun West and he could not deliver even a federal constituency seat for the party not to talk of senatorial seat.”

tion, it’s not a true reflection of what is actually on the ground especially for the parties without presidential candidates. So we have a simple antecedence in what happened in 2011 to rely on. So, this governorship election coming up on Saturday, you will see that our people will definitely come up. APC is not there, PDP is equally not there.

For third force parties like Labour and SDP, what happened there is not a reflection of what is actually on the ground, but the PDP showed their own maximum strength because they fielded their presidential candidate, so what they have is their true strength on the field. The same with the APC which also fielded a presidential candidate.

Now, to buttress my point, the governorship candidate of PDP, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) is from Ogun West and he could not deliver even a federal constituency seat for the party not to talk of senatorial seat. The two seats they won only in Ogun East was by virtue of Alhaji Adebutu who overwhelmed the place. So, the little gain they have there is not going to translate to political gain for GNI. So, if I were GNI, I will just align with Labour Party and we will find something for them for they are clearly out of the race as the APC swept federal constituencies in Yewa, his stronghold.

Wont it translate to bandwagon for APC? No, we cant go APC. In fact there is a snide campaign going on now that people should not be in opposition, but they’ve forgotten the history of south west. If only they knew the historical development of southe west that we’ve always been in opposition to the federal government. Consider 2007 when PDP was like an octopus and Labour Party was just there but it defeated the PDP then in Ondo State.

What do you want to do dif-

Isiaka

Politics 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

(PDP) as bad losers. The truth of the matter is that the president has congratulated Buhari. At the appropriate time we would talk about some of the things that went wrong. Do not also forget that we have an election coming up. In view of that, we cannot be dwelling on what went wrong – when we have another challenge ahead of us. (Dwelling on such wrongs) may further demoralise the people. On the contrary, we want to dwell on things that will energise our people and re-structure their frame of mind for now.

Looking at irregularities during the March 28 poll, we can talk about them all day –it is not just about the irregularities in Lagos.

We can talk about the under-age voting in the North and the connivance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos is something that is mind-boggling and painful.

Particularly in Lagos, most of the results that the INEC ought to have declared for PDP were declared for APC. And do you know that in some local government areas in Lagos State, INEC did not bring election result sheets. They went somewhere else to doctor the results or fill it in to suit the APC, who is their paymaster. These are some of the issues we are going to face on Saturday. And we are going to deal with these squarely. It is either INEC stands up and becomes an impartial arbiter which they are supposed to be or we will also challenge them squarely. But that to me (not standing up to be an impartial arbiter) is not an honourable path for them.

The honourable path is for INEC to sit or to stand on the side of the people. Using their official position to hijack the mandate of the people and giving it to the people who have lost the election

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Jonathan’s loss painful, lots of things went wrong –Obanikoro is very sad and unacceptable.

Focusing on the Lagos governorship election, what is your relationship with Jimi Agbaje considering the fact that some see Agbaje as being Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe’s ‘boy’ and you being on the opposing side?

Jimi Agbaje is his own person.

He is nobody’s man. He is very independent man. He is a man with a strong history of political activism. Do not forget that Agbaje was a member of the Afenifere group in which he played an active role. Apparently, he is not someone anyone can say, ‘Jimi is my boy’ or ‘Jimi is in my pocket.’ (Whoever thinks that way) I think that person will only be deluding himself –the person will only be living in fantasy because Agbaje will end up being his own man. And, that is what we need in Lagos today; that is why we are calling for change in Lagos today. We need a man who can stand on his own, who will not be anybody’s lackey.

Therefore, talking about my relationship with Agbaje it can’t be better. Let me add, what people do not know is that when we were having that serious political contest (PDP governorship primary in Lagos), myself and Agbaje were still very close and our children are best of friends. This is probably the first time I have talked about this. It is in the imagina-

Obanikoro

tion of the people to think that I will not want Jimi Agbaje to win the governorship election (slated for April 11). It is in my interest for Agbaje to win as it is in the interest of Lagos. There is no better time in the history of Lagos where the choice is very clear between two candidates. One that is very progressive in every sense of it with a clear record of public advocacy, of good governance and strong support for democracy, as opposed to someone coming from a civil service background, who we know very well, is going to be managed by someone whose tenure in Lagos is better forgotten than remembered.

Ahead of the governorship election in Lagos, how will you describe the chances of PDP because some feel you would have stood a better chance than Agbaje?

Let me tell you something; I have my strengths and Jimi Agbaje also has a lot of things that I can speak positively about. Thus, I think it is not fair to begin to bring me into the picture with just a few days to the election. My support for him is also complementary; because if you say, ‘Obanikoro has this, and Agbaje doesn’t have this.’ Or, if you say, ‘Agbaje has this, Obanikoro doesn’t have this,’ now that we are working together, we will complement each other for the good of Lagos. That is the way God has created this world: some will have certain things others will not. Others will have certain things some will not –but when the two now come together it will serve as complementary possibilities of what each person brings to the table.

Are you saying you are 100 per cent behind Agbaje?

If there is something more CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

End of Iroko’s political reign?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Mimiko

and the powers that be in the AD moved against him by hurriedly announcing the adoption of Adefarati as the sole candidate for the 2003 governorship election in the state. Angered by this, Mimiko left AD and began romance with late Dr Olusegun Agagu, who was a serving minister in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration at the federal level.

Mimiko was seen as a very good tool to be used to grab power from the AD government in Ondo State by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) which was then very desperate to make an in road to the south west geo political zone, then the den and sole property of the AD. Mimiko’s official dec-

laration for the PDP came up at the sports complex in Akure, the state capital and was personally attended by Chief Obasanjo. It worked, at the election which followed later in the year with Agagu as the governorship candidate saw the PDP winning the election.

Dr Mimiko was immediately made secretary to the state government despite protests by PDP members who knew him and what he could do. Agagu promised party members that he was capable of checkmating the Iroko despite his numerous supporters which he brought into the party.

True to his words, the office of secretary to government became an island for Mimiko as little or

no responsibility was put under that office. The few ones assigned to that office were handled by two permanent secretaries who were loyalists of Agagu.

As a man that has the ability to explore into the future, Mimiko immediately knew that his political journey might immediately come to an end if he should continue in that office and that the promise by Agagu to spend one term and there after handed over to him was being threatened by pressures from PDP members that Agagu should go for the second term. Mimiko linked up with his connections which earned him a ministerial slot under President Obasanjo without the knowledge of his boss Dr Agagu.

He was assigned the Urban Development Ministry. As usual, he immediately started to use the federal ministry to empower his supporters through contracts and seminars abroad preparatory to challenging his former boss whenever the contest for the governorship of the state comes up in 2007.

Despite intervention by former President Obasanjo that Mimiko should allow Agagu to go for the second term, he refused and when he saw that he had been pushed to the wall in the PDP, he resigned his appointment as a minister and teamed up with others to form Labour Party, CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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Politics

Will the Iroko be cut?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

(LP) one of the political parties registered to participate in 2007 elections. He had no problem as he became the sole candidate of the LP for the governorship election in the state. He contested with Dr Agagu but the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) declared Agagu of the PDP winner of the election.

But dissatisfied with the results, Mimiko challenged the outcome at the Election Petition Tribunal.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Garba Labaruma nullified the election of Dr Agagu and declared Mimiko winner of the election, a decision which was equally upheld by the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo state. Thus, on February, 24, 2009, Dr Mimiko was sworn in as the executive Governor of Ondo State. He was welcomed with love and joy by the people of the state who seemed to have been tired with the programmes and actions of Agagu government.

Mimiko promised the people of the state at his inauguration that he would know each and every one of them by the first name and that none of them would go to the bed with an empty stomach.

True to his words, his first term in office saw the rapid transformation of the state. He was reported between 2009 and 2013 as the Governor in Nigeria that had the highest number of political appointees. He succeeded in carrying along his supporters during the first until he began

a cabinet reshuffle which saw some of them out of his government. The state chairmen of his LP, Dr Olaiya Oni also resigned and later teamed up with the then opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN). Sensing that he might lose the 2013 governorship election, he ran to President Goodluck Jonathan and made fruitless attempts to ensure that the PDP did not field any candidate against him. Though not lucky, he got the support of the presidency which saw him winning the election for the second term in office.

His defection to the ruling PDP before the last presidential election led to the destabilisation of the PDP in the state with old members of the party kicking against the manner of his defection which did not carry along party members in the state. His request to be the sole leader to pick candidates for the recently concluded elections also saw the PDP losing the state to the opposition APC. Mimiko was made the south west coordinator of the presidential campaign committee of President Jonathan. He had promised to deliver one million votes to President Jonathan in the March 28 election. The outcome of the election saw the PDP losing the state to the APC which won two out the senatorial seats including the Ondo Central, where Mimiko comes from and five out of the nine House of Representatives out of nine seats.

Dr. Mimiko has been reflecting

“Sensing that he might lose the 2013 governorship election, he ran to President Goodluck Jonathan and made fruitless attempts to ensure that the PDP did not field any candidate against him.” on the outcome of the presidential and national assembly trying to visualize where things actually went wrong. Where were his foot soldiers at the local government levels and the supporters of those candidates he single handedly handpicked for the election? What of the huge amount of money he collected and spent to ensure victory for the PDP? But, political pundits in the state simply believe that it was simply payback time for Dr Mimiko in the politics of the state.

According to them, Mimiko

Mimiko

believes in himself to the extent that he thinks with the power of incumbency and support form Abuja, nothing was impossible for him. “That was why he singlehandedly picked candidates for the election and promised to deliver one million votes in his pocket for the PDP.” With the victory of the APC candidate in the presidential election leading to change of baton of leadership, it seems Mimiko has boxed himself into a corner.

He is running round to ensure victory for House of Assembly’s candidates in Saturday’s election as this is the only chance left for the governor, who lost his deputy to the opposition APC two days to the last presidential election. His second term in office will terminate in 2017.

He is begging workers in the state who he once used and dumped, appealing to them to save him from imminent loss and collapse of his political empire. The executives of workers union in the state are finding it extremely difficult to walk freely because of their roles in the second term bid of Dr Mimiko who failed to meet his own side of the bargain to the workers after his victory at the election. His government is owing workers in the state two months’ salary out of which one month was hurriedly paid before the presidential election. The old PDP members are not ready to forgive him as he would have laid claim to the victory if the PDP had won the last election in the state.

OBANIKORO: INEC should ensure result sheets are available CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

than 100 per cent, I am behind Agbaje. I am totally with him. I am not just with him for political reasons. I am with him because if you put the two (Ambode and Agbaje) together, Agbaje is a better candidate. And that explains –I was listening to Ambode’s jingle on radio where he was talking about the dream –our dreams – and I would have loved for him to be courageous enough to have a debate with Jimi Agbaje to show Lagosians what those dreams are all about and how those dreams will be achieved. The two debates they had Agbaje was stood out in terms of presentation of his vi-

sion for Lagos and how to achieve it. Ambode could not even defend some of the facts that he has been talking about. Hence, the difference between Agbaje and Ambode is like the difference between day and night.

If you look at the background of Jimi Agbaje, he has always been on the side of the progressives all his life whereas you cannot say the same thing about Ambode. And there are many things that Ambode needs to talk about: Lagos collected N20bn from the Federal Government, how was the money expended? Who got what? I know he will not have a convincing explanation on that.

I believe that Lagosians are very

wise and in asmuch as they can talk about change at the centre and they are afraid of change in Lagos, it goes to show that the APC cannot be trusted.

How would you access the forthcoming governorship election not forgetting also that APC won Lagos in the Presidential?

Whoever says APC is likely to win the coming governorship election did not know about what transpired during the presidential poll. The election was rigged in favour of APC. We intend to be more vigilant and we are going to put our cards on the table for INEC. They must bring result

sheets to the polling units. Results must be announced immediately they are available. What they did the last time was to ‘arrest’ results, went somewhere and tinkered with them before announcing them. Even where we won it was because the number of votes that gave us the victory that made it possible. They also tinkered with those votes to arrive at a conclusion that is favourable to APC –that’s what they did. For instance, in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, we won and the election was completed and concluded early enough to announce the result on the day of the election but INEC refused to do that. Why? Because they wanted to tinker with the result.

Obanikoro

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

‘Lagos too important for APC to lose’ Continued from page 6 He noted that “in the last 16 years, the state had been fair to all tribes. Fashola has performed tremendously well and has not been sentimental, especially against the Igbos,” Fashola who also canvassed support for Ambode said: “Put ethnic sentiments aside, there will be no discrimination. As your governor, I have defended you every time you have been intimidated without discrimination”.

Igbokwe, who said the monarch spoke out of anger urged his kinsmen not to take out their anger on the APC governorship candidate, Ambode, who knew nothing about the incident.

He said Oba Akiolu of Lagos was not a card-carrying member of APC. His words: “He is not a leader in the APC. He does not speak for

the APC. He did not speak for Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state. He did not speak for our national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only.

“Lagos APC appeals to Ndigbo not to take the statement as the position of the party in Lagos. We passionately appeal to Ndigbo not to carry the statement credited to Oba Akiolu too far so as not to put a knife on things that have held us together for more than 50 years now.

“If out of annoyance, you throw your cap away, a mad man will take it and use it forever,” he stressed.

Also, PDP demanded the immediate suspension of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, till after the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Lagos State

calling on Governor Fashola to suspend the first-class monarch.

It said this was necessary in order to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in the state.

In a statement, Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, said the party had also alerted the security agencies to hold the monarch responsible for any attack on non-indigenes or PDP members in Lagos.

According to the PDP, the silence of the governor of the state, Fashola, over 48 hours after such inflammatory statement and threat to life suggests that the king acted on behalf of the state government.

In his reaction, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said Ndigbo will not be intimidated by the threats of Oba Akiolu on their political choices and voting patterns.

Ekweremadu, who spoke at a

meeting with stakeholders of the party in Enugu West Senatorial zone stated that Ndigbo have nothing against the President-Elect, adding that Igbos would work hand-in-hand with Buhari “in line with our regional agenda and overall development of Nigeria”.

Meanwhile, the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Oba of to “retract and unconditionally apologise to Ndigbo” over his alleged death threat to Ndigbo living in Lagos should they fail to vote for the APC governorship candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial polls on 11 April 2015.

The group said it considered the comments credited to Akiolu as “a despicable insult on the Igbo nation, home and abroad, least expected of a royal father in the rank of Oba of Lagos,” and called on security agencies to invite the Oba for questioning because of the grave dangers his current posture portends.

The National President of the group, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, stressed that “Igbo youths will not take this insult lightly, and unless he apologises within 48 hours he should know he is courting our

wrath”.

It warned that should anything happen to Ndigbo or their business interests in Lagos in the event of APC losing the Lagos governorship race, the Oba should be held responsible.

“In as much as we do not want to get involved in Lagos politics, we want to sound a note of warning that no Igbo should be vilified or persecuted for his or her electoral choice in Lagos or any part of Nigeria.

“Every Nigerian has the constitutional right to reside in any part of the country and participate in the electoral process based on one’s convictions, and electoral choice is not a crime,” it added.

Isiguzoro said “nobody no matter what he thinks he is, has the right to command Ndigbo anywhere on who to vote for in a democratic setting”.

“Ndigbo have remained the most persecuted, hated and marginalised tribe in Nigeria , yet the most enterprising and highest contributors to the growth of its economy, peace and unity,”he said.

The palace has declined comments until a copy of the ultimatum is received.

Pro-Fayose protests rock Ekiti Continued from page 6

A cross section of the Coalition of Political Parties from Rivers State during a protest demanding the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Gesila Khan and several political killings in the state at the INEC office in Abuja... on Tuesday Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Nigerian ship sinks off Sao Tome waters ÏÏÏAfter

four-month pursuit, captain sinks Nigerian illegal fishing ship After one of the longest aquatic pursuits in history, a vessel wanted for illegal fishing lies wrecked nearly 4km beneath the water off west Africa.

The vessel, Thunder, had been stalked by the Bob Barker, operated by the conservationist group Sea Shepherd, since 17 December. The two ships played a game of cat and mouse for 110 days, across 10,260 nautical miles through the Southern, Indian and Atlantic oceans, before the pursuit came to an end in the waters off São Tomé on

Monday evening.

“The Thunder suddenly came to a complete stop, the crew came out with their life jackets on and threw a ladder over the side,” said Peter Hammarstedt, captain of the Bob Barker. “I radioed the captain to ask if they were in distress and he said ‘yes, we’re sinking’.”

The Sam Simon, Bob Barker’s sister ship, took Thunder’s 40 crew on board as the boat gradually slipped below the waves over a six-hour period. The crew of the Thunder comprised about 30 Indonesians, with Spanish officers. The captain was Chilean.

Hammarstedt said the Thunder’s captain was cheering and

applauding as the boat went down and was recalcitrant when offered shelter on the Sam Simon. Sea Shepherd spent four months preventing Thunder illegally hauling large quantities of toothfish, a protected Antarctic species, from the waters.

Three Bob Barker crew members boarded the Thunder and reported that the boat was deliberately scuttled.

“It was suspicious that all the hatches and doors were left open, some tied open,” Hammarstedt said. “That’s counterintuitive to keeping a vessel afloat. They opened it up so it would sink, the engine room was completely filled with water.”

aminations (WASCE) outside the capital city could not get vehicles to convey them at the park, as party thugs scared them off to go back home.

Civil Servants and traders, who had reported to their places of work fled back home, while commercial motorcyclists had a bad day due to the barricades placed on the roads.

To prevent the protest from spreading to the whole state, the Police Commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, deployed Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to all the affected towns and trouble spots, while the House of Assembly complex was sealed off by heavily armed policemen.

The Head of Service, Dr Gbenga Faseluka and organised labour under the leaderships of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), had also besieged the Assembly in protest and warned the APC lawmakers against plunging the state into chaos.

The organised labour in a statement signed by NLC Secretary, Comrade Ade Obatoye, TUC Secretary, Comrade Joseph Adebayo and

JNC Secretary, Comrade Oladele Ayodeji , enjoined the entire workforce to see the present development as a way of fomenting trouble in the state and putting their lives at risk.

Also, the people of Igbemo Ekiti , led by Chief Agamago Adetunji, had, during a solidarity visit to the governor declared support for him: “We are solidly behind you. Ekiti people elected you to be their leader and no power under the earth can remove you.

“We are praying for you and assuring you that you will win all the 26 Assembly seats during Saturday’s polls.”

The Deputy Governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola, who responded on behalf of the governor likened the situation to the Biblical war between the Egypt and the people of Israel, expressing confidence that Governor Fayose would triumph.

“This Egyptian war led by APC will be defeated. Governor Fayose did not elect himself, but you put him there. This is just a passage and it will go by the grace of God. I want to assure you that we will see no more of this war against an anointed man in few days time,” the deputy governor boasted.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

13 Africa Kenyans mourn varsity attack victims ÏÏÏKenyans

Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev shoots as he visits a factory, producing weapons and components in Klimovsk outside Moscow.

Sanctions-hit Russia looks to Africa for arms sales

ÏÏÏRussia

is pursuing costly state oil and platinum projects in Africa despite an economic crisis at home, hoping they will bolster sales, including of arms, for businesses hit by Western sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine.

Moscow has mostly focused on building ties with Asia since the U.S. and European Union sanctions came into force last year, but the Africa deals signal a desire to rebuild what was a big market for its weapons and technology during the Soviet era.

The drive by government-

Ebola-hit Sierra Leone arrests 13 at unsafe burial

ÏÏÏPolice

in Ebola-hit SierraLeone have raided a funeral and arrested 13 people suspected of organising an unsafe burial, officers said.

Police superintendent Da Samah said "heavily-armed" police arrived just in time to stop a 50-year-old man being interred on the outskirts of Freetown after they were tipped off about the ceremony. "We stopped the burial and we have put out an alert for an ambulance which eyewitnesses said brought the corpse to the cemetery," he told AFP. "We arrested those present because there was no burial permit nor any documents relating to the burial." Health authorities in Freetown have recorded 3 832 of more than 10 000 Ebola deaths

owned industrial giant Rostec, which includes Russia's monopoly arms exporter in its vast portfolio, is complicated by the economic slowdown, which has strained government finances and forced firms to seek state support.

Lower commodity prices mean non-government Russian investors in Africa in the early 2000s have mostly pulled out, but Rostec says it is on track to build a $4-billion oil refinery in Uganda and a $3-billion platinum project in Zimbabwe. The conglomer-

in the outbreak, which began in southern Guinea in December 2013 before spreading to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Ebola, one of the deadliest viruses known to man, is spread only through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person showing symptoms such as fever or vomiting or the recently deceased.

Palo Conteh, the national Ebola response chief, said traditional funeral rights involving contact with the dead remained the biggest driver of Ebola transmission.

Unsafe burials were common at the start of the epidemic but the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show just one was reported in Sierra Leone in the week to March 29.

Alimamy Kamara, head of the Ebola Response Centre in charge of Freetown and the surrounding area, said last week that people organising unsafe burials risked two year jail terms.

ate, which controls hundreds of firms ranging from arms exporter Rosoboronexport to the world's top titanium producer VSMPO-Avisma, sees the projects as a door-opener in Africa, particularly to its fast-growing arms market.

“Apart from proceeds from the project itself, building the crude oil refinery [in Uganda] opens markets for products of all Rostec's companies and Russian companies as a whole,” Rostec said in a statement to Reuters.

The company and its chief ex-

ecutive, Sergei Chemezov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, face sanctions over Russia's annexation of the Crimea region and Western accusations, which Moscow denies, of supplying separatists with weapons and troops.

RT Global Resources, a 100-percent owned Rostec subsidiary, won the contract to build and operate the refinery in February, raising concerns among some Ugandan opposition lawmakers about the selection of a company closely linked to Russian arms exports.

ÏÏÏMalawi has ordered police

Malawi cracks down on anti-albino citizens

to shoot "dangerous criminals" who attack albinos in order to sell their body parts for witchcraft.

"Shoot every criminal who is violent when caught red-handed abducting people with albinism," the country's police chief Lexen Kachama told officers at the weekend, according to local media.

Six albinos have been killed in the poor southern African nation since December, according to the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi.

Kachama told officers in Machinga district in the south of the country, where most of the attacks have happened, that we cannot just watch while our friends with albinism are being killed like animals every day."

He said he does not want to "hear of a police officer chasing dangerous criminals, especially those abducting albinos, carrying teargas or any other soft weapon.

"That is why I am ordering the police to use weapons in proportion to the gravity of the offence.

We need to be secure from criminals," he added.

Kachama, appointed last month by President Peter Mutharika, ordered his ill-equipped force of 12 000 not to be afraid to use "live ammunition" after criminals shot a police officer in the commercial capital Blantyre last week.

"We will not put down or hold back our weapons until Malawians are living and doing their business freely," he said.

He said police were empowered by law "to use any weapon when discharging our duties".

mourning the deaths from last week's massacre at Garissa University College gathered for a vigil Tuesday, the final day of an official three-day mourning period.

The demonstrators gathered at a public park in Nairobi to share stories of the 148 students killed and call for greater national security. Organizers asked mourners to dress in black and to bring flowers and handwritten messages honoring the dead.

Militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for last Thursday's attack, saying it was retaliation for Kenya's role in the African Union force fighting the militants in Somalia.

On Sunday, Kenya carried out airstrikes in Somalia, targeting two al-Shabab camps in the Gedo region along the Kenyan-Somali border.

Kenya Defense Forces spokesman David Obonyo said Monday the two camps were destroyed, though he did not give a death toll.

French forces rescue hostage in Mali detained since 2011 ÏÏÏ

French special forces on Monday freed a Dutchman held hostage since being kidnapped in 2011 by extremists in Mali, the government said. There was no immediate word on the fate of two men abducted at the same time. The military said the rescue of Sjaak Rijke took place at 05:00 on Monday in far northern Mali.

French President Francois Hollande said some militants were killed and others captured. Monday's statement did not identify who was holding Rijke, but the Dutchman appeared in a video posted in November by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Some 3 000 French forces are taking part in the mission to stabilize Mali, which was overrun by al-Qaeda-linked Islamic extremists until French troops came to the aid of Malian soldiers in January 2013. Hollande said the special forces had planned the operation against the extremists without knowing Rijke was among them.

Rijke was abducted by extremists in November 2011 from a hostel in Timbuktu along with Johan Gustafsson of Sweden and South African Stephen Malcolm, who holds dual British citizenship.

14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Gowon: Ojukwu was my friend, comrade continued from back page

democracy and safeguarding the future of Nigeria and her nationals. We need all hands on deck to make this experiment work for the greater good of our nation and for the sake of Nigerians yet unborn.

6.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I have had to do this detailed preamble to demonstrate that I consider it an honour to be here with you today. I also warmly and sincerely welcome you all to this Convocation lecture, which is a tradition forum for the cross fertilization of ideas in the academia worldwide. At the risk of preaching to the converted, let me restate that convocations are important for the simple reason that the ceremony celebrates an end as well as a beginning. An ‘end’ because it signifies the formal cessation of classroom teachings for fresh graduates and a ‘beginning’ because it opens a completely new vista for them. I am confident that the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University has made a success of expanding the worldview of its young graduates as well as suitable equipping them to face the challenge of living in a tough world that never fails to punish laziness or reward hard or smart work. Anything to the contrary will defeat the purpose of our celebrating academic excellence.

7.

The topic of today’s lecture caused me to quickly reflect on what I said late last year at a gathering similar to this. Permit me to quote from my address at the occasion: “The management of education in Nigeria today requires all citizens to contribute their quota so that we can have minds that are not only literate but could more maturely grasp the issues that define contemporary reality.

One of such realities concerns democracy. One fact that many people may not immediately grasp is that without democracy, economic development can hardly be achieved because a host of the needed support structures, such as education, would be hinged on very weak foundation. If democracy must work, our peole must be more than willing to explore possibilities beyond their immediate environment because peace, trust and unity can only exist where people are receptive to new ideas regardless of the political, religious or economic creed of the sponsors of such ideas”.

8.

I have recalled this because of its relevance to today’s discourse. Let’s not forget that I have started out speaking about the ‘redemption of ignorance’ and probably mis-education of our youth. I say this because we cannot meaningfully discuss the concept of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’ and its import for healing our nation without being properly and historically guided to understand where we are coming from and where we are headed. For this reason, I have elected to structure this short lecture into four easy-to-follow parts, namely: a.

Nigeria before the Civil War b.

Nigeria during the Civil War c.

Nigeria immediately after the Civil War, and d.

Nigeria in a democratic dispensation NIGERIA BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR: 9.

Our various publications and history books are replete with explanations and clarifications of the way we were before the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914. Evidence abound of the milestones attained and the shards of broken dreams that littered the road that we travelled to achieve independence in 1960.

If we diligently search the several pages of our history between October 1, 1960 and July 6, 1967, when the Civil War broke out, we will find enough lessons on what we did right or did wrong and adapt these for current and future use to avoid failing into the errors of the past. In all this, a number of issues stare us in the face.

First, is the fact that as a people, we have abiding faith in God and ourselves and, to that extent, are always willing to be our brothers keepers regardless of religious, political, economic, social and cultural differences. Secondly, as we advanced fear crept in surreptitiously and before we knew what was happening, we had become suspicious of another so much so that shouts of ethnic domination became the whip with which the leadership of the political class kept compatriots in different regions of the country in line. All manner of evil was perpetrated in the name of advancing narrow re-

One of the critically misunderstood and misjudged part of our story as a nation pertains to the place of the Aburi Accord and its failure to stop the Civil War.

gional interests. Corruption, nep-

otism, treachery and threats or accusations treason became rife.

The cord that hitherto bound us snapped and as far as any discerning person could see, it was only a matter of time before the ship of the Nigerian State grounded.

10.

In all of this time, the military was the bulwark for the protection of democracy and freshly won independence. In no time, however, even the Military became politicized and polarized.

Espirit de corps withered in the face of transient power. Yet some of us held firmly to the tradition of the military to continue to support civil authority, until some of our younger officers not could control themselves and launched the first of a series of military incursions or interventions into political Nigeria with the first of d’état on 15 January 1966. The nation never recovered from the onslaught and the recriminations that set in thereafter and only subsided with the re-enthronement of democracy in the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999. The wounds, however, are yet to fully heal.

NIGERIA DURING THE CIVIL WAR: 11.

The history of Nigeria’s Civil War is fairly familiar to everyone. But several grey areas still exist regarding the cause and course of the war. I have read several accounts of the War with some degree of amusement but often times with critical concern.

The more I read of these stories, the more I am convinced that the writing of our history must never be left in the hands of revisionists, especially of the foreign type,

most of whom do not understand our narrative; do not understand our pain and, therefore, cannot truly be expected to be bothered with why Nigeria needs to continue to stand strong as one undivided nation.

12.

One of the critically misunderstood and misjudged part of our story as a nation pertains to the place of the Aburi Accord and its failure to stop the Civil War. For the avoidance of doubt, the Aburi Accord was meant to enable the principal parties break the ice and to get back together as officers and gentlemen, discuss and solve our problems in our homeland, at home, in our land.

The spirit of ‘The True Aburi Accord’ was ultimately encapsulated in Decree No. 8 of 1967. The only addition outside the spirit of the Accord was my insistence that a clause barring any part of Nigeria from seceding. This perhaps was what made Ojukwu to reject the Decree. Otherwise what we agreed to in Aburi was enshrined in that Dcree and we were to implement them to the letter, having given Ojukwu almost all that he wanted. We did that in order to achieve peace and return normalcy to Nigeria. Unfortunately, Ojukwu was the one to renege on our agreement. Infact, he did not attend our meeting at NIFOR in Benin City.

13 Before we left Ghana, we had our agreement that on return to Nigeria, I, as Nigeria’s Head of State should make the first broadcast after which the other Reional Governors would make theirs. Unfortunately, I was down with serious malaria that I could not make my broadcast but Ojukwu went on air as soon as he got back and claimed that we agreed to a Confederation to which I had always strongly objected. That and other actions taken by him and his government made us to carefully review the Aburi Agreement. I got the Secretary to the government and some Nigerian Senior Civil Servants to review it. They did and pointed out some serious ramifications of it. Those points were carefully considered and taken into account in drafting the Decree No 8 mentioned earlier. Whoever said that the Aburi Accord failed as a result of pressure mounted on the Federal side (i.e. me and the Federal Government team) to repudiate it was absolutely mistaken.

...to be continued tomorrow

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

15 Opinion

Buhari, and the ‘Change Agents’

O Prince Charles Dickson

ver the years, certain key issues have confronted the Nigerian state, its government, the governed and the structures itself, from a seeming lack of system to a lack of will and direction.

Such is the fundamental nature of the problems that they have become part of us. However, on many occasions we have been provided with the opportunity to get it right but many a times we let go of such moments.

The just concluded Presidential polls, presents such moment again, while I have refused to discuss the elections, not as an act of cowardice, but truly, to discuss, an election many think was a function of change, and many others see as having further divided the nation, or one that has realigned the nation.

Who am I, especially when I am not on a praise-singing mission like the one many are wont to do--Buhari, the perfectionist, or Jonathan, the next Nobel Peace prizewinner?

However, with each passing day, I know that I am compelled to make my opinion known. In addition, I make these comments so that someday in the future when I am asked

what did I say or do, these words would hold me liable.

Quickly, let me say, with these elections we may have made comparative tangible responsive and responsible movement in the democratic field, even though at great expense.

To Buhari and the change agents—The questions are not far fetched: like will Buhari, be far from being a ‘yes man’ and be far from the business as usual set of leaders that have plagued this nation.

The Buhari praise singers have simply caught the messiah bug. I am surprised some persons have not called him a ‘god’. The expectations are high, and for a nation that has for decades lived below its potentials, we have a right to expect much but sadly, we are again saddled with a government that ‘pray’ seriously will not be largely a deceptive one.

Buhari has to, not just by his will but by his powers thread a new path--or else we may still tow the known path. It is the only road we know for now...road contracts that will be abandoned, commissioning of hospitals without facilities.

Schools that would be neglected, strikes within various sectors of the economy amongst many short-

falls and long falls will characterise the administration with a couple of its own fair share of ‘elephant and hippo’ projects.

Does anyone think that Buhari’s led APC is the answer, then we really need a re-think? We do not need a soothsayer to tell us that the best that we have now is a conglomeration of deceit...re-congregated elite but it is still some “CHANGE”.

A cursory look at the first few statements, interviews and campaign promises of the Buhari-led APC, may raise both hope and fear.

Already there is a call for time and patience, how much of it, we have only time will tell, and while I have argued that a change in government, if free, fair and credible does not mean that government should restart its engine. On the contrary, it calls for a re-fuelling and moving ahead. Our experience is that government has to start all over again and the same old music is remixed and few months after we notice same old thread in action.

And fearfully, the same issues that the last administration sought to solve or made comic of, is the same ones we will face again.

However, Buhari may be blessed as Nigerians are so divided on the real issues by religion, ethnicity, nepotism and other selfish mod-

ules.

Buhari and his APC cohorts will not urgently and comprehensively address the job issue, nor improve on the business of government.

There are no plans that will translate to the provision of housing, water, and education for all Nigerian children to the Senior Secondary School grade at least.

With more billions spent, electricity will still not be available, reliable and affordable.

I beg to re-echo again that except there is a honest search for understanding, education, organisation, action that raises the cost of state and casual violence for its perpetrators or that lays the basis for institutional change. There would be no answers; rather we would continually be plagued by the same questions and problems. Buhari is not going to solve our problems, like Jonathan before him, he will not disappoint failure. However if the in-coming administration can join the speed train age and stop the government of celebrating borehole water in communities that deserve more…then I will eat my words.

Finally, Mr. President-in-waiting, you cannot surprise many of us that do not believe in you. But you can shut us up by performing. Only time will tell.

On the on going national discourse

O Edgar Ekure

ne thing we all as Nigerians can agree on is that the 2015 presidential campaign was largely characterised by intense on and off-line vitriol, based mainly on inanities with occasional specious, by-theway-side reference to substantive issues. While there were calls and counter-calls, from both sides of the political debate of an imminent apocalyptic cataclysm, if the opponent were to be elected, we can now safely say, we were not teleported to a dystopia. No earthquakes, the moon did not turn into blood, and no precipitates of fire and brimstone.

I will neither re-litigate the vacuous rhetoric of this political silly season nor attempt to pontificate on the myriads of problems bedeviling us as a nation. You need not look further than your Facebook and twitter timeline to learn from social network “pundits” that we have problems.

The core national debate we should now have is one that emphasises and proffers tenable solutions to the problems that ail

us. We can all intuitively surmise that there are as many solutions as there are problems and that a one-size-fits-all approach is exactly the wrong prescription. So where do we start from? The starting point should be sorting out our political philosophies seeing that we still lack clearly delineated ideologies.

I know, the political parties are supposed to be the avant-gardes of innovative political thoughts, leading a national debate with the profundity of their coherent philosophies. To observe that the two major parties are mirror images of each other is a banal analysis and needs no further deliberation.

We should begin to ask serious questions about the role of government in our national and individual lives and avoid the unthinking reaction of either expecting everything from government or inordinately giving them free passes. How much government do we want? What is our over-arching vision for Nigeria and its place in the comity of nations? What economic model is best for us? What is or not working in our current model and how do we fix it? How do we transform our educational system from bottom up? What about our healthcare de-

livery system? What ethical considerations must govern our conduct in the public and private space and how do we translate that to ethical requirements? These debates if engaged, keen, deliberative, nuanced and cerebral has the power to revolutionise and transform.

These and many other questions should have been roundly litigated in the clichéd court of public opinion, in our private spaces, both online and offline, at the kitchen table, in the bars and classrooms.

I can only surmise intuitively that the disconnect stems from us having a debate heavily steeped in the analyses of the myriads of problems without proffering any real solutions and a general public apathy towards any governmentled initiative. That said, we should read the document and recommendations that emerged from the national conference, even though reading 10,335 pages and 600 resolutions may indeed feel like cruel and unusual punishment. I am strongly of the opinion that if ideas for solutions, which could be infusions of personal broodings and the recommendations from the National conference or other tangential views, take center stage

in our national discuss, there will be, not to sound overly dramatic, a transformation in the way we are governed because leadership will emerge from pools of governing philosophies and ideas.

This is not a novel idea neither is it ground breaking, many Nigerians, especially in the academia have spoken and written tomes about the importance of national discourse for years.

Our social evolution is going forward, full throttle, regardless of our feelings and our ultimate destination will be a derivative of how well we tweak and shape our national discourse. The freedom and relative peace we have, which we now almost take for granted are results of hard fought battles, first against imperial and colonial hegemony, then against military dictatorships. We can also glean from the history of other countries and cultures, vestiges of such effusive national dialogue that helped shape and cement their standing in the world; the antebellum era of the history of the United States being a good example. Similar intellectual debates and struggles also preceded the Bolshevik revolution and the fall of the Russian Czars.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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17

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

Dangote Cement consolidates regional dominance

Dangote

Charles Okonji The planned consolidation of the continental expansion drive of Leading Cement manufacturer in Nigeria, Dangote Cement, has been buoyed with the

announcement of its $150 million Cameroon plant coming on stream.

The commencement of production in the Camerounian commercial city of Douala came in the wake of the inauguration of another 1.5 million tonnes capacity per annum Senegal plant in Pout in January.

The management of the Company had last year listed some six plants across five African countries scheduled for completion this year.

The plants at various stages of construction, according to the Group President and Chief Executive, Aliko Dangote will add about 13.5mmt of cement per annum to the existing capacity, when completed.

The on-going plant projects according to him then, were

Zambia, 1.5mmtpa; Tanzania, 1.5mmtpa; South-Africa 3mmtpa; Republic of Congo, 1.5mmtpa; and Gabon 1.5mmtpa and Senegal 1.5mmtpa Back home, Dangote Cement ramp up capacity adding additional third and fourth production lines to the existing 6mmtpa in Ibese, Ogun state to bring the total capacity to 12mmtpa and another 3mmtpa line currently being added to the Obajana cement plant in Kogi state.

Dangote told a delegation from the Organized Private Sector who visited him in the office that the 1.5 million tons per annum capacity plant in Cameroon commenced initial production at one million tons per annum before productions would be stepped up to maximum capacity level.

The Dangote Cement Chair-

man stated that the Douala plant would revolutionise the cement industry in Cameroon and help stimulate the Eastern African economy, as Dangote Cement would be churning out its known quality grade of 42.5 at a very competitive price.

He explained that the plant remained the most modern in Cameroon because of the latest technologies used in the construction from Germany, USA and France and put together by the renowned plant engineers – Sinoma.

The Dangote Cement Chief stated that the Company started

by Importing Clinker and that production is being carried out at the most environmental friendly level pointing out that the dust emission by the plant is lower than the 50mm international standard.

NCC to review price of transmission cables Tony Nwakaegho The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is considering introducing a new effective cost-based transmission cable pricing for the telecoms sector in the country.

NCC aims to have full control of the market and protect smaller telecoms operators from dominant ones who take undue advantage of their small size to introduce arbitrary charges on connectivity and had contracted Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG) two years ago to carry out the study, as part of its regulatory oversight function, to address competitive dynamics, pricing and related matters in cable transmission pricing among operators.

The proposed pricing regime was contained in a study presented by KPMG at a stakeholders’ consultative forum organised by the NCC in Lagos.

KPMG has now come out with a recent study in Lagos, entitled ‘Cost-based Transmission Cable Pricing and Development of an

Accounting Separation Framework/Retail Voice Tariff ’ conducted on Nigerian telecom market which would set a price cap and rules for transmission cable pricing for telecom operators and stakeholders.

The head of telecom consulting, KPMG, Mr Joseph Tegbeh, said the study covers the entire nation where operators exist, adding that “the model has been built on a national basis. We are presenting it to you so that you can make your comments for us to factor it in and come out with a final draft.”

Although the representative of the telecom companies who spoke sought clarifications on issues like multiple taxations, multiple regulations and discriminatory pricing, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, explained that the current arbitrary, predatory and discriminatory pricing inherent in the transmission line market segment would be reversed with a new regulation and enforcement on cost-based transmission cable pricing.

Juwah

Obaro

SystemSpecs lauds CBN Cashless policy success Tony Nwakaegho Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, SystemSpecs Company Limited, Mr John Obaro has lauded the Central Bank (CBN) Cashless policy initiative for achieving some feats despite the infrastructural challenges confronting it.

Obaro made this remark while speaking to journalists in an interview, stressing that some of the challenges facing the cash policy drive remained infrastructural issues, but it did not stop the rapid spread of e-payment in the country.

“Well, the first thing people always talk about is infrastructural challenges. The mere fact that there are infrastructural challenges has not stopped the rapid growth of e-payment in Nigeria. We are not where we were five years ago. In fact, we are not where we were two years ago.

“Therefore, many things are improving. We know we are not yet there, but we should not discountenance the fact that a lot of progress has been made. We cannot wait and say we cannot practice e-payment until everything is perfect because that day will not come. Even if you go to the developed countries, you still have occasional failures.

“You still have communication challenges. It may not be as much as we have here, but they still happen. Therefore, I really would not want us to focus on a glass that is half-empty, let us focus on the portion that is half-full. We have the opportunities with us here, things are happening, and things are getting better. So, let us focus on the fact that it is growing and the challenges that are coming up are not irresolvable.

According to him, the initiative has impacted on the masses as it has begun to gain the peoples’ acceptance having seen its benefits.

Labour 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

ASUU hails Buhari, says Nigeria on path of revival

Buhari

Civil servants urge Buhari to improve welfare package Stories by Joy Ekeke joy.ekeke@dailytimes.com.ng Civil servants in the FCT have tasked the incoming government to improve the structure of the civil service for a better Nigeria.

The civil servants in Abuja want the government to build a stronger service structure, and to improve the workers’ salaries and welfare.

Mr Joseph Egwu said it was imperative that the incoming government fulfilled its campaign promises, part of which was the strengthening of the civil service structure and improved welfare for the workers. ``The incoming government needs to pay attention to the processes and procedures in order to strengthen the public service structure. ``We the civil servants are the heartbeat of the government and because of that, we should not be left behind. ``We are expecting a lot from the incoming government because the country needs change and the change, which should huge and positive, should start from the civil service. ``We are tired of managing our salary. Salaries will be paid today and in the next two, three days, our accounts are empty. We have

suffered so much,’’ he said.

On his part, Mr David Eniola said the incoming government should address issues of remuneration, unemployment, power supply, taxation and security.

Eniola said if the issues were effectively tackled, the nation would move forward and that would bring about a huge development in the country.

Another civil servant, Mr Godswill Mark, said that the incoming government had raised the opes of the people, saying that Nigerians looked up to the fulfillment of those promises. ``We are expecting a lot of good things and better change from the incoming government. There is too much corruption in the various ministries, department and agencies. ``Some people are really working while some are enjoying our money; it is not fair and I expect the government to look into issue of corruption. ``Some civil servants are working tirelessly while some will come to work and sign the attendance sheet and go out for their business,’’ Mark said. ``The amazing thing is that those that work hard will receive stipends and those who come to office twice in a week will receive huge wages. These issues must be addressed promptly,’’ he said.

He also suggested that civil ser-

vants’ welfare should include an affordable housing scheme as a priority of the incoming government.

We are old and need support so that we can live longer,’’ she said

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has said that the outcome of the March 28 Presidential election showed that Nigeria was on the path to the much needed revival.

Dr Nasir Fagge, National President of ASUU, spoke with newsmen in Lagos.

Fagge said that the entire electoral process and the resultant outcome was a sign of good things to come. ‘’Let me start by first congratulating the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Buhari, for the victory. I think with this election this time around, our country is gradually finding its way to‘’For the first time, our collective wish as a people has prevailed and of course, as you know, our elections had not always come out in a way that truly reflect the minds of Nigerians. ‘’With a new administration in place, it is my belief that issues surrounding insurgency, education, power and health will be given priority attention. ‘’We, therefore, expect that with attention being given to these areas, within the shortest possible time, our country will be placed firmly among comity of nations. ‘’I also want to give kudos to the electoral umpire, Prof. Attahiru Jega who has shown that he is truly an intellectual, irrespective of all odds,’’ he said.

Fagge called on Nigerians to

rally round Buhari in order to give him the desired support needed in moving the country to the next level.

He assured that on the part of ASUU, the union would do everything possible to ensure that it worked with the incoming administration to move the country in the right direction.

According to him, this will ensure that the sacrifice Nigerians made will not be in vain. ‘’We, as ASUU, therefore, want to congratulate Maj.-Gen. Buhari and all those who the election, as well as appreciate the outgoing President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for showing an act of sportsmanship by accepting the result. ‘’We again appreciate him for even congratulating the president-elect well ahead of the official declaration as winner,’’ the unionist said.

Women’s participation in cooperatives rises globally -Survey An ILO-ICA joint survey reflects gains for women in cooperatives while pointing to the need for better recognition by governments An online survey conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Co-operative Alliance shows 75 per cent of survey respondents feel that women’s participation in co-operatives has increased over the past 20 years.

The findings come ahead of a panel and debate to be held 10 March at the United Nations in New York, called “Cooperatives: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment .” The panel is being organized as a side event to the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women , which takes place from 9 to 20 March.

Regarding the survey findings, president of the International Co-operative Alliance, Dame Pauline Green said, “The Alliance

and ILO joint survey highlights the unique effectiveness of the cooperative model in providing women with a dignified way out of poverty, often away from violence and abuse.”

“I am also thrilled with the survey’s indicators towards a high number of women in leadership positions, particularly in our finance and insurance co-operatives,” she added.

Key findings indicate that cooperatives are having an increasingly positive impact on women – 80 per cent of survey respondents felt that cooperatives are better than other types of private or public sector business in advancing gender equality.

“Cooperatives have a history of contributing to equality as well as to economic and social empowerment,” said Simel Esim, Chief of the ILO Cooperatives Unit (COOP).

“Considering that 2015 marks 20 years since the adoption of

the United Nations’ Beijing Declaration on gender equality and women’s empowerment, these survey results reflect a positive trend for women’s involvement and advancement through the cooperative movement,” she added.

The poll of nearly 600 respondents included co-operative practitioners, civil society organizations, academics, and government workers. Fifty per cent of respondents were from Europe and 15 per cent from both Asia and North America, respectively.

The remaining respondents were from sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America, and the Middle East and North Africa.

Culture and legal framework are most significant barriers According to survey respondents, cultural issues are the most significant barrier to gender equality encountered by cooperatives. This was overwhelmingly felt by 65 per cent of survey respondents.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

19 Money

BoI to secure licence for off-grid power generation Tony Nwakaegho The Bank of Industry (BoI) in its bid to complementing the efforts of government to explore other sources within the energy mix said that plans have reached advanced stage for it to secure license for solar power generation in rural communities across the country.

Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, BoI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa who disclosed this also said the bank has already opened talks with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) through the Ministry of Power to secure approval for the project.

Olaoluwa explained that power generation below 5 megawatts needs the approval of REA, while the project is to be executed in conjunction with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

According to him, the Minis-

try of Power has already taken the lead in this regard through the commissioning of three projects in the Federal Capital territory under the Light Up Nigeria initiative.

An excited Olaoluwa said the move by Bol to provide light to rural communities was aimed at helping small businesses grow and to further encourage private sector operators to look in this direction. ‘‘As a development bank, our role is very catalytic .We noticed that there have been a lot of talks about diversifying the economy of this country. The Minister of Power has taken the lead in this respect in terms of actually commissioning three projects in the FCT under the light up Nigeria initiatives.

“But that is a government project. What we are doing as a development bank is to take the lead in encouraging the private sector to look at a particular

Olaoluwa

Poor funding poses threat to NNPC’s joint ventures

Lagos empowers over 6,000 farmers in six months Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Lagos State Government has empowered another a total of 6, 678 Youths, Traders Vulnerable and Farmers in various agricultural value chains in the state.

Following the 3,149 people empowered in October 2014 during the maiden edition of Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment Programme, another 3,529 households benefitted at the second edition held at Oko Oba Agege.

Addressing the beneficiaries at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola reaffirmed his administration’s commitment towards reduction in poverty across the state.

He said, Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives had implemented remarkable projects and programmes that contributed to the development of Agriculture and impacted positively in the lives of all stakeholders in the sector.

“You will recall that in October last year barely six months from now at this same venue over 3,149 Lagosians benefitted from this

scheme. Some of you here benefitted then and we have heard testimonies of people among the beneficiaries who had used the opportunity to create more wealth by establishing a business”, he said.

Fashola emphasised that the state government has not anytime shown discrimination in the implementation of its policies, adding that the empowerment was an open programme which thousands of people had benefitted from, irrespective of their tribe or religion, and is a continuous exercise.

“It really does not matter where you come from, so far you live here in Lagos, this government will serve and protect you” he added.

He explained that all what people have benefitted in Lagos are financed and paid for from the people’s taxes.

Fashola said his administration has continued to strengthen the political will to end hunger while drawing attention to the achievements in food security and agricultural development.

area of the energy mix they can key into it. And our renewable energy programme in partnership with UNIDO is to encourage off grid rural energy projects,’’ he said.

The pilot scheme, he said would kick off with six communities across the country, adding that off grid rural electricity programme is a commercial concept that is viable.

Interestingly, he said the concept was not for huge power generation capacity but the ability to demonstrate to financial institutions that off grid solar energy is a viable venture. ‘‘If you go to the United States, there is a company there that is called Solar City; it is a multibillion dollar business and what do they do? They install solar panels for homes and that is what we are trying to take a lead from as a development bank in Nigeria.

It is our belief that other banks would follow suit,’’ he said.

Oni

Tony Nwakaegho The need to discard with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) Joint Venture arrangement has been brought to the fore following poor funding that has threatened NNPC’s ability to meet its cash call responsibility to joint venture partners, now worsened by the significant fall in oil revenue.

Concerned Industry players and analysts have canvassed that the combination of reduced fund-

ing from the NNPC, cut in oil firms’ capital expenditures and rising technical costs may act as a constraint on several JV projects, while technical cost in the sector is said to have been increasing by 10 per cent in the last few years.

The nation’s oil and gas production structure is majorly split between joint venture with NNPC onshore and in shallow water, and production-sharing contracts (PSC) in deepwater offshore.

There are several joint ventures between the NNPC and International Oil Companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and Eni. The JVs are jointly funded by the oil majors and the government through NNPC with the corporation owing between 55 per cent for JVs with Shell and 60 per cent for all others.

The Head of Energy, Ecobank Capital, Mr. Dolapo Oni, said it would be difficult for the government to meet up with JV cash calls this year because revenue had reduced and would likely continue to reduce adding that

“Over the last seven months, government revenue has fallen by 28 per cent, and by our estimate, we are likely to see about 30 to 35 per cent fall in revenue this year..”

According to Oni “Around the world, they don’t use JVs anymore. They use production-sharing contracts. So, as an IOC sells an asset to another company, the company owns the field and can sell part of it if it wants; but most importantly, it will handle all the costs associated with that field.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Petroleum Development Plc, Mr. Austin Avuru, had at an industry forum in January noted that the NNPC was not adding value to the oil and gas industry in the country.

“We should accept that it is time to look inwards and accept the truth. Government and its agencies must withdraw from the industry and restrict itself to proper revenue collection and management of the revenue for the interest of this and future generations.”

20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

FiiRO Mandate

s

Industrial profile on cowpea flour production INTRODUCTION

ÎÎÎ

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a common name for large seeds of the general febaceae (formerly leguminosae). Dry beans are widely consumed in most Latin American, Asian and African countries and for economic reasons are important sources of proteins and calories for those countries. Cowpea is of considerable importance in Nigeria and in many Africa countries as a nutritious leguminous crop providing an alternative source to animal protein. Cowpea grain contains about 25% protein and 64% carbohydrate, thus it has a high potential to reduce malnutrition.

The consumption of beans is curtailed because of the long cooking time needed to achieve the desired palatability and digestibility. Cowpea has found utilization in various ways in traditional and modern food processing in the world. Being in the class of legume, they are often referred to as poor man’s meat, owing to their use as primary protein sources. They represent one of the dietary staples in many parts of the world. It is most widely grown legume in Nigeria and is one of the cheapest sources of plant protein widely used in the Nigerian diet.

Cowpea is an important source of plant protein in the developing world and most especially in the West Africa. It can be consumed alone when cooked or mix with other foods such as rice, maize, millet, plantain, yam, gari, etc. Large quantity is cowpea is also consumed as deep oil fried product called “akara” and a steamed product called “moin-moin’ in most parts of Nigeria.

The preparations of these products are often based on traditional processing methods/ technologies which are laborious, time wasting and unhygienic. Based on these facts, the upgrading of the indigenous technology became imperative.

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi has developed a process technology for production of cowpea flour.

This technology is available for cottage, small and medium entrepreneurs who are willing to take them up.

MARKET INFORMATION There is high demand for cowpea flour in Nigeria. The potential for export market in Europe, America and other continents with substantial Africans in Diaspora is also quite high. The consumption of cowpea flour for “moin-moin”, “akara”, etc cuts across religion, tribe, social status, etc in Nigeria. The national demand estimate for cowpea flour is in excess of 200,000 tonnes per annum. The current level of supply is about 20% of the estimated demand.

RAW MATERIAL Cowpea, the only raw material for cowpea flour production is available in commercial quantities in different parts of the country. Nigeria is the second largest producer of cowpea (FAOSTAT) in the world. Major producing states in Nigeria include Kano, Kaduna, Gombe and Zamfara.

Since Nigeria is the 2nd largest producer of beans in the world, therefore, sourcing raw material for the production of Cowpea/Beans flour would not be a difficult thing. Therefore, the promoters of this project and Nigeria at large stand to make considerable economic gains from the production of Cowpea/Beans flour.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT The major machinery and equipment for production of cowpea flour are: De-huller, Aspirator, Hammer mill with cyclone, packaging and weighing machines.

FIIRO has designed and fabricated complete process line machinery and equipment for cowpea flour production available at micro, small and medium scales. The Institute can deliver the complete process line on turn-key basis within six weeks of commissioning by the investor/entrepreneur. The cost however, depends on the capacity which could vary from 1ton/ day to 5tons/day.

FIIRO Cowpea Dehuller

PROCESS TECHNOLOGY Production of Cowpea flour includes the following simple unit operations: Sorting/Cleaning Weighing Conditioning De-hulling Aspirating Milling Packaging PRODUCTION PROGRAMME Production programme for a small to medium scale Cowpea flour production is shown below: Production Days/Annum- 300 Production Volume/Day - 3 Tonnes (Cowpea flour) Production Volume/Annum 900 Tonnes

Projected 5- Year Production Plan Year

Quantity (Tonnes)

Quantity (pcs- Kg Packs)

1

630

630,000

2

675

675,000

3

720

720,000

4

765

765,000

5

810

810,000

LABOUR REQUIREMENT Both skilled and unskilled

personnel are required for the successful operation of this venture. These consist of the production, administrative/account and marketing personnel.

Staff matters, finance/account, store management, security, purchasing and other administrative functions are handled by the administration/account division, while the production division takes charge of production. About thirty (30) personnel are required for the project to take off.

TOTAL INITIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT Initial Fixed Capital N13,346,190.00 Initial Working Capital N25,420,510.00 Pre-production Expenses N2,117,150.00 Contingencies N1,844,192.50 TOTAL N42,728,042.50

NB: The initial fixed capital includes factory building, machinery and equipment, generator, project vehicle, office furniture and equipment and bore hole.

PROFITABILITY INDICATORS Return on Investment (Year 1) 90.8% Return on Equity (Year 1) 226.9% Net Profit to Sales 11.2% Gross Profit to Sales 16.0% Profitability Index 3.6 Breakeven Point (Year 1) 22% Payback Period 1.9Years Net Present Value @ 25% N41,387,120.00 SERVICES AVAILABLE AT FIIRO 1. Technology Transfer Training on Cowpea Flour Production.

2. Fabrication and Installation of production Machinery and Equipment.

3. Preparation of Bankable Feasibility Report/Business Plan on Cowpea flour production.

4. Quality Control Services 5. Technical Assistance Services (including machinery and equipment installation, commissioning and personnel training on installed plant).

FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT: The Director-General/ CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) 2, FIIRO Road, Cappa Bus Stop, Oshodi, P.M.B. 21023, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Website: http://www.fiiro. gov.ng E-mail Address: info@ fiiro.gov.ng, technoentrepreneurship@fiiro.gov.ng. deleoyeku8@yahoo.co.uk, bukkyadesegha@yahoo.com Telephone: +234-70-33493395, +234-80-3801-0362, +23480-2365-3752.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 7, 2015

21

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

s

Cartoons from our Archives

1974 Aaron sets new home run record On this day in 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s legendary record of 714 homers. A crowd of 53,775 people, the largest in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, was with Aaron that night to cheer when he hit a 4th inning pitch off the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Al Downing.

However, as Aaron was an African American who had received death threats and racist hate mail during his pursuit of one of baseball’s most distinguished records, the achievement was bittersweet.

Henry Louis Aaron Jr., born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, made his Major League debut in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, just eight years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s colour barrier and became the first African American to play in the majors. Aaron, known as hard working and quiet, was the last Negro league player to also compete in the Major Leagues. In 1957, with characteristically little

fanfare, Aaron, who primarily played right field, was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player as the Milwaukee Braves won the pennant. A few weeks later, his three home runs in the World Series helped his team triumph over the heavily favoured New York Yankees. Although “Hammerin’ Hank” specialized in home runs, he was also an extremely dependable batter, and by the end of his career he held baseball’s career record for most runs batted in: 2,297.

Aaron’s playing career spanned three teams and 23 years. He was with the Milwaukee Braves from 1954 to 1965, the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 1974 and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1975 to 1976. He hung up his cleats in 1976 with 755 career home runs and went on to become one of baseball’s first African-American executives, with the Atlanta Braves, and a leading spokesperson for minority hiring. Hank Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Daily Times April 8, 1961

Park bomber Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s 2005 Olympic Eric Rudolph agrees to 2013 first female prime minister, dies plead guilty

Eric Rudolph agreed to plead guilty to a series of bombings, including the fatal bombing at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, in order to avoid the death penalty.

He later cited his anti-abortion and anti-homosexual views as motivation for the bombings. Eric Robert Rudolph was born September 19, 1966, in Merritt Island, Florida. He served a brief stint in the U.S. Army and later supported himself by working as a carpenter. On July 27, 1996, a 40-pound pipe bomb exploded in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, killing one woman and injuring over 100 people. A security guard named Richard Jewell was initially considered the prime suspect in the case. Then, on January 16, 1997, two bombs went off at an Atlanta-area medical clinic that performed abortions, injuring seven people. In February of that same year, a bomb detonated at a lesbian nightclub in Atlanta, injuring four people. On January 29, 1998, a

bomb exploded at a Birmingham, Alabama, women’s health clinic, killing a security guard and critically injuring a nurse.

Rudolph became a suspect in the Birmingham bombing after witnesses reported spotting his pickup truck near the clinic before the bomb went off. Authorities then launched a massive manhunt in North Carolina, where he was spotted stocking up on supplies. In February 1998, Rudolph was officially charged as a suspect in the Birmingham bombing. In March 1998, Rudolph’s brother Daniel cut off his hand to protest what he saw as the mistreatment of Eric by the F.B.I and the media.

In May of that same year, Eric Rudolph was named to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and a $1 million reward was offered for his capture. In July, a North Carolina health food store owner reported that Rudolph had taken six months’ of food and supplies from him, leaving $500 in exchange.

On this day in 2013, Margaret Thatcher, the first--and so far only--female prime minister of the United Kingdom, died in London at age 87 from a stroke. Serving from 1979 to 1990, Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. She curbed the power of Britain’s labor unions, privatized state-owned industries, led her nation to victory in the Falklands War and as a close ally of U.S. President Ronald Reagan played a pivotal role in ending the Cold War. A polarizing figure, Thatcher, nicknamed the Iron Lady, was credited by her admirers with championing free-market, conservative policies that revitalized the British economy, while critics charged these initiatives hurt the nation’s lower classes.

Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on October 23, 1925, in Grantham, a town in northeast England. Her family lived in an

apartment above the grocery store owned by her father, who also was a local politician. After graduating from Oxford University in 1947, the future prime minister worked as a research chemist. In the early 1950s, she twice ran unsuccessfully for parliament as a Conservative Party candidate. After marrying Denis Thatcher (1915-2003), a well-off businessman, in 1951, she studied law and gave birth to twins in 1953. That same year, she qualified as a barrister.

In 1959, Thatcher was elected to the House of Commons from the Finchley district in north London. She rose through her party’s ranks, and when the Conservatives came to power under Edward Heath in 1970, she was named secretary for education. In that role, Thatcher was vilified by her Labour Party opponents as “Thatcher the Milk Snatcher” after she made cuts to a free-milk program for

schoolchildren. In 1975, with Labour back in power, Thatcher, to the surprise of many, defeated Heath to become head of her party, as well as the first woman to serve as opposition leader in the House of Commons.

In 1979, with Britain’s economy in poor health and labour union strikes rampant, the Conservatives returned to power and Thatcher was elected prime minister. Her government lowered income taxes but increased taxes on good and services, slashed or eliminated government subsidies to businesses and implemented other austerity measures. Unemployment soared and Thatcher’s approval ratings plummeted. Then, after Argentina invaded the Britishruled Falkland Islands in April 1982, she sent troops there and

by June the Falklands had been recaptured. The victory helped Thatcher win re-election as prime minister in 1983.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

23 News

Don’t be overjoyed with Buhari’s victory, group tells Ajimobi, APC Bolaji Omosanya Ibadan

ÏÏÏ

A socio-political group, Akala Team, has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State not to be overjoyed by its victory in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly election.

The group is championing the return of the candidate of Labour Party (LP), Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala, as governor in Saturday's governorship and Houses of Assembly election.

Director of Public Affairs of the group, Oludare Ogunlana, gave the advice on Tuesday at a press conference in Ibadan, adding that it was because Nigerians were desirous of

change that they voted for the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

This victory, however, he added, would not favour the APC in Oyo State, because people were tired of the anti-masses policies of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, saying that "Saturday's polls will be politically different from that of March 28, 2015."

According to Ogunlana: “Not even the planned visit of the President-elect to Oyo State, to shore up support for Governor Abiola Ajimobi, will deter the people from sending Ajimobi away.

"The governor does not deserve such treatment, as he did not support his party's presidential candidate. It is on record that the

governor was shocked to hear the news of Buhari's success in the presidential election.

“Moving with an Abiola Ajimobi may stain the hardearned integrity of the former Head of State, because the governor has yet to clear himself of several allegations against him," adding: "It is on record that Ajimobi's penchant for financial misconduct is second to none.

"This is a governor who constructed a flyover at an obnoxious amount of N2.9 billion, while his ‘brother’ from the same APC constructed a dual one in Ogun State at the cost of N1.5 billion,” he said. He criticised Ajimobi for blaming inadequate and delayed federal allocation as the reason for

his non-performance.

“It was irresponsible for the APC administration to blame paucity of funds for its under-performance, at a time the government is winding up. No amount of lies will save Ajimobi from defeat, for having nothing to show for all the allocations his administration had gotten since inception. This government is not only fraudulent, but also lacks creativity,” he added.

Ogunlana denied the rumours making the rounds that Alao-Akala had stepped down for another candidate, adding: “Our standard bearer, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, is very much in the race. He has not stepped down for anybody. We are very optimistic of victory in Saturday's election.”

Fulani group assures Al-Makura of support Al-Makura

Sunday Isuwa Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly election, the Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has assured the Governor of Nassarawa State, Tanko AlMakura, of their total support at the polls.

The group said that with their support, Al-Makura, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would win for the second time.

National president of the association, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, made the pronouncement during a

meeting with the executive committee members, and Fulani leaders (Ardos), at the association’s national headquarters in Nasarawa State.

He said the governor had been doing much for the progress of the people of the state, adding that he was not a tribalistic politician and had become part of the Fulani. Bodejo noted the statement of former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, in which the latter said that 'governors who defected from PDP to APC were like Fulanis, who migrated from one place to another', made them realise that Maku did not have good intentions for the herdsmen.

Foundation donates playground to children Dilionye Dilibe Onitsha

L-R: Deputy Governor, Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama; Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Sen. Arthur Okowa, during a stakeholders, meeting in Asaba, Delta State… on Tuesday

ÏÏÏ As part of its social re-

sponsibility in catering for children and the less privileged, a non-government organisation, Rise Clinic, has established a children’s playground in the hospital premises in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The event, which took place in the clinic’s premises on Easter Monday, also featured health professionals assessing the children.

APC rigged presidential election – PDP chieftain Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Owere Dickson Imasogie, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of rigging the March 28 presidential election.

Speaking to Daily Times in Benin City, he said that if the election were to be free and fair, PDP would have won with a wide margin, adding that never in the history of Nigeria had an election been massively

rigged than what happened in the Northern region.

He was sad that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) connived with the APC to rig the election.

According to him: “We expected INEC to be neutral, but it entered into an unholy alliance with APC and massively rigged the election in the North. Personally, I saw it coming and, based on intelligence report, I alerted my party that the APC was planning to rig the election, but the leadership disregarded my

warning and, today, I am vindicated.

“How did the Northerners in Southern Nigeria get registered in the North, with INEC providing them with Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). How come children of about eight years old were allowed to vote in the Northern region? That is rigging of the highest order,” Imasogie added.

On the victory of the PDP in Edo State, he noted that he was not surprised because he knew that the Party would win convinc-

ingly, because “Edo is a PDP state. I told the media, before the Presidential and National Assembly election that the PDP would get up to 70 per cent of the votes in Edo State, and it came to pass,” he added.

Imasogie

According to a consultant physician, Dr. Chris Mbelu, who spoke on behalf of the clinic: “It is a multi-specialty clinic, in partnership with Rise Global Health Initiative and the Anambra State Government, which relies on grants to sustain the clinic.” He added that the commissioning of the playground coincided with the introduction of a paediatrics section in the clinic.

About 400 children, drawn from different schools and the host community, Adazi-Ani, participated in the programme.

Ifa worshippers back Amosun, Ogun APC candidates Olusola Okunlade Abeokuta

ÏÏÏ Traditional worship-

pers, under the aegis of Ifa Olokun Foundation, have assured the all Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and other candidates on the party’s platform, of unflinching support in Saturday’s election.

They expressed their support for the candidates during a prayer session at

the Ifa Olokun Foundation temple in Ota, in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of the state, on Monday.

During the prayer session, led by Chief Fakayode Faluade, President/ Founder of Ifa Olokun Foundation, the adherents commended the conduct of the March 28 presidential and National Assembly election, especially, the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect of the country.

24

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

&

Industry TECHNOLOGY Issues

By MOSES OWOLABI, mosesowolabi2005@yahoo.com; 08053064507(sms only)

Why food prices remain stable ÏÏÏMany Nigerians have not stopped

to ask themselves why food prices have remained stable despite the devaluation of the naira. The naira now exchanges for about N200+ to a dollar, yet the price of rice, which used to be an imported Nigerian staple has remained stable, ditto for wheat and other imported food items.

How come?

The Agric minister, Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina, told the story in a lucid, poetic and romantic manner at the recently held Raw Materials Clusters Summit in Abuja.

He said despite the changes in the value of the naira, food prices have remained relatively stable due to increased food production and the substantially reduced import bill.

“Government launched the Growth Enhancement Support scheme to provide targeted support for seeds and fertilizers to 20 million farmers within four years…The production from these supports exceeded 21million metric tons of additional food,” he explained.

The minister added that in rice, 24 large integrated private sector rice mills have sprung up with a total capacity of 800,000 metric tons. Said he: “The quality challenges of local rice have been overcome by these modern mills with products comparable to imported milled rice, Aliko Dangote is investing $1billion in 450,000 ha of rice fields and five rice mills with combined capacity of 1million metric tons.”

Another glad tiding was that of the successes recorded in the bid to reduce the huge wheat import bill of N654 billion ($4 billion) a year by partially replacing wheat in bread and confectionaries with High Quality Cassava Flour with the launch of 20% cassava bread by four large industrial bakeries and four master bakers in 2012; and which increased to eight industrial bakers and 40 master bakers in 2014. Nigeria’s two largest wheat millers, Honeywell and Flour Mills of Nigeria who together account for 70% of total flour milling capacity in Nigeria have launched commercial 10% HQCF composite flour.

Need we say more?

That is the good part of the story.

Adesina

The sad part is that no single Nigerian process equipment fabricator was involved in the installation of the 24 large scale rice mills. And the fabricators are not happy with the (turnkey?) arrangement the government had with the manufacturers. One of them swore that the initial arrangement was for the government to import only a few units for the fabricators to study and partake in their installations so that eventually there would be no need to import more units, rather the remaining units would be made locally.

The minister probably didn’t really see the need for the involvement of the local fabricators and regarded it as a waste of time, something which could rob the Jonathan Administration of the well-deserved honour of being the government that took Nigeria from being a food importer to food exporter. But did the minister think of after-sales maintenance? Was there any solid arrangement to ensure that Nigerians would be able to handle the maintenance and repairs, just in case the mills break down? Or are we going to keep on importing expertise to do the repairs each time there is a need for such? Is there any arrangement at technology transfer from the manufacturers to Nigeria, such that Nigerians could manufacture the mills wholly in the nearest future? These questions earnestly beg for answers!

Timesearch E-mail: oyin_k@yahoo.com 08055103156

Sarah ODEDE

Why are industries closing down? ÏÏÏSo

many industries have been closing down in Nigeria due to one reason or the other, but it appears some powers are still against the remaining ones.

It beats my imagination that Nigeria, despite the economy recession it is going through, still to closes down young industries thus making life very difficult for young entrepreneurs.

Why are industries being closed down in Nigeria?

Daniel Odenekan 33, Isale Koko Close Agege, Lagos State The enquiry of Mr. Odenekan was taken up with one of the top officials of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), who told the TIMESEARCH that Nigerian industries were not just closed down for the fun of closing them down.

According to the official who craved anonymity, “ As far back as 2013, it would be recalled that the Director-General of SON, Dr. Odumodu, made a pronouncement during a national sensitization workshop tagged ‘Save the nation, shun substandard products’ for the National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANTS),

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter sometime in 2013.”

According to the official, the Director General made it clear in his statement that fake and substandard products contributed immensely to the closure of many industries and unemployment rate in the country.

He quoted the DG as saying, “ Fake and substandard products chased away good products which led to factories closing down and hundreds of thousands becoming jobless…”

Quoting the Director General further, the official said, “We must understand that for us as a nation any import into Nigeria is a job created for the exporter country. It is also a job loss for Nigeria.

It is better for us as a country to patronize Nigeria-made products for two main reasons: By buying Nigerian products, we are helping to create employment opportunities for our teeming school leavers and building a better and stronger economy for our country. Secondly, you are also helping government to protect our citizens from the evil effects of substandard products.

“The organisation is trying its best to make sure that goods in Nigeria are not substandard, and closure of industries are not malicious,” the official added.

Educate me on retirement benefits ÏÏÏI would want to know what hap-

pens to the retirement benefits of an employee who is already under a pension scheme existing before the commencement of the new pension scheme.

I would also want to know how the Federal Government would fund the redemption bonds, as well as the accrued benefits.

Mumunni Abba, P.O. Box 2210 Gamji Sokoto State At the National Pension Commission(NPC), Maitama District Abuja, the enquiries of Mumunni Abba were taken up with a top official of the commission who revealed that Employee’s right to accrued retirement benefits for the previous years he/she has been in employment is guaranteed by the Pension Reform Act 2004.

In case of the public service of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, where pension scheme was unfunded, the right would be acknowledged through the issuance of a “Federal Government Retirement Bond,” to such employee. The bond will be redeemable upon retirement of the employee.”

The official added that the Federal Government has established a Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In the case of funded pension schemes in the public service of the federation and the private sector, employers shall undertake actuarial valuation of the employee’s accrued benefits and credit the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) of its employees with such funds and in the event of any deficiency, the shortfall shall become a debt and shall be treated with same priority as salaries owed.

The employer shall also issue a written acknowledgment of the debt and take steps to meet the shortfall.”

“Pension Boards in the private sector existing before the coming into force of the Pension Reform Act 2004 will continue to administer the pensions of the existing pensioners and the National Pensions Commission (NPC) will supervise such boards,” the official said.

However, on the Public Service, the official said that the Pension Departments had been created to carry out the functions of the relevant pension boards or offices in the public service of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory with a view to making regular and prompt payment of pension to existing pensioners.”

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Group calls for release of detained Lagos APC supporters Kayode Adelowokan

Ă?Ă?Ă?A

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Coalition for Change and Good Governance, has called for the immediate release or prosecution of four All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts arrested in the run-up to the March 28, 2015 presidential election in Lagos State.

A statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Rasaq Olasunkanmi, and made available to our correspondent, stated that Ismail Abiodun, Sakiru Abiola, Olalekan Akin Taiwo and Yemi were arrested about three days to March 28 election and were still being detained at the State Security Service (SSS) office, at Shangisha, Lagos.

Olasunkanmi stated that more than a week after the completion of the exercise, the APC stalwarts have neither been released nor

charged before any court for any offence, even as they were denied access to their family members. “By this token and in the spirit of national healing, we call on the security agents that arrested some APC members in Bariga area of Somolu Local Government last week Wednesday, during the build up to the March 28 election, to release them immediately. “We also call on the President to prevail on the State Security Services (SSS) to effect the release of these people immediately as their only offence is choosing to support a particular candida te. We implore the leadership of APC not to abandon these people to their fate but engage the relevant agencies to facilitate their freedom. “Their continued detention has put their families in psychological and emotional turmoil.

PFN congratulates Buhari Titus Akhigbe Benin

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd), on his victory at the presidential polls.

PFN National President, Rev. Felix Omobude, in a press statement in Benin City, said, “The PFN shares in your aspiration to move Nigeria forward and hope that with the support of Nigerians, we can together build a strong, virile and united nation where no one is oppressed. “We trust the Almighty God that He will graciously grant you the wisdom and all you require to make the dreams of all Nigerians

come true�, the PFN President stated.

Rev. Omobude also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for providing an enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the March 28, 2015 presidential election. “We commend President Jonathan for his courage and spirit of sportsmanship in accepting the outcome of the elections. This has saved the nation from political chaos and violence. “The PFN call on all Nigerians to continue to maintain peace and order and engage in things that will unite us and strengthen our democratic values,� Rev. Felix Omobude added.

Akhigbe Lighthouse Poly Titus Benin gets FG approval Ă?Ă?Ă?Lighthouse PolytechEvbuobanosa, near to run HND nic, Benin City, Edo State, has Programmes been granted approval to run the Higher National

25 News

Confusion in APGA as Onitsha youths dump party Dilionye Dilibe Onitsha

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

incumbent lawmaker representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency, in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chugbo Enwezor, is in for a serious trouble as majority of Onitsha youths have strongly vowed to end his career as a legislator on Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Despite last minute political intrigues, made by

Ajibola assures Kwara workers of enhanced welfare package Ola Yekeen Ilorin

Ă?Ă?Ă?Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kwara State, Senator Simeon Ajibola, on Tuesday, promised workers in the state of enhanced welfare package, if voted into power on April 11.

Senator Ajibola made the promise while speaking on Radio Nigeria, Harmony FM, Idofian, live programme.

The Senator said he would restore the workers leave bonuses that have been allegedly cancelled by the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) - led government of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The PDP governorship candidate stated that his administration would also ensure prompt payment of salaries and wages.

He lamented that Kwara workers were one of the least paid in the country and promised to bring their pay at par with those of the federal government workers around.

Diploma (HND) programmes by the Federal Government.

The approval, which was conveyed to the authorities of Lighthouse Polytechnic last week, by the Federal Ministry of

the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, through the state Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mrs. Azuka Enemuo, who is an indigene of the town to pacify the youths to vote for the APGA candidate (Hon. Enwezor), the youths, numbering about 600, trooped to Imeobi palace, Onitsha, on a scheduled meeting, while the Commissioner for Local Government allegedly rained abuses on the Onitsha Cabinet Chiefs (Ndiichie),

accusing them of collecting money from the state government to support a particular candidate.

Mrs. Enemuo, after the meeting, refused to talk to the press, but sources told Daily Times that he was diplomatic in her choice of words but told the people to cast their votes for continuity during next Saturday’s House of Assembly election as a mark of solidarity to Governor Obiano.

All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman,

Onitsha North Local Government, Mr. Nwakibie Okagbue, told Daily Times that all entreaties by the commissioner to convince the youths failed as their (APGA) candidate performed woefully during his first term in office and the youths in Onitsha had vowed to cast their votes according to their conscience.

He, however, boasted that APC candidate for the constituency, Mr. Ifeka Egbunike, was a preferred candidate.

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Education, through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), said the approval was sequel upon the recent visit of the accreditation team of NBTE in October, last year.

According to the NBTE letter, Lighthouse Polytechnic is now approved to offer HND courses in Accountancy, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Technology.

Similarly, the NBTE

also accredited more National Diploma (ND) programmes for Lighthouse Polytechnic.

The new ND courses include Banking and Finance, Public Administration and Statistics.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Suspend Oba of Lagos now, Lagos PDP tells Fashola Jonathan Eze

elections, in order to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.

The party also alerted security agencies to hold the Oba responsible for any attack on non-indigenes or PDP members.

In a statement signed by

...The Lagos State chapter

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunder Fashola to suspend the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, till after the

KOFO OLUGBESAN FOUNDATION

its Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, it alleged that the silence of Fashola, 48 hours after an inflammatory statement and threat to life, suggested that the Oba had the backing of the Lagos State Government.

“The governor is thus a

conspirator in this threat to life and must also be held accountable for any violence in this elections. We have, at this point, been vindicated about the desperation of the APC to retain Lagos State, at all cost, including its plan not to concede the immi-

nent defeat on April 11,” the PDP said.

The positions of the PDP are coming on the heels of the now viral threat issued by the Oba of Lagos to the Igbo people that they must vote APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi

Ambode, or be drowned in Lagos water.

However, the PDP has charged the non-indigenes and its members not to be intimidated by the Oba’s threat, but go out to vote according to their wish on Saturday.

CYNTHIA ANGELHUA ADEYINKA

NWAGBO CHINWE PAULINE

OLATOMIDE OLUWAFUNMILAYO ABIODUN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Cynthia Angelhua Ise, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cynthia Angelhua Adeyinka.

All documents bearing my former names remain valied. The general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as miss Okoyeogwo Onyebuchi Judith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nwagbo Chinwe Pauline. All former documents bearing my former names remain valied.

First Bank plc, Fidelit Bank plc and Zenith Bank plc, manegements should please take

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeusi Ajoke Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olatomide Oluwafunmilayo Abiodun. All documents bearing my former names remain valied. The general public please take note.

BETHEL OF FIRE AND REVIVAL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affair Commission for registration under part “C “ of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES: 1. Dr. Olufunmilayo Bayode (Nee OLUGBESAN) 2. Mr. Adebukola Bayode 3. Mr. Babatunde Olugbesan 4. Mrs. Temidayo Mary Idowu 5. Mr. Tokunbo Abua 6. Ms. Yasmine Ajudua 7. Mr Ayoola Lapite

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Pastor Olusegun Bamidele Gabriel 2. Pastor Sister Olusegun Tolulope Olawanle 3. Brother Olusegun Micheal 4. Pastor Sister Ajinde Folashade Florence 5. Pastor Rogers Temidayo Ifedayo

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To motivate inspire the youths and under privileged people 2. To protect, promote and improve the welfare of the people in our society.

The Aims and Objectives are:To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ

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

Signed: Ayoola Lapite

VESCTA VEHICLE SQUADRON TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public 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, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES: 1. Akinmade Abdulfatai Awofe -President 3.Yusuf Abdulrazzaq Adewale -Member 5.Ahmed Kamilu Mustapha -Member

2.Fadogba Olusola Joshua -Secretary 4.Kujube Olugbenga Okeowo -Member 6.Olapade Oluyemi Ebenezer -Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To protect welfare and collective interest of members 2. To foster unity, peace, love and progress among members 3. To nurture, advance and promote the professional aspiration of members 4. To promote good professional and groom members to be law abiding citizens of Nigeria 5. To empower the members for positive change in our society Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Otighi Johnson 08023171337 , 08054485864

ULONNA NORTH AND SOUTH LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION

26 News

MANI’S CARE FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1. Egboja Emmanuel Joseph -President 2. Joseph young Victor Egboja -Vice President 3. Joseph Daniel Onma -General Secretary 4. Egboja Isaac Ogbadu -Treasurer 5. Eda Anthonia Ogoma -Financial Secretary Aim and objective.

1. To sensitize the Nigerian public about breast cancer HIV/aids and other diseases 2. To create opportunities for woman to have clinical breast examination free of charge and render some assistance for treatment 3. To create opportunities for people to undergo free hiv test 4. To train counsel and advocate for /with the poor children and less privilege in the society 5. To empower the youth and widows in the society. (employment,training,seminars etc)

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

SIGNED BY: - Secretary

THE RUGGED CROSS GOSPEL MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES: 1. David Kolawole Olubanwo - General Overseer/Founder 2. Gbenga Folorunso Oyinlola 3. Margaret Ekaete Olubanwo 4. Janet Oluwakemi Oyinlola 5. Gabriel Adesuyi Adepoji

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Oluokun adeyemi & co

SEVENTH GENERATION YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE. This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ronami egirani.

2. Michael egirani.

3. Arobo egirani.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach and teach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To conduct deliverance, crusades and use the gospel to train the character of men for Christ 3. To do all incidents on the above objectives

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provide physical care to the people 2. To train youth how to develop & empower their self .

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

Signed: Secretary

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Signed-George ikoli Tengi

UNIQUE WOMEN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION

THE BIRTH PLACE OF GREATNESS CHURCH

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 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 church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Chief Ikpendu Ariwodo 3. Elder Stephen Ibekwe Okorie 5. Gabaolu Uche Clement 7. Chief Cosmas Ike Eze 9. Livinus Nduka Udemba

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dcns Sarah Olubunmi Adebayo-President 2. Missionette Ada Regina Anthony-Vice President 3. Mrs Regina Chukwuka-Secretary 4. Titilayo Akhidenor-Asst. Secretary 5. Mrs Helen Ogunbamerun-Treasurer 6. Mrs Vivian Opara-Fin. Secretary 7. Felicia Irhiogbe-P.R.O

TRUSTEES ARE : (1) Revd. Samuel Arua Anaga -President.

(2) Pastor Mrs. Favour Ugoma Samuel.

(3) Deacon Obinna Aguwa.

(4) Ibe Onyedikachi - Secretary

2. Chief Israel Obioma Egekwu 4. Igwe Laz Onwuneme 6. Ivonye Michael Onuakaolu 8. Sampson Ndudim Nnadi 10.Hon Justice Sunday Ndudim Imo

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote unity, peace and love and a sense of purposes among members 2. To protect the collective interest of member communities of the ulonna farm settlement.

3. To advance productive agricultural and socio-economic development schemes for benefit of member communities, aimed at improving the welfare of indigenes.

4. To promote and encourage peaceful co-existence, mutual benefits between members.

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: SECRETARY

VICTORY FOUNDATION GLORIOUS GOSPEL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL 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.

Trustees.

1. Chukwudi Tobenna Prisca.

2. Chukwudi Tobenna Daniels.

3. Orjinta Nnamdi.

4. Nwachukwu Loveline.

5. Ezurike Clement.

Aims and Objective.

1. To preach the word of God. 2. To reach the unreached through evangelism.

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. Secretary.

Aims and Objective.

1. To preach the word of God. 2. To reach the unreached through evangelism.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To empower women 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: ROSEMARY N. EMOVON ESQ

CHRIST DOMINION BAPTIST CHURCH 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.

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. PRESIDENT

APEX FAITH INTERNATIONAL CHURCH NEW NAME : APEX FAITH INTERNATIONAL CHURCH OLD NAME: INTERCONNECT GOSPEL CHRISTIAN CENTRE This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied for change of name to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees.

1. Adebayo Gabriel Oyelayo.

2. Adebayo Dorcas Adefunke.

3. Ajifowobaje Abiodun.

4. Ogunshile Olumuyiwa Solomon.

5. Awolola Samson Taiwo.

THE TRUSTEES. REMAIN THE SAME: THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME

Aims and objective.

1. To preach the word of God. 2. To reach the unreached through evangelism.

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 - Secretary

Any objection to the change of name should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr. AYIBIOWU D0NALD TOYIN

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Inside Campus Unilorin students receive tablets Taofeek Tiamiyu, Unilorin The Management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has kept date with its promise to digitalise learning in the institution, with the distribution of mobile computers to

‘freshers’ last Thursday in the main campus in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The initiative, known as ‘One Student, One PC Tablet’, was introduced by former vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, but the project is being implemented by his suc-

Ambali

s

Inside Campus Editor: Mutiat Alli mutiat.alli@dailytimes.com.ng

cessor and the current VC, Prof Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali.

Ambali said the initiative was to make students active players in the information age, urging them to use the device for their academic benefits through elearning.

A beneficiary, Ganiyu Quadri, a 100-Level Mathematics Education student, said he was delighted when he received the tablet, noting that he did not have a

Laspotech to convocate 7,022 students Mutiat Alli The management of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) has announced that it would convocate a total of 7,022 students across all the full time and part-time session at its 23rd convocation ceremony billed to hold tomorrow at the main campus of the institution in Ikorodu.

Speaking to newsmen, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Abioye Lawal, disclosed that the graduands are fully prepared to face the challenges of life, because of the special entrepreneurial skills and computer education they have acquired.

Abioye, whose tenure as the polytechnic rector elapses on

Lawal, Laspotech Rector

June 1, this year, has been able to transform the polytechnic of excellence into a world class institution, with the various academic upgrading and structural developments, courtesy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Lagos State government.

Present at the press briefing were the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga; Registrar of the institute, Princess Olufunke Ige; Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Mr. Olarenwaju Kuye, amongst others.

Expected guests at the convocation ceremony is the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, who will sending forth the graduands into the labour market.

Govts urged to increase awareness on child blindness Eddy Uwoghiren, UNIBEN The Federal Government and Non-government Organizations (NGO) have been urged to increase advocacy and public enlightenment on child blindness, with a view to reducing the scourge of the disease.

A Consultant Pediatric Ophthalmologist at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Oseluese Dawodu, gave the advice, while delivering the 152nd Inaugural Lecture of the institution.

She spoke on the theme Childhood Blindness: A Changing Picture with Changing Challenges.

Dawodu said the rise in the number of blind children could be attributed to poverty and superstitious beliefs that a child with an eye problem would overcome it. She said it was wrong for illiterate people with eye problems to use unorthodox medicines, instead of visiting the hospitals.

Lamenting the growing rate of the disease, and stigmatiza-

tion of blind children, she stated that traditional institutions and miracle churches have done more harm than good to cause children to go blind.

In curbing the menace of childhood blindness, Prof. Dawodu called on governments to create centres of excellence for healthcare in Ophthalmology in each geopolitical zones, with a view to bringing treatment closer to the people and legislate laws to bound unregistered bodies from operating eye care centres.

27

Dawodu

smart phone to search for information on the Internet. “The tablet will give me the break to do research on-line and also widen my knowledge, especially on the mathematics field,” he said.

Olaitan Giwa, a student of Agriculture, said the device would improve students’ academic performance and complement lecturers’ efforts to impact knowledge on students through modern techniques.

Jega

NAUS congratulates Buhari, hail INEC Eddy Uwoghiren, UNIBEN The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has congratulated the President-elect, General Muhammad Buhari, for his victory and triumph at the recently concluded Presidential elections.

The National president of the association, Comr. Jonathan Adekunle, while addressing pressmen at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, last Wednesday, stated that the keenly contested election, though gone, would forever be remembered in Nigeria, as there are lots of lessons to learn from it.

Adekunle praised President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat and congratulating his rival, even before the official announcement by the electoral body and fulfillment of his commitment in assuring free, fair and credible polls in a peaceful atmosphere. He also applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by Prof. Attahiru Jega, for painstakingly delivering on the National assignment.

NAUS commended Nigerians and all the university students for the peaceful conduct and attitude before, during and after the election, and called on the presidentelect to deliver on his promises.

28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Features

ASIYA: Crusader for the sanctity of

womanhood

Abdulmumuni-Jinaidu The story of Asiya is one parents should consider before breaking up. Raped at 14 in the Kaduna suburbs, the sociologist has become a voluntary counsellor to youths at organised forums. OVIE DANIEL spotted her in Lagos recently and reports.

Pretty Asiya AbdulmumuniJinaidu is a soul caught between two opposing tribes and

s

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

cultural interests at birth. “My father is from Ondo, mum a Fulani woman; they met in school and contracted the traditional inter-tribal marriage. I’m a Muslim, live in Kaduna and a marketing executive with a Kaduna-based private company.”

Her parents did break up eventually which made it even more difficult for Asiya. She said of the experience: “The Northern people generally have a kind of mentality; they don’t like their sons

or daughters getting married to someone who is not of the core northern origin. That was the great battle my parents faced; my mum was daily battling with her in-laws because they never loved her. Much as mum and dad tried to manage the situation, they still separated at the end of the day when I turned 20.”

The first of four children (one boy and two girls after her), Asiya had to leave home CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Asiya

Enough of congratulations... wake up! Roll up your sleeves and get to work!

Before us are chances, choices and consequences…

Bakare

GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR reports the most telling congratulatory message from the Latter Rain Serving Overseer, Pastor Tunde Bakare to President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhamadu Buhari.

Pastor Tunde Bakare last Sunday rejoiced before God and before Nigerians that, in spite of the fear everywhere, what could have plunged this nation into sorrow turned into widespread joy. “Almighty God turned our mourning into dancing. That was what God did in the days of Esther when He spared the lives of the Jews (Esther 9:20-22),”Bakare said.

But for God, he said, nations of the earth were waiting to see Nigeria’s disintegration because they knew we could not conduct an election without violence.

“We were threatened with international court of criminal justice’; they will take anybody that would cause violence; even our neighbours, against all expectations, were mocking us to see what would become of the Big Brother, but God frustrated the tokens of liars.”

A really elated Bakare rejoiced that America congratulated Nigeria, and that Britain has seen the marvelous work God has wrought in our nation.

The preacher did not fail to salute the efforts of three major actors in the 2015 presidential election. His first choice was Prof Attahiru Jega,“for the quality of leadership he gave to INEC and, especially, for his comportment in the face of grave accusation and provocation.”

The second person was President Jonathan Goodluck who was on the hot seat, expected to CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

29 Features

Bakare: The election has made an icon of Jonathan CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

toe the line of his predecessors.

Bakare thanked him three times over. His words: “The 2015 presidential election has revealed now to those who called him incompetent while in government, that he has capacity where it matters; Jonathan exhibited unusual courage when it mattered most.

Courage is the finest character when under fire.

“Thank God the president did not buckle and drag us back to 1993. Thank you Mr. President for setting a good example; as Thomas Jefferson said, “However deep in or horrible too, it is more profitable to set a good example, than to follow a bad one.

“Thank you again, Mr. President, for not following a bad example of Nigeria’s history; generations yet unborn will not forget you as a great leader who sacrificed his political ambition and desire for the unity and wellbeing of this nation.

“2015 presidential election has made a democratic icon and a hero out of our President; he has charted a new course for Nigeria as a man who in spite of his frail-

“Nations of the earth were waiting to see Nigeria’s disintegration because they knew we could not conduct an election without violence.”

ties, practices what he professes; namely, that the ambition of any politician is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. Thank you Mr. President; your tenure ends on the 29th of May, 2015, but the impacts of your magnanimity will last forever.”

Finally, Bakare acknowledged Mr. Integrity himself, General Muhamadu Buhari.

“I am glad today for you, Major General Buhari that you did not quit in spite of the overwhelming discouragement along the way from 2004 to 2015. Quitters, indeed, don’t win, and winners don’t quit.We all can now breathe a deep sigh of relief, with the slogan: Victory at last!”

In his characteristic way, Bakare celebrated God with two Scriptures: Romans 11:33-36 and 1 Timothy 1:17, then started his analysis from 1 Samuel 12:1-25, showing he Prophet Samuel’s address at Saul’s coronation pointing the good and the right way to succeed to the new king, and to all Israel: “Every chance in life, like the just-concluded Presidential/Nass election and the upcoming governorship election, is a chance and an opportunity to choose; but once choice is made, consequences will automatically follow. ”A good choice will inevitably, even if there be trouble and trials along the way, attract a wonderful outcome; but a bad choice, even if there is sudden success, will end in disaster. Why? Because means and ends have a terminus: a destructive means cannot bring about a constructive end.”

“In the world, you cannot have everything; therefore, a choice is all that is left for everyone.

Fourteen candidates vied for the presidential seat, only one was chosen. Different people voted for different candidates, but the

Bakare one with the largest number won the day.

“He who chooses the beginning of a road, chooses the place that road leads to,because it is the means that determines the end. Many believe that the end justifies the means, but no destructive means will bring about a constructive end.”

God gave Israel what they wanted “Israel demanded for a king, but the prophet made them understand that in spite of their euphoria, they just goofed (1 Sam 8:7-). The voice of the people is not always the voice of God.It is important we read the

situation right, so that the disaster God has averted from us will not bounce back on us.

“Saul chose 3,000 people for himself, 2,000 for him, 1,000 for his son Jonathan: what kind of people were they? They were a people untested, untrained for battle; they were just people whose faces he liked.

“We just cast our ballots; we don’t care what kind of change we’re asking for; Nigerians just want change. I pray the change will benefit all Nigerians North, East, South and West in Jesus Name. Amen.”

Integrity is not enough “Now I congratulate Nigeri-

ans who have chosen a man of integrity as their President; but fellow Nigerians, integrity is not enough. Integrity is good and is needed because it’s a scarce commodity in Nigeria. Integrity is important, but integrity is not enough to run a government successfully (Psalm 78:70).

“I trust God, as he (Buhari himself) has said, that he will look for proven people of integrity, but Buhari must be careful not to choose only people of integrity, but of skill, technocrats who know how to turn the situation around, and not men at CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

One of the boys raped me at age 14 – Asiya CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

and stayed with friends at the vulnerable age of 14, and the more vulnerable society did not spare her. She said of the experience: “I was just a little girl who grew up in a storm that made growing up very difficult for me. It caused a delay in my

education because it affected my concentration and my focus; I was not doing well in my studies so I had to drop out of school. I was in Demonstration Secondary School in Kaduna at the time and I was living with my parents.”

At the peak of her formative years, Asiya did pick up even-

tually. “I went through a lot of molestation and stress going up and down; at a time I started fending for myself.”

How did she get into the hand of a rapist?

“I just wanted to get away from the situation when I couldn’t bear it any longer. That was why I went to stay with peo-

ple I thought were friends; but too late I found out they were not.

“One night when I was alone in the house, one of the boys raped me at the age of 14. Until now I am talking to you, I did not tell anybody; I just returned to my parents and managed the situation until I graduated.”

Asiya, who read sociology at the Federal College of Education, Zaria, did not take her grouse out at the society; instead she appointed herself a voluntary counsellor to youths in schools and at organised forums.

“I’m not bitter at anyone, but CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Features 30

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Integrity is not enough to run a government – Bakare

Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

ease, the owambe type who just wear robes and just be going up and down and eating fat at the expense of the people.”

Fighting corruption is not a slogan “Nigeria, open, shine your eyes and give me your maximum attention: Presumptuous battle and propaganda cannot deliver a nation.

“If you’re going to put people in charge, you must give them authority to function. We must manage our weaknesses by putting men of strength there to do what we cannot do and must let them fly for at least two years.

“Fighting corruption is not a slogan; attacking with a weak weapon by preparing charges they will truncate in the court is not a powerful weapon against corruption. Corruption is a monster; if you’re really going to fight corruption, you

must look within, check out the record of everyone around you, and tell them: ‘you cannot be part of this government because of this.’

“That’s how it will work. If you fight a presumptuous battle and you start propaganda, before long it will backfire on you, because that monster you want to unseat is more powerful than you are --- and it has a way of fighting back.

“King Saul thought government is about owambe; he did not develop any weaponry, did not invest in it (they were even pocketing the military budget).

He just surrounded himself with some thousands of people who shouted ‘Rankadede’ any time he showed up.”

Enough of congratulatory messages “Hear the voice of Nigeria: You are a servant of the people, it is time to roll up your sleeves and get to work! We have done

enough congratulatory messages. Congratulation is not going to put food on our tables; congratulation is not going to tar our roads; congratulation is not going to fight crime. Enough of congratulations... wake up! Roll up your sleeves and get to work!

And you will only succeed by the kind of men you choose; if a person is not tested, if he is not trained, he cannot be deployed.

“Anybody that is going to be anywhere in government of Nigeria from now on, we have to check him out; not only by security report: what has he or she achieved before? Where is he or she coming from?

“Does that mean all Nigerians are bad? No. We have a great number of them; men ofcompetence, character, men who have capability; men who have turned dead companies around.

You need those who can lay their hands on the plough and not turn back until they get results.

“The people were called to face a formidable opponent with superior weapons of war.

The enemy you want to fight is more powerful than you are.

We have seen it; so you have to sit down, you have to think through, you have to take your time, so when you launch your multipleattack, no corrupt person will stand out there.

“What did Saul do to lose his popularity so soon? Presumptuous propaganda was one of them; attacking the enemy when he was not ready; that backfired on him. The second thing was impatience; he just wanted to do something fast, from the surface: No! “Nigeria’s problems are multi-layered; when a tree falls on a tree, you don’t start by removing the one at the bottom, it will break your back bone: you start from the top. This is not a witch-hunting exercise: you set the parameters: ‘These are the qualities of people we want’.

“Set those parameters and then expose them to training; not just our military, we’re talking about men who will be in government because some of them are not used to civil service mediocrity; they are goal-getters that go out there and get results.”

Revolutionise the civil service Then you have to revolutionise even the civil service because that is supposed to be the memory bank. You can’t have people who are fearful, who have become ten per centers who will tell new ministers, ‘welcome to the ministry, but this is not how we do it o’ “If you go attack what you cannot handle, those men are willing to kill you; they will come with superior weapons and put an end to you. Presumptuous propaganda will not lead us anywhere. We have to sit.

We have to think: there must be people in the engine room, thinking day and night. All Nigerians want to see from May 29th is a government that hits

“All Nigerians want to see from May 29th is a government that hits the road running with clearcut objectives and goals with the right team for the first 100 days.” the road running with clear-cut objectives and goals with the right team for the first 100 days.

Before that finishes, the engine room has brought out other things to do in the East, West, North and South because, listen clearly: this is not time for the North, East, West or South: this is time for Nigeria!

If you put the right things in place, the wrong people will leave. Just make up your mind to do what is right, say what is right, to act in the right way; when you do the right thing, the wrong ones will leave you alone.

It’s not impossible to bring an end to corruption and corrupt men in Nigeria; if you assert it and everyone around you begins to do what is right and not these ten per centers and 20 per centers who benefit largely from the treasury. If we can fulfill that for once and people begin to labour and derive benefit from their hard work, our nation will change.

It doesn’t take too long to do it, provided the man at the helm of affairs and those surrounding him are quality people prepared for the task. If corrupt politicians remain around him, they will begin to counsel him and in a year or two we will be back to square one.

ASIYA: Parents should stand up to their responsibilities CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Asiya

I keep going round to advice youths on the implications of rape. I also talk to parents on the necessity to watch over their children with deliberate and extra care because if you don’t take care of your kids, they get into the wrong hands and the children become vul-

nerable to the vices of the society.

“I am not taking it out on the society either; I have learnt from my parent’s complicated marriage which made me a victim of the circumstance I was born into; and that’s why I counsel the young ones and I talk to parents to stand

up to their responsibilities. I tell them that whatever you do, please, keep your children within the bound of peace and security. Parents should please tolerate each other no matter the conflict or differences because of their children.”

Now 35, Asiya’s father remarried after the marriage broke

up 15 years ago and now lives in Ilorin with his wife while her Fulani mother passed on some eleven years ago, leaving Asiya with the responsibility of caring for her siblings. One of her siblings is studying at the National Teacher’s Institute in Zaria while the other two are in other schools.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the Nigerian Nation

Yakubu Gowon

. Being the text of the convocation lecture delivered by Gen. Gowon at the Chuk-

wuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State.

Protocols

ÎÎÎ 1.

I was pleasantly surprised when I received the invitation from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fidelis Uzochukwu Okafor, to be here today to deliver the first Convocation Lecture of this institution after its name change from Anambra State University to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Uli, Igbariam Campus. My first reaction, as a trained officer and a General in the Armed Forces of the federal Republic of Nigeria, was to suspect a booby trap, especially against the backdrop of what a host of individuals would consider as my ‘special’ (some might even erroneously say, ‘fractious’) relationship, first, with the Eastern Region/South

East Nigeria but, more importantly, with the Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Eze Ndi Igbo Gburu Gburu (Leader of Igbo everywhere), an officer and gentleman in whose honour this institution has been renamed.

I would like to state categorically from the onset, it was never out of hatred for the Igbos (Ndigbos) or animosity against my old Comrade and colleague; Emeka, but on principle of commitment to ONE NIGERIA. 2.

When I speak of a ‘booby trap’, I refer to the possibility that some brilliant Professors in the Convocation Planning Committee may have deemed this a good time and platform to get me make an early ‘public presentation’ of my memoirs by other means. I reckoned that the organisers may easily have been persuaded to believe that it would be near-impossible for me to do justice to the subject-No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the

Nigerian Nation-without sharing critical insights into my story vis-à-vis the history of Nigeria, especially in respect of my role in the 30-month Civil War that gave rise to the first part of the topic of this lecture.

3.

In this regard, let me begin by quickly dousing speculations that my late brother and friend, the Ikemba of Nnewi and I probably continued our ‘fight’ until his death in the UK on November 26, 2011.

We achieved reconciliation several decades, about four decades ago when we had our four (4) decades ago when we had our first post-civil war physical meeting in the late 1970’s in his room at the Mont Calm Hotel, Marble Arch in London. Before then, he had reached out to me through his friend, Fredrick Forsythe who rang the house and spoke to my wife, for him. He then, spoke to her and later informed me at Warwick University where I was pursuing my gradu-

ate/postgraduate degree programme at the time.

When, I was back home at the weekend, I called him and arranged to meet.

We eventually met at the Month Calm Hotel, Mrable Arch, London. I recall that our first meeting. Our meeting was a spontaneous first name call by both of us-Emeka! Jack! Nice meeting you again. We shook hands and embraced each other warmly and engaged in heart to heart discussion, reminiscing on the past and expressing hope that we could soon returns and join forces with our compatriots back home to build a better Nigeria. He soon did, joining the political foray and I followed later after completing my studies. Many waters have passed under the bridge thereafter, some of which I may have reason to recall in the course of this lecture.

4.

I readily accepted the invitation to be here for a number of reasons. First, because it presents a good

opportunity for me to personally thank the government and people of Anambra State as well as the Governing Council, Senate, Staff and students of the former Anambra State University for the posthumous honour that was bestowed on my late comrade in arms with the name change. I wholeheartedly endorse this gesture, especially in light of the uproar that a similar exercise on behalf of another notable Nigerian generated in one of the nation’s tertiary institutions a few years back.

In addition, I see the raison d’être for this lecture as being in tandem with my worldview on the need for consistent reinforcement of knowledge to stem the spread of ignorance and deliberate mis-education of our bright young men and women. I also accepted the invitation because of my abiding faith in the present and the future of our great nation, Nigeria.

Yet on a personal note, it is not difficult to admit that

an invitation to once more visit Uli was hard to decline. One needed to again step foot on the town that symbolized the inventiveness of our brothers and sisters, the Igbo people, from the East. Uli was the hub of aviation activities activities in war time Eastern Nigeria and one could only wonder what the horizon would have been had successive governments after my regime followed our blueprint for the development of Nigeria, as encapsulated in the abandoned Third National Development Plan, 1975-1980.

5.

Looking back, it is not difficult to see that we spent a significant part of the nation’s past to chart a course to greatness. We spent another chunk of our history building and defending a united nation.

The rest of the time we have spent moving from one political or economic crisis and experiment at nationhood to another. Tocontinue on page 14

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 Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Funmi Tejuosho L7

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An emerging political brand Different skin, L2 different make up

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L6 Most expensive items for kids

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday April 8, 2015

My husband loves me unconditionally Funmilayo Tejuosho Mutiat Alli She is a law maker whose immense contribution in Nigerian politics has earned her more followers than foes. The three time member of the Lagos state House of Assembly and the Chairman House Committee on Finance, has always been a voice to reckon with among her 40 member colleagues in the house. Set to return to the house for a fourth term, Princess Funmi Tejuosho in a recent chat, opens up about her meteoric rise in politics, her challenges as a female politician her family and sundry issues.

How would you describe yourself?

constituency will vote for you for a fourth term?

You are one of the few female politicians who has made landmark achievements in Funmilayo tick?

-

What does receiving the prestigious City People Entertainment Awards for female politician of the year mean to you?

-

How do you combine the responsibilities of a mother, a wife and a politician?

There is this impression that you Is this because you have been there for three terms?

...with husband -

-

In what ways do you think the recognition will help your political career?

Has there been any time your husband complained about your political ambition?

At 50, what keeps you going?

-

-

I realize that sometimes when I am angry, I dress better because I don’t want people to know I am angry. My mother used to tell us that, “Never let your enemy see you sweat.

Has there been any time you felt like giving up because the stress of multitasking was becoming too much?

What determines what you wear?

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Life&

T E A M

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Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893

Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478

Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday April 8, 2015

Make up for different

skin types Nkarenyi Ukonu

Note

L3 Beauty

Fashion & Style L4

Ezinne Alfa

Bella Disu

Coloured lace A big trend this season is coloured lace. Stray from black and white lace dresses and head for brighter colours which will make an excellent alternative to the little black dress. As coloured lace makes quite a statement, team with neutral accessories

Casual wear When thinking about how to wear any lace clothing item, look to the quality of the fabric. Lower quality lace is better for carrying off casual, day-today looks. That however doesn’t mean that expensive and heavy lace fabrics can’t do the job.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday April 8, 2015

Funke Akindele

Eku Edewor

Evening wear Better quality lace is more suited for evening wear and special occasions. Longer length dresses and gowns can be quite elegant. Black lace is great for creating drama, but don’t be afraid to try white or cream lace either. If you are worried about white lace being a bit too bridal, team it with colourful accessories or add some colourful trims.

Sheer lace Make the lace the focal point

allure The

lace

dress is an easy way to do this.

Daring individuals might opt to wear them without a slip underneath, but if you’re more modest, then a slip is a smart option.

Balance out the revealing nature of sheer lace by choosing a more relaxed cut or a longer hem.

Fade Ogun

Heavy lace This type of lac keeping structur

shift dresses a tea dresses. Th dresses are mu style when it com wear lace dres lace fabrics with more unique pat you should be l this season.

of

Nkarenyi Ukonu The lace trend is still going strong what with the various forms they come in; guipure, chantilly, bridal, French, raschel, leavers, embellished lace etc. This simply means that there are more ways than ever one can wear lace, whether your style is demure, ladylike, edgy rock chic or even if you decide to go the traditional route. Don’t be afraid to experiment with lace. Whether it is a staple part of your wardrobe or for special occasions only. There are however a number of different factors at play when looking at how to wear lace dresses.

These are just a few tips on how to wear lace in its very different ways and feel

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday April 8, 2015

L5 Fashion & Style

Go

traditional with

lace

nro

ce is better for ure and creat-

and full-skirted hese types of much easier to mes to how to sses. Sturdier wider nets and tterns are what looking out for

Ono Bello

Multi coloured lace This type of lace is so on trend and looks good either as a cocklength piece. Keep accessories to the barest minimum to allow the lace speak for itself.

7

Evlyn

Cynthia Adeyemi

As skirt and blouse

Lace with contrasting textures If the lace look is too full-on for your personal taste, mix it up with contrasting textures.

Mo Abudu

As Iro and Buba

As blouse for George wrappers or George skirts

Luxury L6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday April 8, 2015

Million

dollar

baby Nkarenyi Ukonu Baby stroller

The roddler Price tag: $4, 495 With its sleek ‘fender’, this baby transport can be mistaken for a mini car for that is exactly how it is designed, a classic car based on the 1950s Buick and a ‘chassis’ reminiscent of aircraft designs. With seat covers made of alligator skin, and an iPod dock or DVD player at work to amuse the tot, who says babies can’t ride in style as well.

The cost also covers customized effects, like your baby’s name on the wheels, if you like.

It is every parent’s desire to give only the best to their bundles of joy. Ensuring comfort and desiring joy for the tiniest and daintiest in the family are just natural inclinations borne from parental instinct. For those who can afford it, the sky’s the limit as some parents don’t mind the heavenly costs of some of these items just to make sure their tots are not just little bundles of joy, but are also bundled in luxurious wealth. Here are a few of the most expensive items ever for kids.

Baby car seat

The Carcoon Price: $745 A car seat is one baby item that every parents should not scrimp on and the carcoon baby car seat is the subject of engineering tests. The carcoon is designed to envelope the baby in a secure, protective shell should an unexpected thing happen while on the road and on the move. A folding airbag that cuddles baby safely while leaving enough breathing space makes this possible. Other features

Swarovski diamond baby bathtub Price tag: $7,000 One of this piece was purchased by former girl group, Destiny Child singer, Kelly Rowland for bosom friend, Beyonce to pamper her precious bundle of joy, Blue

and a swivel seat so baby can quickly turn toward the car door and can be lifted out quickly.

Diaper bag

The Louis Vuitton monogram mini lin diaper bag Price tag: $2,200 Currently the most expensive diaperfeeding bottle pouch, the bag’s feature includes an adjustable shoulder strap, side pockets for feeding bottles, key ring holder for fast and easy unzipping and more compartments, plus a washable mat for changing diapers while on the go.

Majestic carriage crib Price tag: $11,500

Diamond pacifier Price tag: $17,000

can be customized with the engraved date of birth or name of the baby.

The Majestic Carriage Crib is the perfect place for your tiny tot to catch up on her beauty rest. The carriage crib is constructed with a solid cedar frame and birch details.

Features a front faux leather seat, rear box designed as a changing table with an overall look of a luggage rack on the carriage.

Diamond sterling baby spoon Price tag: $1,230 Born with the silver spoon in their mouth, quite literally! Designer sterling baby spoon for uber rich babies. The elegant piece is crafted in diamond chip at the tip of the spoon.

Swarovski crystalstudded toilet seat Price tag: $1,136 Now your tot can pass out waste in uber style with this Swarovski crystal-studded toilet seat that will allure your kid to sit on it. Known as the My Carry Potty, the seat has pink crystals studded all over it. Stars like Singer, Gwen Stefani and actress, Angelina Jolie are recipints of this

L7 Luxury

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday April 8, 2015

Gold plated baby monitor Price tag: £35,000 To celebrate the arrival of the royal baby, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, one the world’s leading health tor expertly crafted in 24 carat gold. Just one of the monitors has been exclusively produced for the royal couple. The baby monitor allows parents to see and hear their smart phones wherever they are, enabling two-way communication between parents and their babies. Parents can talk to their baby through paired iOS or Android devices to sooth, play lullabies and even control a multi-coloured calming nightlight. Alerts can be created to monitor noise, motion, temperature and humidity in the baby’s room.

Baby towel:

Hooded terry towel and washcloth set Price: $3,000

Snuffles bear Price: $10,000 When a regular teddy bear is not just enough for your kid, this cute teddy bear is surely what you are looking for. With black Tahitian pearls for eyes, it is made with white alpaca fur and wears a 10-carat diamond necklace with a white gold chain.

fect fabric to wrap your baby around after a luxurious bath in a Swarovski encrusted bath tub. The hooded terry towel and wash cloth set comes with a large double layer hooded towel while the four-layer washcloth pair makes for the perfect rub-a-dub for your baby’s soft and delicate skin.

The special fabric gets softer and softer after each wash, making it even more luxurious for baby bath after every bath.

Diamond studded doll Price tag: $935,000 The diamond studded doll is one luxurious baby item that brings a girl’s both ‘best friends’ together - a cute doll and loads of diamonds. Decked in as many as 881 diamonds it totals up to 51.4-carats.

Global Entertainment & Fashion News Kanye West expands o t t e s a w n i k a Toke M entrepreneur clothing empire become an Nkarenyi Ukonu

She is not just a pretty face! The television host, Vlogger and online air personality who co hosts the morning drive on Rhythm 93.7fm, is set to launch her own hair line to be called Tokstar hair extensions.

The ambassador for Pay porte who is known to be quite attached to her hair extensions had put off plans to get the hair line ready last year but is doing everything to make it happen this year.

Toke Makinwa

Tyra Banks floats beauty line Former super model and business/ media mogul, Tyra Banks recently launched her cosmetic line, Tyrabeauty. The cosmetics which can be bought online or via direct sellers reminiscent of the Avon Lady. The small collection is meant to be used without make up tools. The goal is to have a full face in six minutes. The makeup line is made up of contouring stick, eye shadow stick, blush stick, and lip crayons, mostly in neutral colors that formulas for the line are creamy and easily blendable. A Harvard graduate, appearing twice on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and working for Victoria’s Secret as one of their original Angels. She was one of the world’s top-earning models until her retirement.

Tyra Banks

Rapper, Kanye West is cementing his place in the fashion industry by purchasing a clothing label. The hip-hop star has teamed up with his pal, Damon Dash to buy online street wear retailer, Karmaloop.com, which Kanye has been making strides into the fashion industry in recent years, and launched his latest collection for sportswear giant Adidas at the New York Fashion Week in February. He began his fashion journey in September 2006 when he started his Pastelle Clothing line. The line was

developed over the following four years, before the line was ultimately cancelled in 2009. In the same year, he collaborated with Nike to release his own shoe, the Air Yeezys, with a second version released in 2012.

In the same 2009, West introduced is Vuitton during that year’s Paris Fashion Week. He has additionally designed shoes for Bape and Italian shoemaker, Giuseppe Zanotti. In 2011, Kanye premiered his women’s fashion label, DW Kanye West at Paris Fashion Week.

Jessica Simpson’s

part billion-dollar brand sold Singer and reality star turned designer, Jessica Simpson’s part billion-dollar brand, has been sold by its owners, Camuto, to Sequential Brands Group who are set to expand internationally into a two-to-threebillion-dollar company. The mother of two will however, continue to own the remainder of the company. Vince Camuto, the founder and chief exbought the master licence for Jessica Simpson, then a footwear label, in 2005 for $15 million. Under Camuto’s guidance, Simpson added multiple product categories to her eponymous label, leading to its valuation as a billion-dollar company in 2012.

Jessica Simpson

Kanye West

L8 Television

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday April 8, 2015

Showing on

Showing on

140 AMC

106 M-NET MOVIE

17:05

08:00

Wed, 8 Apr | 13V

Wed, 8 Apr | PG13

Horror movie buffs will relish this supernatural thriller with a few twists. A man develops the ability to sense when someone will die - but it comes at a price. Nathan Fillion, Katie Sackhoff. (2007) Patrick Lussier

A cancer patient can’t get back into dating after his recovery left him with no hair. His sister comes to his aid and turns him into the type of man the girl of his dreams would want. Steve Guttenberg, Kyle MacLachlan, Jami Gertz, Shelley Long. (1990) Malcolm Mowbray

101 M-Net West

00:00 August: Osage County 02:00 The Identical 04:00 MasterChef Australia 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 Mom 06:30 The Slap 07:30 Grey’s Anatomy 08:30 Thunderstruck 10:30 Mike & Molly 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 NCIS: Los Angeles 14:00 Elementary 15:00 Chicago Fire 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Middle 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 Modern Family 19:00 Two And A Half Men 19:30 The Blacklist 20:30 CSI: Cyber 21:30 NCIS: Los Angeles 22:30 Perception 22:30 Perception 02:00 Jack Taylor: The Guards

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

00:00 Fearless Heart 00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Aurora 03:00 Fearless Heart 03:50 Labour Of Love 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart 07:50 Labour Of Love 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart 12:00 Labour Of Love 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Aurora 15:20 Fearless Heart 16:10 Labour Of Love 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Aurora 19:30 Fearless Heart 20:20 Labour Of Love 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Aurora

00:00 Total Wipeout UK

10:25 Deal Or No Deal

00:30 Top Gear 01:25 The Musketeers

11:05 My Family: Christmas 2007

02:20 Come Dine With Me

11:35 Hell’s Kitchen USA

03:05 EastEnders

12:25 Top Gear

03:35 Would I Lie To You?

13:25 Come Dine With Me

04:05 Top Gear

14:20 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series

15:05 The Weakest Link

05:25 QI

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

05:55 Would I Lie To You?

17:10 The Cube

06:30 EastEnders 07:00 Antiques Roadshow

18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

07:55 The Weakest Link

19:00 Dragons’ Den

08:45 The Cube

20:05 Top Gear

09:35 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

21:35 Hell’s Kitchen USA

16:00 EastEnders

22:30 Live At The Apollo

154 AfricaMagic Family

128 SONY MAX

00:00 Tinsel 00:30 Living With Trisha 01:12 Star Gist 01:38 Making Of A Mogul 02:08 At Home With Michelle Attoh 03:04 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Channel O: Volt 04:30 Channel O: Volt 05:00 The Comedy Club Live In Lagos 06:00 Choices 07:00 Star Gist

07:25 Paul’s Puzzle 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:00 The Comedy Club Live In Lagos 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Channel O Superfan 12:30 Channel O: Volt 13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 14:00 Through The Eyes Of An African 14:30 Jara 15:00 Making Of A Mogul 15:30 Coco Bill 15:45 Coco Bill 16:00 The African Child

00:17 Noose Of Gold 00:51 Good Morning Africa 01:59 The Dzigbordi Show 03:03 Good Morning Africa 04:07 Good Morning Africa 04:30 Noose Of Gold 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 Foot Prints 06:30 Foot Prints

07:00 Star Gist 07:30 Star Gist 08:00 Lies That Bind 08:30 Lies That Bind 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Affections 11:30 Jara 12:00 Jara

12:30 Katemba Mu Kkooti 13:00 Music On Africa Magic 14:00 Noose Of Gold 14:30 Noose Of Gold 15:00 Deception 15:30 Foot Prints 16:00 Foot Prints 16:30 Lies That Bind 17:00 Lies That Bind 17:30 Star Gist 18:00 Star Gist

124 E!

00:15 Unbeatable Banzuke 00:40 Unbeatable Banzuke 01:05 Guy Code 01:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 01:55 Lock Up 03:40 Hole In The Wall 04:05 Hole In The Wall 04:30 Unbeatable Banzuke 05:00 Takeshi’s Castle 05:25 Takeshi’s Castle 05:55 Video Zonkers 06:20 Video Zonkers 06:45 Hole In The Wall 07:15 Hole In The Wall 07:45 Most Shocking 08:40 What Went Down 09:10 Repo Games 09:40 World’s Wildest Police Videos 10:40 Video Zonkers 11:10 Video Zonkers 11:40 Most Shocking 12:40 Hole In The Wall 13:10 Hole In The Wall 13:40 What Went Down 14:10 Killer Karaoke 15:10 Killer Karaoke 16:10 1000 Ways To Die 16:40 Hole In The Wall 17:10 Hole In The Wall 17:40 Video Zonkers 18:05 Video Zonkers 18:30 What Went Down 19:00 Most Shocking 20:00 Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne 20:30 Impractical Jokers

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

IHEDIOHA BASKS IN GLORY AS RED CAR

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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RD REVOLUTION SWEEPS THROUGH IMO

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

IHEDIOHA BASKS IN GLORY AS RED CAR

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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RD REVOLUTION SWEEPS THROUGH IMO

XT Exclusive

Poster!

ANOUMA LOSES FIFA, CAF SEATS

OLUDAMOLA OSAYOMI

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X4,5 Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Y R E B I R D A B ‘ S T S A BL X3

’ N A M

L A A G N VA Willian opens up on Mourinho X8

I can win the Masters

– WOODS X7

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

EXTRATIME

Pinnick calms Emenike’s ANOUMA frayed nerves VOTED OUT A OF FIFA, CAF

O

nce seen as a potential challenger for the CAF presidency, Ivorian Jacques Anouma saw his profile in international football politics dealt a crushing blow on Tuesday, as he lost his seat on the exalted FIFA Executive Committee.

The former president of Ivorian football federation got only 20 votes at the election conducted as part of the 37th CAF Ordinary General Assembly at the imposing Marriott Cairo Zamalek, and is frozen out of the most powerful organ in world football. He has long lost his seat on the CAF Executive Committee.

Tarek Bouchamaoui from Tunisia took 54 votes, with the president of DR Congo football federation,

Constant Omari Selemani, second with 34 votes. Both will sit on the FIFA panel for the next four years.

Six members of the CAF Executive Committee were also re-elected, for the 2015-2019 period. Bouchamaoui was re-elected unopposed for the North Zone, while Guinean Almamy Kabele Camara retained his seat in West A Zone and Ghanaian Kwesi Nyantakyi was also unopposed for Zone West B, into which Nigeria falls.

Selemani retained his seat in the Central Zone, and former Tanzania captain Leodegar Tenga was also unopposed (Hassan Waberi of Djibouti withdrew) in Central-East, as former Zambia captain Kalusha Bwalya benefitted similar fortune in Southern zone.

telephone call from President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has ensured Super Eagles’ forward Emmanuel Emenike regained his groove following a gunman’s attack on his Turkish Super Lig club, Fenerbahce FC bus at the weekend.

The Nigerian striker had told of the horror of himself and teammates after a gunman fired a shot at the team bus, injuring the driver, as the contingent headed to the Trabzon Airport after a 5-1 Super Lig win over fellow Super Eagle Godfrey Oboabona’s

Rizespor FC. “He was happy I called to extend the sympathy of the NFF and Nigeria football family to him, and to assure him that we are with him at this period and also monitoring the situation with keen interest.

“Such incidents are not good for football,” Pinnick said after speaking with Emenike on Monday, minutes after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Top Scorer arrived in Milan, Italy.

The Turkish Super Lig has been suspended for a week as a result of the incident.

AAG Qualifier: Falcons receive boost Mike Otanwa

T Jacques Anouma

he camp of the Super Falcons of Nigeria have received a massive boost as Guingamp, of France striker, Desire Oparanozie, is the latest overseas based player to join the team.

Oparanozie arrived on Monday

night ahead of this weekend’s All Africa Games (AAG) qualifier against the senior women’s national football team of Mali.

Oparanozie, who arrived shortly before the team’s dinner, said her mind is focused on the task ahead, as they intensify preparations for the game against Mali.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

EXTRATIME

Romanian club owner jailed

R

omanian billionaire Ioan Niculae, who owns top flight club Astra Giurgiu, has been sentenced to two years and six months in jail for his participation in the illegal financing of the presidential campaign of Mircea Geoana who ran for Romania’s top office in 2009.

In addition to the Giurgiu-based side, Niculae owns assets in a number of business sectors including chemicals, meat processing, tobacco and agriculture.

The latest development is likely to cause financial difficulty for the club which spends about 800,000 Euros

per month on salaries.

In the 2014/2015 season, Astra currently lies fourth out of the 18 teams in Liga I, the country’s top tier.

Niculae, who took over the club in 1996, will become another owner of a top Romanian side to serve time in prison, alongside George “Gigi” Becali,

the controversial owner of Steaua Bucharest.

Astra’s major achievements include winning the Cup and Super Cup of Romania in 2014.

The side’s Marin Anastasovici stadium has a capacity of some 8,500.

X3

BRIEFS

Cabaye

Gunners close in on Cabaye

ARBELOA: ARCA

Arsenal have been interested in the former Newcastle man, Yohan Cabaye, for quite some time with the central midfielder being the subject of a Gunners bid which Pardew at the time rejected. Cabaye left Newcastle for PSG for £19million but has struggled to assert himself enough to be a starter in Laurent Blanc’s plans. Arsenal originally bid £10million for the 29-yearold player and are unlikely to want to pay much more than their original offer for a player that may be past his physical peak.

B FACES TOUGHER SCHEDULE

elona in the confident that they can still catch Barc eal Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa is schedule in feels that the Catalans have a tougher race for the Primera Division title as he the remainder of the season. games to go. nd the Catalans in the table with nine Los Blancos have fallen four points behi een now and the betw ncia Vale and lla nst the likes of Sevi Both teams face tough challenges agai nte Calderon and the on Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Vice end of the campaign. Barca must take will slip up. full-back believes that the Blaugrana we have,” Arbeloa said.

“Barcelona have a tougher schedule than it will not be That is our goal, even though we know es. gam ining “We aim to win all our rema

Neville criticises City’s ‘mentality problem’ Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender, has criticised Manchester City’s mentality after they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace. Despite the visitors monopolising possession at Selhurst Park, goals from Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon either side of half-time condemned reeling City to a fourth consecutive away loss that leaves them fourth in the Premier League and nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

R

easy. least expect it.

“Sometime you spill points when you s League match Liga coming up before the Champion La in “We have two important games must beat Rayo we so , form good in head into that game versus Atletico Madrid. We want to Vallecano and Eibar. big boost. It has helped us focus.”

“The 9-1 win against Granada was a y before hosting Eibar on Saturday. toda Carlo Ancelotti’s men travel to Rayo

Wenger hands Iwobi chance in pre-season

N

igeria U-23 forward, Alex Iwobi, will be fully involved in Arsenal’s summer preseason games – a reward for his stellar performances this season for the Gunners B team which he currently captains.

The nephew of former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha, scored twice in a midweek friendly game against Brentford right under the watchful eye of manager Arsene Wenger who has now decided to involve the 18-year-old in the team pre-season plans.

Wenger has long been aware of Iwobi’s talent, having twice named him on the bench for first-team fixtures against West Brom in the Capital One Cup last season and for the Champions League trip to Galatasaray.

Iwobi remained un-used on both occasions but, given the high level of his performances this season, it is something of a surety that he will be provided with an opportunity to impress on a bigger stage next term, whether that is at Arsenal or out on loan at another club.

Arbeloa

RIBERY

slams ‘Bad man’ Van Gaal

F

ranck Ribery claims a “poisoned” relationship with former Bayern Munich manager, Louis van Gaal, nearly forced him out of the Bundesliga club and toward the clutches of Real Madrid, Barcelona or another European elite.

Speaking, the French winger suggests talks with Bayern’s board kept him at the Allianz Arena during Van Gaal’s reign.

I had intensive talks with Uli Hoeness, who was still president back then, and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. They told me I should not go, how the club needed me, how I was as important for Bayern as Lionel Messi was for Barcelona.

Real tried, they wanted me. I don’t know what price Bayern wanted them to pay.

In the end I am happy how it ended.

Ribery

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

EXTRATIME

INTERVIEW

YOUNG:

MAN ARE UNITED ON

‘Time flies when you’re having fun.’ Or so says the English expression. If that is indeed the case, Ashley Young’s spell at Manchester United will have gone in the blink of an eye with the former Aston Villa man describing the spirit at the club as ‘getting better and better’ since his arrival in June 2011.

FIFA.com was invited to the club’s Aon Training Complex to speak to the England star about a whole host of subjects including life under Louis van Gaal, the secret behind the Red Devils annual strong finish to a season and his hopes for an international recall. Excerpts: In June you will have been with the club for four years. When you walked in here for the first time, what was it like?

Obviously when you join the biggest club in the world it can be daunting.

When I walked in here for the first time, I just wanted to get on the training pitch. Most of the players had come back and I just wanted to get out there and train. For me, when I actually signed on the dotted line, it was fantastic.

When you think about your career, playing for clubs such as Watford and Aston Villa, did you notice another step up here in terms of the scale?

I first noticed it was when we went on my first tour to America. We pulled up to the first hotel, you could see the amount of fans that stood outside the hotel just waiting for us to turn up. I think at the first training session there were 40-or-60,000 fans there, which is incredible. Then, you start to realise the size of the club. It’s like a big family.

Everyone here welcomes you with open arms and the hard work starts as soon as you walk through the front door.

How long do you think it takes someone to settle in at Manchester United on average?

For me, I settled in straight away and I think it helps with a pre-season tour.

You go away and you start to get to know the staff and players even more than you already did when you’ve been training for a few weeks before you go away. So, you start to get to know people and build that team spirit. The team bonding we’ve got here has been fantastic. All through the years I’ve been here I think it’s getting better and better, the team spirit. The amount of trophies and titles the club has won, the honours that the club has won. It’s that winning way. It’s the Manchester United way.

That mentality of winning has been

FANTASTIC RUN!

constant, but there have been changes. The dressing room has changed. Obviously big characters such as Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs aren’t there anymore. How has it evolved since you’ve been here?

Players come and go.

That’s just the way the world of football is. It takes our players to step up and become seniors and take over that mantle and now you feedback to the younger players. I think this season, I’m the fifth-oldest now, so I’m trying to keep to being young but by now it’s only by name. But then, when you go out on the pitch there are 11 leaders. Everyone has a voice and gives their input into the team. I think that’s what helps, that everyone’s pulling in the right direction and buying into the manager’s philosophy.

As a kid, you would have watched United sides of seasons’ past come into their peak around now. Now that you’re here, what do you think the secret is?

I don’t know. I think you could talk to players and staff over the past years and years, it’s always the time of the year where the United teams come into their own and they just kick on. I don’t know if there’s an answer to as to why. We’re on a fantastic run right now. And touch wood hopefully it can continue from now until the end of the season. We said we wanted into the top four, but we want to finish as high as possible.

in those different positions, you go out and give as much as you’ve got.

I’ve played in numerous positions, and especially playing as a left wingback has been a new position for me.

Come pre-season, the manager said he saw me as a wingback and it was the formation we were playing with at the time. I just went and did the job.

It’s a lot more defending then I would normally do but I’m clever enough to be able to go out there and know what positions to be in and when to attack.

Louis van Gaal has used you in a variety of positions this season so far. That obviously must be quite challenging, but has it also been stimulating for you?

I think it has. Nowadays you have to be a versatile player. There have been different formations we’ve played this season and the manager has picked me to play in a few. I think if you’re clever enough to play

Do you think you would have been able to do that with as much success when you were younger?

I think maybe I would have got up and down the pitch a bit quicker as I’m getting older now! At this time, you start to think about the game more.

You’re more experienced. I think a lot of football is about the footballing brain.

If you have a good football brain I think you get very far in your career. Especially

Young being here, the manager puts a lot of demands on you. I’m enjoying football again. I’ve got a smile on my face. I just want to do as well as I can for the team.

You said before you were enjoying your football. How would you assess your own season?

I’m really enjoying my football, starting games, which as a player you always want to play in games.

Whenever the manager calls upon me, I go out and give 110 per cent and go and show exactly what I can do. We’ll keep on listening to the manager and keep on performing.

You’re playing well for United, and that’s all you can do, but would you like to play for England again?

Of course! It’s an honour to represent your country. I’ve got 30 caps at present and I want to get more. It’s one of those things where I have to keep playing as well as I can for United, and if called

upon again by the England manager, then I’d be delighted.

What’s been the best moment for you in an England shirt?

Getting my first cap was a feeling I don’t think you can really describe. I remember getting that first phone call and actually thinking it was a wind up from someone! I was on the way to training and I thought it was a wind up, so I hung up the phone! I got the phone call back again, and I was like, ‘Ok, maybe it is actually serious’.

Why is playing for your country so special for you?

There’s no better feeling when you pull on that England shirt. When you have that England badge on and play at Wembley as well, it’s a fantastic place to play. Everyone wants to play at Wembley, and luckily for me, I’ve managed to do that. But I want more caps.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

EXTRATIME

Golf

I CAN WIN

MURRAY hits out at McEnroe

THE MASTERS, SAYS

S D O O W F

ormer world number one Tiger Woods believes he is in the right shape to win a 15th major as he declared himself ready for the Masters, which begins on Thursday.

Woods, who is now world 111, has been working on his game since carding a career-worst score of 82 at the Phoenix Open, before injury saw him withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open.

“I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament,” said the 39-year-old.

“And it’s finally there.”

Tennis

Rusedski backs

Bedene’s

British switch

S

lovenia-born Aljaz Bedene’s decision to represent Great Britain will be good for British tennis, says Greg Rusedski.

Bedene, 26, is ranked 99th in the world and became British number two after switching countries last month.

Rusedski, a former world number four, gave up his Canadian nationality to represent Britain in 1995.

He said: “Every time you get another player in the top 100 it can only be of benefit. I think he will help push and drive players to get ahead of him.”

Bedene, who moved to the UK seven years ago, represented Britain for the first time at the

Woods has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and the last of his four Masters wins was a decade ago, with the Californian only confirming on Friday that he would compete at Augusta.

He impressed in his practice round on Monday, showing no signs of the chipping “yips” which blighted his performance in Phoenix. Woods completed the front nine at Augusta alongside long-time friend Mark O’Meara, before playing the 10th and 18th alone.

“I felt good. It was nice to get out here,” he added. “Chipping is fine. I wanted to test out some wedges out here. That was why I was chipping a little bit more. It came down to a couple of different bounce settings because it’s different from Florida.

We figured the right one out.”

Europe Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke says “nobody knows” how the American will perform. world current Meanwhile, number one Rory McIlroy says he has learned from Woods, whom he describes as the “best player I have ever seen”.

McIlroy added that the things he has taken from watching Woods - a four-time champion at Augusta - will help him achieve a career slam, having already won the Open, US Open and US PGA.

Woods

A

ndy Murray and Patrick McEnroe almost got into a warof-words on Twitter after the American´s tweet. The Scot however removed his response later.

Murray has a lot on his plate now, both professionally and personally.

While his personal life is heading towards a joyous milestone, on the professional front there’s however a lot going awry.

The Scot’s loss to Novak Djokovic in the Miami Open final was disappointing given the way he started the match, confidently.

It’s thus natural that the two-time majors’ champion is focusing towards an alternate game plan that would potentially change the tide for him against the world no. 1.

There however seem to be other contributors – although unnecessary – to Murray’s endeavour to chalk up a different course of action for his rivalry against Djokovic.

The 27-year old got into a seeming war-of-words with Patrick McEnroe for the latter’s cheeky tweet about the reason for Murray’s disappointing performance against Djokovic on Tuesday, April 6. Murray’s retort was equally blunt, but was later removed by him.

Woods

BOLT

ready for world titles defence

Bedene

weekend, and he qualified for the main draw of the Casablanca Open.

He slipped from 83rd to 99th in the world this week, but remains nine places above James Ward, the former British number two.

The London-resident is not eligible to represent Britain in the Davis Cup however, following the introduction of an International Tennis Federation rule preventing players from representing two different countries in the competition.

But he is appealing against his omission on the basis that his passport application was lodged before the rule change came into place.

X7

M

Bolt

ultiple Olympic champion Usain Bolt has made “significant strides” as he bids to defend his world titles this season, and is unconcerned about the challenge of sprinter Justin Gatlin.

American Gatlin dominated last year’s Diamond League, running 9.77 seconds and 19.68 secs in the 100m and 200m.

Coach Glen Mills said Bolt had stepped up his preparations since running 46.37 seconds over 400m in Kingston in March.

“Usain’s made significant strides since the last time you saw him,” he said.

Gatlin, 33, won 100m Olympic gold in 2004 and World Championship gold in 2005.

“We take all competitors with a level of seriousness,” added Mills. “But the truth of the matter is Usain at his best doesn’t have much to worry about.”

Bolt, 28, ran only three races last year. He is next due to run in a 100m race at an athletics meet in Rio on April 19.

“I want to run really fast this season so I’m working on it,” he said.

“I’m happy with where I’m at. I’m doing a lot of work leading up to this first run in Brazil in April - that’s the focus and that’s what we’re working towards.”

Bolt will bid for a third 100m gold and a fourth 200m gold in succession at August’s World Championships in Beijing.

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

CHELSEA Willian

e best w Mourinho gets th an has revealed ho illi W er, in. eld dfi ing mi go n he Brazilia ection the club are d explains what dir st points and out of his players an rtuguese’s stronge Po e th are f lie be d an s Clear instruction him. es confidence, he giv working wonders for y arl it’s cle nager and he gives ma at gre a is e Willian said: “H n all the games. yers and we try to wi good coach and everything to the pla ch and he is a very pit e th on do to ve ha ” “He explains what we y to work with him. all so I am very happ tb foo in ry to his s he ha a game on for the title.

-placed Arsenal with Chelsea look nailedints clear of second po n ve se are n me Mourinho’s ndon rivals. in hand over their Lo

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N A I L L I W N O P U S N OPE

O H N I R U O M I’m not part of Mourinho’s summer plans

–Romeu

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riol Romeu is set to quit Chelsea this summer in search of stability, because he fears he’s not part of Jose Mourinho’s first-team plans.

Romeu further revealed that he is ready to find himself another club in order to get regular action.

Andre Villas-Boas brought Romeu to Stamford Bridge for £5 million from Barcelona back in 2011 but he has made just 15 Premier League starts for the Blues.

Romeu is currently on loan at German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart where he has made 23 league appearances (19 starts) for the side who currently prop up the table.

The Spaniard has been quoted as saying: “I’m not part of Mourinho’s summer plans and in June I’ll speak with Chelsea to know their intentions.

“After two seasons on loan, it’s ideal that I should be settling into a club to get some stability. Every player needs continuity.”

Chelsea already have Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and Ramires as options in centre midfield, whilst Marco van Ginkel is currently out on loan at AC Milan, albeit with a long-term injury once again.

Blues set to sign Brazilian wonderkid

Hazard:

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helsea are set to sign Brazilian wonderkid Kenedy in the summer, according to reports in Brazil.

It was learnt that negotiations have been going on for more than a month and that the deal is now ‘very close to completion’.

Kenedy has been a standout player for Fluminense and has been expected to leave the club this summer.

Club president Peter Siemsen has admitted he is willing to sell his star in order to bring in investment for the club.

The Brazilian club own 55% of the player’s rights, so Chelsea would be looking to pay around £15 million for the 19-year old based on Fluminense’s valuation of the player.

He is currently reported to be earning around £20,000-a-week in Brazil.

This would be no problem for Chelsea, both financially, and sticking within the Financial Fair Play rules.

Siemsen is close friends with Guiliano Bertolucci whose business has helped shaped the careers of Oscar, Willian and Ramires;

EPL title is in our hands!

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den Hazard believes Chelsea have the Premier League title in their grasp after the 2-1 win over Stoke, which saw the Blues take a seven-point lead at the top of the standings.

Hazard scored a penalty and set up Loic Remy’s winner either side of Charlie Adam’s 65-yard strike as Chelsea took command.

Jose Mourinho has targeted five wins and one draw in the remaining eight games and Hazard is optimistic they will win a first Premier League title in five years.

Hazard said: “We are confident. We are first in the league and we take game after game.

We have the title in our hands. We want to bring the trophy to Stamford Bridge.’’

However, Hazard felt Chelsea’s win could have been more convincing.

“In the first half we created a lot of chances,’’ he added. “We played beautiful football and okay, we scored just one goal, but we deserved to score three or four. The most important thing was the victory and we did very well till the end.’’

three Brazilians whom all ended up at Chelsea. Kenedy is set to be the fourth.

Hazard