Daily Times of Nigeria, Newspaper, Preview Edition 2

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014 VOL. 1. NO.2

N150

PREVIEW EDITION

2015 Presidential poll

It’s Jonathan, Buhari rematch

Bisi Abidoye, Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja; Jonathan Eze, Lagos

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he die is cast and discerning Nigerians will be well advised to take a ringside seat as the rematch of an election slugfest pits two old opponents, President Goodluck Jonathan and Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

The contest is the presCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

•President names Sambo as running mate •Atiku beaten to third position, concedes victory g 21

Obasanjo appeals confiscation order, says ‘I’m not a law breaker’ Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed the ruling of a Federal High Court Abuja, which

ordered that his book, “My Watch” be confiscated after disobeying an injunction restraining its publication.

Obasanjo also declared that me-

dia reports which conveyed the impression that he “dared” and “confronted” the judiciary were highly misleading.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Editorial

ÆÆ s

African Union and Ebola response

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he news that the African Union has set a six-month deadline for the elimination of the deadly Ebola virus (EVD) from the West African region is indeed a welcome development. To achieve this, the body has resolved to deploy massive number of medical personnel to those countries ravaged by the pandemic. Announcing the initiative, the Director, Dept of Social Affairs for the AU, Ambassador Olawale Maiyegun said that 250 health professionals and other care givers were being trained as volunteers. This is coming at a time the organisation has been heavily criticised for its nonchalant attitude and sometimes halfhearted response to the plight of Ebola victims. That it took the AU this long to recognise that its top leadership needed to be seen in the region worst affected, partly explains why the outbreak has needlessly reached epidemic proportions. The organisation is there to ensure that African governments provide leadership in resolving the problems of the continent. Even discounting the financial shortcomings of the countries concerned, and the continent as a whole, it still does not explain why the AU has not been at the forefront of raising global awareness and funding from the beginning of the Ebola outbreak. It should also have been in a position to co-ordinate the response to the epidemic

regardless of the origin of the financial and medical support. This would have earned it the much needed credibility among the general African population to whom the body remains nothing more than an elite political club. At the onset of the epidemic, the international community looked up to Africa for guidance and initiative on how to tackle the Ebola virus. But everyone was disappointed when the leaders shied away from this responsibility and rather looked to international agencies and governments to take the lead in fighting the scourge. Even though the present response is a little belated, it is also commendable that African leaders have braced up to their responsibility to the continent’s citizens. There is no denying the fact that the affected countries have poor health delivery systems that are overstretched. According to UN estimates, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra-Leone will need not less than $600 million to combat the virus. Also, the Economic Commission for Africa,(ECA) estimates that the economic impact of the disease will be significant in the affected countries. This is brought about by a combination of factors, significant among which are reductions in mining operations, disruption of agricultural cycles, restriction to domestic and crossborder trade, air travel disruptions, and postponement of foreseeable investments and diversion of public funding towards combat-

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From Left: President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bukhachuwa (PCA); Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed (CJN); former Chief Justice of Nigeria Alfa Belgore (CJN) and former Vice President ,Court of Appeal, London, Sir Mavrice Kay during the 2014 Annual Conference of the Court of Appeal in Abuja ...yesterday.

PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

ing the epidemic. Even at that, the response of the international community has been commendable.

For example, the United Kingdom provided £230 million in material aid, while the United States committed $175 million by transporting supplies and personnel, with an estimated 3,000 soldiers to be involved. Canada provided $35 million, including a mobile testing lab, sanitary equipment and 1,000 vials of experimental vaccines.

Notable also was the response of China, Cuba, Russia, France and “Doctors without Borders”, that sent in 700 workers. The case of Cuba is even more noteworthy.

Even as a poor country, it was able to send 465 health workers, hospital beds, and training local health workers on the prevention of the virus. It was the only nation to respond to the call to stop the Ebola epidemic by actually scaling

up health care capacity in the very places where it is needed the most.

With one of the world’s lowest per capita income, Cuba has proven itself as a global health power during this emergency. Many people have been left wondering not only how a low-income country, with its own social and economic challenges, could send impressive medical resources to West Africa, but also why they would dive into the hot zone in the first place, especially when nobody else dares to do so.

It is such show of solidarity that was expected of the AU immediately the Ebola disease became public knowledge. But unfortunately, the continent sat for a long time on its hands, while expecting outsiders to come to its rescue. Now that the leaders have woken up to their responsibility, it is pertinent they show the world that they truly are their brothers’ keeper.

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Deputy Editor

Head Graphics

Yemi Ogunsola

King Ododoru

Managing Editor

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head of Operations

Bisi Abidoye

Innocent Nwakwo

Editor

Editorial Page Editor

Head, Sales & Marketing

Noel Anosike

Gabriella Osamor Yinka Olujimi

Okay Osuji

‘I surrender’

Moses Ebong

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.

Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s statement conceding victory in the APC presidential primaries to General Muhammadu Buhari

“My dear friends, we have voted, a winner has emerged. I pledge my commitment to this Party, and to campaign vigorously for our candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.”

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

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Photos 4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

APC presidential primary in Lagos

PDP presidential primary in Abuja

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

5 News

Confiscation order: Obasanjo files appeal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The former President had on Tuesday attended the public presentation of the three-volume book, against which a chieftain of his party, Buruji Kashamu had instituted a legal action on the alleged ground that some sections of the publication contained libel against him.

Justice Valentine Ashie had ruled on Wednesday that by the public presentation, the former President had erred and was contemptuous of his court.

But, Obasanjo, through his legal team, led by Gboyega Oyewole filed an appeal challenging the

confiscation order, declaring in a-10 ground affidavit that the trial judge erred in his ruling.

In the appeal with Suit No. CV/472/14, a copy of which was made to newsmen in Abeokuta, the counsel contended that Obasanjo was dissatisfied with the ruling of the High Court and “appeal against the said ruling upon the ground set forth...”

Among the 10 grounds of appeal, according the counsel, include that, “the learned Trial Judge erred in law when he granted Interlocutory Orders of Injunction which inter alia restrained the Defen-

dant from the publication of his book “My Watch” or the content of the letter to the President which is the subject of the suit before the trial judge in the said book “My Watch”.

It added: “ There was uncontradicted affidavit evidence that the Defendant’s book “My Watch” had been published and released to the public before the making of the Interlocutory Order.

“The Plaintiff never alluded to this fact in his affidavit before the court. “ It is settled law that an Injunction does not lie to restrain a completed act.

“His Lordship failed and/or neglected to allude

to the affidavit evidence before making the Interlocutory Order.

On the second ground, “the learned trial Judge erred in law and exercised its discretion wrongfully in granting the Orders of Interlocutory Injunction subject of this appeal against the Defendant restraining him from publishing his book “My Watch” or publishing his letter subject of the suit in the said book. “ Meanwhile, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) yesterday, exonerated the former President, from deliberately flouting a court order.

A statement signed by one Vitalise Ortese for the OOPL declared: “Since the news of the said order broke, he (Obasanjo) has been receiving calls from concerned friends far and near and he is constrained to make this release and present the facts as they relate to the book and its public presentation.

Ortese stated that “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo wishes to state that the media reports which convey the impression that he intended to “dare or confront a judge or the judiciary” is highly misleading. Far from this, on the contrary, the former president is a law abiding

Obasanjo citizen who will only pursue his rights within the law and will not “dare” a judge or knowingly flout an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.

Jonathan, Buhari set for rematch CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

idential seat up for grab at the poll on February 14 next year.

President Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) picked his reelection ticket in Abuja while General Buhari was handed his in a landslide victory at the primary polls of his All Progressives Congress (APC).

President Jonathan was nominated for reelection by the PDP at its two-day National Convention held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, while General Buhari prevailed in a fiveman contest for the presidential ticket of the APC, which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

While Jonathan emerged through a coronation, as he was the sole candidate for the contest in his party, Buhari polled 3, 430 votes to beat Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to a distant second with 974 votes.

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came third with only 954 votes from a total of 6008 votes cast by 7, 214 accredited delegates for the APC primary election.

Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the Imo State Gov-

ernor got 624 votes, and LEADERSHIP Newspaper’s publisher, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah received just 10 votes.

Both Buhari and Jonathan were the main contestants in the 2011 presidential election in which the latter polled over 22 million votes to maintain the winning streak of the PDP. General Buhari who flew the flag of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) garnered over 12 million votes to emerge a distant second on his third attempt.

The political landscape has however changed significantly since the first contest between the two titans following the merger last year of four opposition parties and a breakaway group from the ruling PDP into the APC, a development that pundits expect to make the next General Election the most closely fought under the Fourth Republic.

Although the PDP still controls government at the centre and in 22 states compared to 14 under the APC, both parties appear to have strong presence in virtually all the states as made manifest by the stiff contests for the tickets of the two parties in primaries for the General Election over the past few

weeks across the country.

In the PDP, President Jonathan, 57, secured and unprecedented nomination as the consensus candidate of the party, but the APC kept watchers on the edge of their seats until the last hours as five aspirants battled for its presidential flag.

At the end of the exercise yesterday in the APC, 73- year- old General Buhari got the votes of a majority of about 8,000 delegates who had gathered for the first presidential primaries of the party.

While President Jonathan enjoys the usual advantages conveyed by incumbency, General Buhari is expected to provide a stiff challenge owing to his demonstrated popularity in his native Northern part of the country and the support of a broad-based national party which he will enjoy for the first time since he first ran for president three polls ago in 2003.

In his previous attempts, the General who in December 1983 was named Head of State after a military pustch truncated the Second Republic, ran on the tickets of minor opposition parties, including the CPC which he formed only months before the 2011 elections.

He had nevertheless challenged his serial defeats up to the Supreme Court, with the apex court agreeing with the General that the poll was flawed in 2007 when late President Umar Musa YarAdua was elected, but refusing to cancel it on the ground of insufficient evidence.

Ahead of the elections next year, the two candidates will criss-cross the country with President Jonathan pressing his case for reelection in spite of a three-year-old insurgency and General Buhari trying to shake off the effects of his image as a former military dictator and unflattering perception of his person in some parts of the country over his alleged religious views.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been heavily criticizing the administration of President Jonathan in the recent time, was conspicuously absent at the special national convention of the PDP. No reason was offered for the absence of Obasanjo at the well-attended convention where President Jonathan was given the nod by delegates to fly the flag of the PDP for the February 2015 presidential elections.

The 3, 037 delegates ac-

credited for the special national convention, notwithstanding, went ahead to cast their votes for the purpose of ratifying the earlier adoption of Dr Jonathan by the various organs of the PDP in compliance with the nation’s Electoral Act. Some of these organs are: the Board of Trustees, BOT, National Working Committee, NWC, and the National Executive Committee, NEC. The PDP Governors’ Forum equally endorsed him before the primaries.

The President received 2, 812 ‘yes’ votes, out of the 3, 037 delegates accredited, to become the PDP candidate for the election. ‎Jonathan, who was clad in a white flowing agbada, national dress with a green cap to match, shortly after named Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo as his running mate for the election.

His adoption by Jonathan automatically brought to an end the speculation on the possibility of the President dumping Sambo and picking another person for the job.

Sambo had come under heavy attack due to what political analysts described as his lack of electoral value in the North-

ern part of the country.

However, Jonathan, while adopting Sambo as his running mate, described him as a “tested and loyal” vice president. ‎The President, while addressing the crowd at the convention venue after his endorsement, promised not to let Nigerians down and not to betray the confidence that the PDP has in him.

The PDP torch bearer similarly vowed to continue the fight against corruption if re-elected as the President in 2015.

The convention began on Wednesday afternoon with the delegates voting to ratify the appointments of Dr. Adamu Mu’azu as the PDP national chairman, Professor Wale Oladipo as national secretary and Adewale Adeyanju as national auditor.

Mu’azu, a two-term former Governor of Bauchi State, got 2,672 ‘yes’ votes to succeed Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the party’s national chairman.

The delegates also voted to amend some sections of the PDP’s constitution which will hence forth allow an appointee to serve out the tenure of his or her predecessor when there is a vacancy at the National Working Committee (NWC) provided

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Rivers NUPENG, PENGASSAN reject strike

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he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN)and the National Union of

Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have said that members do not intend to go on strike in Rivers.

The two bodies stated

this while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

The sudden long queues that appeared in filling stations in Port

Harcourt on Wednesday evening and Thursday sparked the rumour that the unions planned to go on strike.

Dispelling the rumour,

Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, (middle); Ambassador Geoffrey Teneilabe, Consulate General Of Nigeria In Atlanta, USA (left) and Mr. Val Thompson, President, Houston International Trade And Development Council, during a visit to Yenagoa, recently.

Disquiet in Cross River as NASS aspirant writes panel

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant has petitioned the National Assembly Electoral Appeal Panel to reject the December 7, 2014, Senate primaries result in Cross River North Senatorial District.

Okputu’s petition came on the heels of another petition by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba to the panel over the conduct of a similar exercise in Cross River Central Senatorial District.

Okputu in his petition dated Dec. 10, signed by his Counsel, Mr UtumEteng said: “Our client vehemently rejects the conduct of this exercise on nine grounds.’’

He alleged that he was denied a copy of the delegates list used in spite of his persistent request.

“It is unthinkable and

undemocratic that a ruling party would conduct a primary election in this 21st century without making available to the contestants and the public, the list of delegates/ voters for inspection.

“Dr Okputu presented himself for election as the candidate of our party and was physically present at the Ogoja venue of the primary.

“The conduct of the said primaries by the state PDP officers was not transparent.

“It was clearly against the spirit of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 and Article 28 and 30 of the PDP guidelines for the 2014 primaries.

“Apart from the tension and sponsored violence to scare away our client’s delegates, delegates thought to be his supporters were prevented from

entering the hall to cast their votes.”

According to him, “Apart from the Obudu delegates that were disallowed, his delegates and supporters from Yala,Obanliku and Ogoja were also disallowed.

“And surprisingly the umpires kept reading names from different piece of papers as no official list was displayed.

There was no INEC representative at the venue.

“Our client went ahead to challenge an impostor who represented himself as INEC representative to oblige him a copy of the list given to him by the party for the delegates primary, but he ran away and never surfaced again.”

He alleged that there was no accreditation of delegates before the voting commenced.

Okputu also stated: “The list of delegates used was uncertain, unknown and changed intermittently.

“The electoral materials were not disclosed or displayed for inspection and the result of the exercise was not announced and, up till now, our client has not been given a result signed sheets showing the scores.”

The petitioner, therefore, called on the Appeal Panel and the National Chairman of the PDP to review the outcome of “this undemocratic and manipulated primary election.”

Okputu, who was a former Commissioner for Environment in Cross River, also urged them to conduct a more transparent, free and fair primary election using neutral party officers.

Mr AzubuikeAzubuike, the Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman of PENGASSAN, said members were not responsible for the long queues.

He said they did not plan to embark on a three-day strike as rumoured.

Azubuike explained that the long queue might have been caused by those doing panic-buying. ``As far I am concerned, we in PENGASSAN are not on strike; we do not have any issue with government that will warrant any strike,’’ Azubuike said.

Mr Godwin Eruba, the Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, also said that NUPENG was not on strike and has no plan to embark on one.

Eruba said the return of queues to filling sta-

tions in the state was not on account of any NUPENG strike.

He said ``the minor petrol scarcity’’ experienced in some parts of the state might not be unconnected with the fall in global oil price and the austerity measure announced by the government.

Comrade HyginusOnuegbu, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Port Harcourt, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) that oil workers were neither on strike nor planned to go on strike.

Onuegbu said members of the public must have assumed that marketers would go on strike because of the fall in oil price. ``I am not told of any strike by NUPENG and I am sure there is no such thing,’’ Onuegbu said.

Be magnanimous in victory, Delta Speaker urges Okowa

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peaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Peter Onwusanya, has urged Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for next year’s election, to extend a hand of brotherliness to aspirants who contested with him during the party primaries.

The Speaker made the call in a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Patrick Nwanze and

Onwusanya

made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Asaba.

Onwusanya noted that extending hand of brotherliness to other aspirants would further help to strengthen the unity of the party in the state and the country at large.

NAN recalls that Sen. Okowa emerged PDP governorship flag bearer at theparty primaries held on Monday with 406 votes to beat other aspirants, including Mr David Edevbie who got 299.

While congratulating Okowa on his victory, Onwusanya said that the victory was a sign of good political omen that would produce desired peace and development in the state.

He also urged those who lost in the primaries and their supporters to continue to work for PDP candidates across the country, adding that this willgo a long way in guaranteeing the party’s victory in the 2015 general polls.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

7 News

Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants politicians to imbibe spirit of sportsmanship

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man who knows that losing today does not mean he will not win another match tomorrow. ``One person can only win a contest and every other person who did not win should hail the victor and work with him or her. ``Losers should identify with the winner by sharing their ideals and vision with him or her for the greater benefit of the people and good governance,’’ he said.

He advised politicians to stop the attitude of ``pull him down at all cost or sink the party’’ if their wishes and aspirations did not come true. ``Ohaneze will continue to give advice and play its role to ensure the growth of democracy, democratic principles and institutions. ``We will not fail to play our fatherly role of guiding our people aright, which will bring about enduring peace in Igboland and the entire country.’’

Abakaliki traders decry low patronage ahead of Yuletide

hanaeze Ndigbo, an apex Igbo socio-cultural group, urged politicians to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship while vying for elective positions.

A chieftain of the group, Chief RommyEzeonwuka, disclosesthis to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview at Oba, near Onitsha in Anambra. ``Our politicians should learn how to take the outcome of the various political elections, whether at party or national levels, in good faith,’’ he said.

Ezeonwuka urged politicians to always learn from footballers who would not lose or win at all times.

He also advised politicians not to use their selfish interests and disagreements within their parties to cause disaffection among the people. ``Politicians should learn from footballers; what it takes to be a sports-

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Ebonyi PDP mainstream members defect to Labour Party

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State (right) receives the report from the panel, set up to investigate causes of collapsed buildings, in Awka, recently.

ome traders at the Abakpa main market, Abakaliki, have decried the high cost of foodstuff, saying it has reduced the level of patronage they were getting ahead of Yuletide.

The traders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that there was the need for the authorities to urgently address the rising cost of foodstuff.

One of the sellers, Mrs UgonnaEze, said that one bag of locally processed rice now sells for between

N4,500 and N5,000, depending on the quality.

She said this was contrary to the N3,500 and N4,500 it sold for earlier in the year.

Eze said prices of wheat and beans have also increased marginally and regretted that the situation has affected her daily sales.

“With barely 2 weeks before Christmas and New Year celebrations, we are yet to witness high turnover in our businesses; the situation was not like as at this time in 2013.

“There are very few

buyers and business is not moving as we expect; buyers complain that they don’t have money.

“Again due to insecurity in the country, especially in the north, it has become more expensive to bring food items from that part of the country to Abakiliki.

“This high cost of transporting the food items are transferred to the buyers and this is negatively affecting our turnover,” Eze lamented.

She called on government to tackle the security challenges as part of the

measures to force down the cost of foodstuff.

Mr James Onwe, who sells beans in the market, blamed the high cost of foodstuff on over-dependence on oil.

He said the agriculture sector has remained underdeveloped because the Federal Government did not consider it a major revenue earner.

With more funds made available for farmers, Onwesaid they would take to mechanised farming as positive solution for the cost of foodstuff.

Anambra lawmakers pass 2015 appropriation bill into law

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he Anambra State House of Assembly has passed into law, the 2015 Appropriation Bill of over N164 billion, subject to amendment made in some sectoral allocations.

The Chairperson of Finance and Appropriation Committee, Miss NikkyUgochukwu, presented her report in Awka on Wednesday during its plenary session.

The chairperson explained that after a thorough examination of the provisions in the budget,

the estimated overhead cost was reduced from N282 million to N82 million.

According to her, the overhead cost of the office of the Secretary to the State Government was slashed from N855 million to N755 million.

That of the Executive Governor’s Office was increased from N16.77 billion to N17.74 billion.

The financial estimate for Anambra State Lands Information Management System was also changed from N100 million to N30 million while the financial

provision for completion/ expansion of the ministry’s headquarters building was hiked from N30 million to N100 million.

Ugochukwu said that the committee swung into action and issued a time table for bilateral budget discussion between the House Standing Committee and various ministries, departments and agencies.

She said that the report was based on the budget defence and hearing which were concluded and after thorough examination of the provisions in the bud-

get, decisions were reached.

In her speech, the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs ChinweNwaebili, thanked the members for having worked assiduously towards the passage of the budget so early as to enable the governor to implement them for the betterment of the state.

Nwaebili said that the legislative arm has done its bit and encouraged the government to ensure later implementation of the budget to give a sense of new direction to the people.

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ajor stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Ebonyi, including some members of Gov. Martin Elechi’s cabinet, national and the state House of Assembly, on Wednesday defected to the Labour Party.

Among those who dumped the PDP for Labour Party include the newly appointed caretaker committee chairmen of the 13 local government areas and the 64 development centre coordinators alongside other party supporters in Ebonyi.

The defection took place during the party’s primary elections in Abakaliki.

Others include Sen. Chris Nwankwo, Rep. Tobias Okwuru, Rep. Peter Oga-Ali, and Gov. Elechi’s son, Chief ElechiElechi.

Mr Ben Igenyi, one of the

defectors, said the action was taken to take the state to the next level. ``We cannot mortgage our state nor allow the aspiration of the founding fathers of our great state to be rubbished under falsehood and unnecessary manipulation by the powers that be.’’

The News agency of Nigeria reports that security personnel were strategically located at different points to avert any breakdown of law and order.

Roads leading to the venue were also blocked to enable the delegates to have free access in and out of the venue.

The Managing Director of Barcelona Hotel, Abuja, and a business mogul, Chief Edward Nkwegu, was declared the governorship candidate of the party, having been returned unopposed.

I, formerly known as AANUOLUWAPO SARAH FALADE now wishes to be known and addressesed as AANUOLUWAPO SARAH JUBA. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Ndume urges prayers against Boko Haram insurgency

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en.

Muhammad Ndume, representing Southern Borno, has urged Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state to pray for divine intervention to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ndume made the call yesterday, while addressing displaced Christians taking refuge at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Centre, Maiduguri.

He said prayers were very significant in ending the sect members’ activities ravaging the North-East.

He added that his visit to the camp was to rub minds with the IDPs to know their grievances.

The lawmaker donated N700,000 for the construc-

Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State drinking from the newly commissioned water project in NasarawaEggon Local Council, recently.

Shagari, 5 others get COE fellowship awards

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econd Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, and five others will receive the Fellowship awards of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, at its 21st convocation ceremony tomorrow.

Other awardees are Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gov.

Aliyu Wamakko and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar Others are, Prof. Muhammad Junaid, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, and Alhaji Ahmadu Dange, an erudite traditional ruler in the state.

The Provost of the College, Dr Dikko Goshe, made the disclosure in an

interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto yesterday.

Goshe, who spoke on the preparations for the convocation, said that the recipients were being recognised for their outstanding contributions to the development of education in the state and Nigeria.

He said 5,674 graduands spanning 10 academic

sessions 2000/ 2001 to 2012/2013 would be conferred with National Certificates of Education and prizes of the college.

The provost said that the graduands were from the five schools of the college, comprising of schools of Arts and Social sciences, Education, Vocational and Technical Education, Sciences, and Languages.

Court orders reinstatement of Jokolo as Emir

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he Kebbi High Court, ordered the reinstatement of Alhaji Almustapha Jokolo as Emir of Gwandu, nine years after he was removed.

Jokolo had in 2006, challenged his removal by the state government, saying the government did not consult or inquire with kingmakers in the state.

He then urged the High Court to reinstate him as

emir, stressing that the state government did not follow due process.

In his judgment, Justice Abbas Ahman who presided over the case in Birnin Kebbi, reinstated Jokolo as Emir of Gwandu with effect from 2006.

Ahman also directed the Kebbi State Government to release all entitlements due to Jokolo from when he was deposed in 2006 till date.

Justice Ahman said ``as at now, there is no

20th Emir of Gwandu but the 19th, who is Alhaji Almustapha Jokolo, with effect from 2006.’’

He then advised the defendants to appeal the judgment within three months in a higher court.

Counsel to the reinstated emir, Mr Sylvester Imanobe, said the judgment was a representation of true justice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that supporters of the reinstated emir expressed

their feelings in a peaceful rally around the Birnin Kebbi High Court.

However, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Garba Kamba, said the judgment would be appealed within three months as he called for calm on the matter.

He appealed to the people not to disrupt the peace and assured that government would not relent in ensuring that peace reigned in the state.

tion of boreholes in the IDPs’ camp in order to access portable water.

Bishop Williams Naga, who spoke on behalf of the IDPs, commended Ndume for the gesture, saying that it would go a long way in cushioning the hardships at the centre.

Naga said that the camp also lacked toilet facilities and appealed to the state government to relocate them to Wulari Primary School.

In a related development, the Caretaker Chairman of Ngala Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulkarim, has donated metal detectors to members of the Civilian JTF operating in IDPs camps in the state.

Kano explosion: Association denies rumour of market closure

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lhaji Liti Kulkul, Chairman of Kantin Kwari Market Traders Association, Kano, has denied rumours that the market had been closed, following Wednesday’s explosions that killed six people and injured several others.

Kulkul made the denial in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

He said the speculations were totally untrue as the market would open on Thursday for usual business activities. ‘’The market is not closed. Only the affected section of the market

was closed by security agents to enable them carry out investigations. ‘’More so, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II and Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso are expected to visit the scene of the incident, that is why that area is closed,’’ he said.

He urged customers visiting the market from within and outside the country to ignore the rumour as the market would continue to operate.

The chairman also assured that the union and security agencies were collaborating to provide adequate security in the market.

Botched governorship primary has reunited us, says Kwara PDP scribe

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara yesterday declared that its botched Dec. 5 governorship primary had reunited members of the party into a stronger family.

Dr Rex Olawoye, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, said this in a statement issued at the end of the executive members’ meeting in Ilorin.

He said the meeting

was called primarily to consider all factors that led to the failure of the exercise.

The two-page statement was signed by Olawoye, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“It is important to let the public, party members and supporters know that in spite of the rancour, there is no division in our party,” Olawoye said.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

9 News

Book launch: Ekiti govt calls on judiciary to sanction Obasanjo Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

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kiti State Government has lambasted former President Olusegun Obasanjo for violating a court order restraining him from publishing or circulating his new book, My Watch, calling on the judiciary to sanction him.

Describing the former

President’s action as deliberate impunity and contempt of court, the Ekiti State Government said such sanction was necessary “to serve as deterrent to other people who see themselves as ‘super powers’ far and above the laws of the land”.

The Government in a statement from the Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Owoseni

Ajayi, who said the sanctity of the judiciary should be protected, declared that it was embarrassing that a former President “will be behaving with impunity, disregarding the rights of other Nigerians and recently became contemptuous of court orders.

“He even castigated the judge for granting the lawful order thereby making himself an Appellate

Court,” it stated.

It wondered that despite the clear and unambiguous ex-parte order given by Justice Valentine Ashi of an Abuja High Court on December 5, restraining Obasanjo from publishing or circulating the book before the December 10 return date, “our former President did not only publish the book, but went ahead to

circulate it to the whole world”.

The state specifically lambasted the former President for seeing other leaders including President Goodluck Jonathan; former military ruler, General Muhammad Buhari; former Vice President AtikuAbubakar; and All Progressives Congress , APC, National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu as “satanic agents to be sent

to the gallows for persecution, pointing out that “this gives the impression that only Obasanjo is a saint. But he must be told the truth that he is not a saint”.

Ajayi pointed out further that “in the lexicon of our legal jurispudence, a court order, however frivolous, must be obeyed until discharged by that court or set aside by another court.

Ogun NSCDC arrests two for illegal dredging Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

T Some supporters of Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro in a peaceful protest to the Lagos State secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) , Ikeja, challenging the outcome of the PDP primary in Lagos ... yesterday.

Obanikoro’s supporters protest, seek Jonathan’s intervention Jonathan Eze

O

ver five hundred supporters of former Minister of State for Defence and a Peoples Democratic |Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Senator MusiliuObanikoro, yesterday staged a peaceful protest in parts of the metropolis.

The protesters took to the streets over what they described as “travesty and political manipulation that favoured the candidacy of Mr. Jimi Agbaje as the flagbearer

of the party in next year’s governorship election in the state.”

The party members carried placards with different inscriptions seeking the immediate intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu. They called of the two leaders to cancel what they described as ‘immoral’ primaries and fix a date for a rerun with electoral officers who are above board and upright.

Coordinator of the protest, Mr. Olayinka Sotade,

told journalists that the PDP, as the largest party in Africa, should show good example by promoting internal democracy as against the manipulations and impositions allegedly orchestrated by the leader of the party in the state, Chief Bode George.

He added that whoever would emerge as the party’s flag bearer must earn it honourably and not through electoral malpractice that favoured an unpopular candidate who has no structure to deliver the state in the forthcoming election.

According to Sotade, “We are protesting against the electoral manipulation that happened on Monday supervised by Chief Bode George. We are loyal party members who are bitter over the outcome of the party’s primaries not because Obanikoro did not win but because the whole process was flawed and should not be allowed to stay.

“A lot of delegates were scared away from the venue with the sporadic gunshots carried out by Jimi Agbaje’s men and that of Chief Bode George.

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Command, has arrested two elderly men over illegal dredging activities in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The suspects Shakiru, male, 58, andDaudaAdeyinka, male, 58, were caught in the act during a patrol operation by the men of Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit of the Corps in Abeokuta North Local Government area of the state.

The suspects were seen dredging on a tributary of the popular Ogun

river around Oke SokoriIkereku-Idan area which hosts a mace and water pipeline belonging to the Ogun State Water Corporation. The dredging is not only illegal, but also causing havoc as many houses in the area have been weakened due to erosion occasioned by incessant dredging activities.

Earlier, some residents of the area had forwarded a petition to the state commandant of the NSCDC complaining about the illegal dredging activities which are currently affecting the critical infrastructure, houses, and new bridge constructed in the area.

Osun monarch establishes free secondary school for indigent students

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he Orangun of Oke-Ila, Osun, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, has established a free Secondary School for indigent students in his domain.

Abolarin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Oke-Ila, Ifedayo Local Government Area, that the school was meant for those who could not afford education in regular Schools.

According to him, the

school has taken off in Oke-Ila with an initial enrolment of 35 students. ‘’The School which has full boarding facilities will grow over the years; we are developing the school gradually so as not to derail from the vision of providing totally free facilities. ‘’The fact that the School is for indigent students gives me the urge to pull together the finest brains and I actually teach subjects myself.

World10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

J

ihadist attacks killed more than 5,000 people in just one month, an investigation has found.

The BBC and King’s College, London, say civilians bore the brunt of the violence, with more than 2,000 killed in reported jihadist incidents during November 2014. Islamic State carried out the most attacks, adding to the spiralling death toll in Iraq and Syria.

Four countries suffer 80 percent of losses.

The data gathered by the BBC found that 5,042 people were killed in 664 jihadist attacks across 14 countries - a daily average of 168 deaths, or seven every hour.

About 80 percent of the deaths came in just four countries - Iraq, Nigeria, Syria and Afghanistan, according to the study of media and civil society reports.

Iraq was the most dangerous place to be, with 1,770 deaths in 233 attacks, ranging from shootings to suicide bombings.

In Nigeria, 786 people, almost all of them civilians, were killed in 27 Boko Haram incidents. These tended to be large and indiscriminate bombings and shootings such as the attack on the central mosque in the northern city of Kano, which left 120 dead.

Boko Haram also struck over the border in Cameroon, killing 15 people. Meanwhile, in East Africa, al-Shabab took 266 lives in Somalia and Kenya.

Afghanistan suffered almost the same number of deaths as Nigeria (782) but they tended to be in smaller, targeted attacks, such as the shooting of the deputy governor of Kandahar.

In war-ravaged Syria, 693 people were killed; Yemen had 410 deaths in 37 attacks.

Of the 16 jihadist groups involved in the bloodshed, Islamic State was the most deadly, killing 2,206 people across Iraq and Syria - 44% of the total death toll.

The director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, Prof Peter Neumann, said Islamic State “has rivalled - if not replaced - al-Qaeda as the leader of global jihadism”.

Jihadists kill over 5,000 in one month Civilians the main victims Civilians bore the brunt of the attacks with a total of 2,079 killed, followed by 1,723 military personnel.

But the proportions varied significantly between countries. In Nigeria, almost 700 civilians were killed, at least 57 of them children, whereas just 28 deaths were from the military.

In contrast, in Syria and Afghanistan, more than twice as many military personnel died as civilians.

Of the 146 police officers who died, 95 were in Afghanistan. Politicians and other officials were also targets in Afghanistan, and in Somalia, where 22 were killed.

Jihadists themselves were also killed

Animals go to heaven, says Pope Francis

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ope Francis declared recently in his regular weekly address at St. Peter’s Square that animals go to heaven. He made the statement while trying to comfort a boy who was upset about the death of his pet dog.

Quoting several biblical passages as evidence that animals go to heaven, Pope Francis said, “The holy scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of this wonderful design also affects everything around

us... what lies ahead... is therefore a new creation... It is not an annihilation of the universe and all that surrounds us. Rather it brings everything to its fullness of being, truth and beauty.”

The 77-year-old pontiff then concluded: “One day we will see our animals again in eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all God’s creatures.”

Reacting to Francis’ statement, the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, wrote optimistically

that the pontiff had effectively declared an expansive “hope of salvation and eschatological beatitude to animals and the whole of creation.”

While the declaration from the controversial pontiff might have brought consolation and relief to animal-loving Catholics who have mourned the loss of a pet, it probably caused Church conservatives more hand-wringing over their fears about their pope’s escalating “liberalism.”

Pope Francis

in large numbers: 935 died in clashes or by blowing themselves up.

Bombs and bullets kill most Taken together, bombs accounted for the most deaths, with 1,653 people killed in 241 explosions. These included 38 suicide blasts, which took 650 lives and 128 other bombs, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which killed 555.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

11 World Palestinian minister buried amidst tension over cause of death

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Palestinian government minister, who died after a confrontation with Israeli soldiers, has been buried in Ramallah, amid a dispute over the cause of death.

Senior Palestinian official, Saeb Erekat, said Ziad Abu Ein had been suffocated and beaten

by Israeli soldiers.Israel, however, says Mr. Abu Ein, 55, had a heart condition and suffered a heart attack brought on by stress.

A Russian military plane

Russia’s Baltic military actions ‘unprecedented’ – Poland

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oland says the level of Russian naval and air force activity in the Baltic Sea region has been “unprecedented” this week.

Defence Minister, Tomasz Siemoniak, said most of the activity was in international waters and airspace and Sweden was the country most affected.

Nato partners of the Baltic states, including the UK, have military jets on an air policing mission in the region, monitor-

ing the Russian planes.

Fighting in Ukraine has raised tension.

Mr Siemoniak said Russia was “not preparing to attack” but it was testing Nato defences, which “does not serve to build good relationships and trust”.

The three small ex-Soviet states in the Baltic - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - joined Nato in 2004.

Speaking on the Polish news channel TVN24, he said there

was no need to put the Polish army on a state of high alert.

Nato and Ukraine accuse Russia of fomenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine and supplying the pro-Russian rebels there with troops and heavy weapons.

Russia denies the allegations, but admits that Russian “volunteers” are helping the rebels.

Several incidents have been reported in the region this week: On Tuesday the Norwegian military said one of its war-

planes had a “near miss” with a Russian fighter which had ventured too close, north of Norway.

The Finnish air force said that there had been “unusually intense” Russian activity over the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, with most flights involving bombers, fighters and transport planes heading between the Russian mainland and the Kaliningrad enclave, between Lithuania and Poland.

CIA torture sparks world outrage, demands for justice

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damning report on the United States’ brutal treatment of War on Terror detainees triggered worldwide condemnation and calls for CIA agents and senior officials to face justice.

That US interrogators tortured Al-Qaeda suspects in secret jails was known, but a detailed Senate report into the scandal was seized upon by America’s shocked friends and gloating enemies alike.

China and Iran, whose own human rights records have often been criticized by Washington, denounced the abuses -but so did Germany and the new pro-US leader of Afghanistan.

“Such a gross violation of our

liberal, democratic values must not happen again,” German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, reflecting the embarrassment of Washington’s European allies.

European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray welcomed the transparency of the report but warned it “raises important questions about the violation of human rights by the U.S. authorities.”

America’s great power rival China -- often on the end of US censure for its rights record -was equally unimpressed.

“We believe the US side should reflect upon itself, correct its ways and earnestly respect and abide by the rules of international conventions,” Chinese

foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Sensing an opportunity to poke its traditional foe, Iran seized upon the report to throw back some of the human rights criticism that its own notorious prisons regularly receive.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, took to Twitter to declare the United States a “symbol of tyranny against humanity” -- not just in the CIA torture programme but in domestic law enforcement.

In next door war-torn Afghanistan, the new leader, who America hopes will work with it to ensure a smooth end to the U.S. combat mission there, distanced himself from his ally’s excesses.

Obama

He died on Wednesday shortly after an Israeli policeman grabbed him by the throat at a protest in the West Bank.

Ziad Abu Ein’s funeral was held on yesterday with full military honours in Ramallah.

Thousands of people joined the procession from the presidential headquarters to a nearby cemetery, with the sounds of drums and bagpipes filling the air, as well as sporadic gunfire.

Israeli youngsters try to rob bank with toy guns

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sing toy guns, a 12-year-old boy and his 13-year-old accomplice tried to rob a bank in Israel but fled without any cash after apparently losing their nerve, police said yesterday.

Security camera footage showed the boys, wearing hooded sweatshirts, entering the bank in Rishon Lezion, a suburb of Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

One had a schoolbag on his back and what appeared to be a rifle in his hand.

Police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, said both were carrying fake M-16 assault rifles and that they shouted “this is a holdup”.

“They were toy guns but they looked real. The people in the bank were scared, but then the suspects ran out without taking any money,” he said, adding that police were able to identify the pair from the security footage and later arrested them.

12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Business ÆÆ s

BoI secures export status for pharmaceutical firms

Swiss Pharma Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

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igeria’s Pharmaceutical sector has joined the league of world class pharmaceuticals certified by the World Health Organisation WHO to produce and export drugs.

The latest feat was courtesy of the Bank of Industry which provided funds to some reputable pharmaceutical firms in the country to upscale their production facilities and quality control systems to the highest international standards.

Swiss Pharma Nigeria Ltd and May and Baker Nigeria Plc both obtained the current Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance certification from WHO which will now enable them expand capacity, produce and export their products to other countries.

According to the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Rasheed Olaoluwa, who paid a working visit to both companies’ corporate headquarters

1st certified WHO (GMP) plant in west Africa

in Lagos, the pharmaceutical sector was one that the government would continue to support to flourish under the industrial revolution policy and also to ensure sustainable quality healthcare provision for its citizens.

Addressing the management of Swipha, the BoI boss stated that the bank was pushing the federal government’s development objective of local production as against dependence on imports, in order to conserve the nation’s foreign reserve, which was subjected to undue pressure as a result of the volume of imports.

“We are well endowed in human and natural resources and market demographics. We have keyed into the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) as the leading development bank to see that we drive all productive sectors of the economy,” he said.

After taking a tour of Swipha’s production plant, Olaoluwa said he was pleased that the company had made good use of

May & Baker

Rasheed Olaoluwa the support of the bank to upgrade their facility and obtain the WHO cGMP certification.

“I must say that Swipha is the first company not only in Nigeria but in West Africa to be so certified so it is a great achievement and we are very proud in BoI that we have been instru-

Largest and best facility, West and Central Africa

mental to this feat. The next stage is to now go to product specific certification and we are also in discussion with them to ensure that they achieve that as well,” he said.

He was optimistic that Nigeria was nearing a point where it will stop importing drugs and start exporting to other countries consistent with the NIRP, especially as about five other pharmaceutical companies supported by BoI were also close to being certified by the WHO. “By the time they are all certified, the users of drugs: doctors and patients will have the assurance that they are using drugs that are of international quality and secondly by the time we begin to reduce the amount of imports, then we can actually begin to grow our foreign reserves,” he said.

In his remarks, the chairman/chie executive of Swipha, Colin Cummings said, “I would expect with what we have done so far and what we intend to do with our products that we can

more than quadruple turnover and job creation because of Nigeria’s market potential.”

He disclosed that the company was developing their new products around the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 of the government to combat malaria, maternal health challenges, diarrhea and bacterial infections.

“Bank of Industry has been crucial to us moving ahead and without their support we wouldn’t have managed to get to where we are so quickly and also we need their assistance in getting to the next stage which is the pre-qualification of specific products,” he said.

At the May and Baker corporate headquarters, the BoI boss first commended the company for setting up the Pharma Centre which was the best and biggest pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in West and Central Africa.

“Bank of Industry essentially focuses on long-term plant and machinery facility, but we are now in the process of finalising a partnership with some banks such that they can work with us to provide working capital and in a few weeks our customers can begin to benefit from that.

The whole essence is for us to control how much additional spread the commercial banks will be able to charge our customers,” he said.

Responding the managing director/chief executive of May and Baker, Nnamdi Okafor, disclosed that by June 2015 the company would have had its Anti-retroviral drug certified, having upgraded their facility to WHO standards with an expanded capacity, that has enabled the creation of additional 500 jobs and about 1000 indirect jobs with BoI’s support.

He disclosed that Nigeria imports over 90 per cent of inputs in the pharmaceutical industry and urged the government to revamp the petrochemical industry so that the cost of local production can be drastically reduced.

13 Insurance

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Operators seek foreign support for terrorism insurance Stories By Kayode Adelowokan

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number of local underwriters have approached their foreign counterparts for technical support in insuring risks associated with kidnapping and terrorism, an investigation has revealed.

While several soldiers and police have been killed in the NorthEast by Boko Haram insurgents; abduction of prominent people is still a major concern in the Niger Delta region.

Influential individuals and corporate companies whose employees are exposed to kidnapping due to the nature of their work are reportedly taking terrorism insurance cover secretly.

The Managing Director, AIICO

Insurance Plc, Mr. Edwin Igbiti, said kidnap and terrorism acts had become major threats to a number of multinationals and corporate firms in some parts of the country, especially the NorthEast.

He said the insurance product was designed to protect individuals and firms operating in highrisk areas.

The Managing Director said AIICO in partnership with the International American International Group and Crisis Management Consultants recently held a simulation exercise on kidnap and ransom insurance.

To develop this product in the country, he said the company was also creating support for insurance specialists and brokerage firms.

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Assurance Plc, Mr. Ekpe Ukpabio, said that the company had relationship with foreign partners and was providing cover for kidnap and ransom.

He said, “We are having cases of kidnapping and ransom requests and we have actually done some policies already. We have renewed our partnership with some foreign reinsurers and brokers that are providing it. We have been able to give cover for this class of business.”

Some executives of Afro-Asian Insurance Services Limited, a firm of international insurance and reinsurance brokers, had visited some local insurers earlier to explore the possibility of providing covers for special risks in the country.

Afro-Asian Insurance which

has partnership with Shepherds Insurance Brokers Nigeria said it was exploring ways to provide covers such as kidnap and ransom, piracy, terrorism and other risks with local insurance companies.

FBN Insurance Brokers and Continental Reinsurance, West Africa’s largest reinsurer, had also disclosed their partnership with the United Insurance Brokers Group of the United Kingdom on terrorism and political violence insurance.

During the 40th anniversary of the African Insurance Organisation in Balaclava, Mauritius, the Insurance Institute of Mauritius had said Nigeria accounted for a quarter of kidnap for ransom cases reported worldwide and designated the country as the global capital for kidnap for ransom.

Mutual Benefits Assurance opens first franchise office

Ecobank to raise $250 million private equity

by March 2015 cobank Transnational Inc. (ETI), the bank with operations in the most African countries, will sell equity in the first quarter of next year as it seeks to meet regulatory capital requirements for its Nigerian unit.

“The bank is looking at raising something in the neighborhood of $250 million before the end of March by private placement,” Chairman Emmanuel Ikazoboh said in an interview yesterday at his office in Lagos, the Nigerian commercial capital. Basel III liquidity regulations call for “huge capital and we have to meet the requirement,” he said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria in August ordered the largest Nigerian lenders to boost minimum capital ratios to 16 percent

by March, compared with a previous benchmark of 11 percent.

The government is preparing to implement Basel III requirements next year and increase the resilience of banks in Afri-

“The exercise will equally expose us to the various risks, dynamics and intricacies of the business of kidnap and how best to handle, manage and mitigate the identified risks,” he said.

He however noted that what the company had done was a simulation exercise and not a product launch.

According to him, the kidnap cover or policy does not pay ransom on behalf of the insured, but the insured must first pay the ransom; thus incurring the loss, and then seek reimbursement under the policy.

He said managing kidnap and other crises was essential in protecting the life and well-being of a victim as well as an organisation’s assets.

The Managing Director, Equity

ca’s largest economy five years after saving the industry from collapse.

ETI, which operates in 36 African countries from its base in Lome, Togo, “will increase its issued capital and sell 25 percent to Nigerian investors to meet the regulatory capital,” Ikazoboh said. “Capital adequacy of the bank will rise to over 16 percent from between 11 and 12 percent at present,” he said Ecobank Nigeria (ECOBANK), which had $9.6 billion of assets at the end of September, is the country’s seventhbiggest lender. It made a $157 million post-tax profit in the first nine months, up 79 percent from a year earlier, according to a presentation posted on ETI’s website.

For Related News and Information: Nigeria Too-Big-to-Fail Bank Rules Spur Bond Rush: Africa Credit Nigerian Regulator Says Ecobank Must Address Governance Gaps Ecobank Screens for Ebola as Dollars Hoarded in Sierra Leone

L-R: Franchise Coordinators, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Pastor Wale Olaopa; Pastor Sola Ajidagba; Group Managing Director, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, and the company General Manager (Retails), Ademola Ifagbayi, at the grand opening ceremony of the Company’s franchise office in Lagos.

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n a bid to aligning with the National Insurance Commission’s (NAICOM) plan to deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria, by closing the gap and taking insurance to the grassroots, Mutual Benefits Insurance Plc has opened the first franchise office in Lagos.

The Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance plc, Akin Ogunbiyi, said that the move by the underwriter was the only way to go if insurance must deliver and must be the heartbeat for businesses, entre-

preneurship, industrial activities, and the national economy.

Speaking at the grand opening of Mutual Benefits Assurance franchise office at Ogudu, Lagos, Ogunbiyi said the insurance industry cannot afford to concentrate and place emphasis on only cooperate insurance, which in revenue was dwindling.

The Group Managing Director said that Mutual Benefits Assurance has come out with an initiative called mutual regards which was retail insurance; an

agent of growth for mutual benefits in order to take insurance to the grassroots.

“We have opened 80 new offices, not in the cities but in rural location and come up with over 72 new products meant for the rural population so as to take insurance to the grassroots and keep preaching insurance to the rural people,” said Ogunbiyi.

Explaining the approach adopted, he said mutual benefits went to the rural people purely on partnership and empowerment basis. “We work with them to find out their needs, study them, create a profile for them and bring them into a group of 20, 50 and when we do that we were able to empower them, add value to their businesses and from there if they increase their turnover, then they will be able to afford the insurance products designed for them,” he added.

He added that the franchise office is the very first of its kind in the insurance industry in Nigeria as they have the will to make the necessary investment to deepen insurance and close the insurance gap by taking the insurance to the grassroots, adding that he believes other insurance firms will also follow suit to make insurance what it supposed to be in our country.

Brands&Marketing 14

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Malta Guinness unveils contestants for reality TV show

Opeoluwani Akintayo

T Woodin opens first Nigerian store Opeoluwani Akintayo

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ollowing its growing popularity in West and Central Africa, Woodin one of the brands of the Vlisco Group opened its first store in Nigeria where Mavin Records Korede Bello made guests go gaga, treating them to series of numbers from his stable.

With the store located right inside Ikeja Shopping Mall’s edifice, the store was declared opened for sale after Vlisco’s MD Nigeria, Mr Erik Van Der Staaij cut the ribbon, with

guests trooping inside the to catch a glance.

Woodin already has stores 26 stores in 8 African countries (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Niger),fashion capital and style city Lagos could not be left behind.

After the store was flagged opened, guests proceeded inside to check out the store and to buy materials on sale- Woodin in a variety of metallic and non-metallic prints in a myriad of trendy designs; beautiful colors and amazing quality textures, the plain dye- fab-

rics give consumers the versatility to be creative in their look. Not only that, ready-to wear for men beggars belief were also on display in varying sizes and colors.

Female guests who bought some, also had opportunities to free makeover by the in-house makeup artistes who also offered expert style and colour advice to shoppers, plus that Woodin’s brand ambassador, Korede Bello was also on ground for snapshots with guests, .

The petite singer came along with his guitar with which he serenaded the atmosphere to the delight of guests and passersby.

MultiChoice excels at 2014 Marketing World Awards

By Tony Nwakaegho

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ultiChoice Nigeria has proved to be the leading pay-TV service provider in Nigeria having been crowned as the winner in “The Pay-TV Brand of the Year” and “The Best Company in Customer Care” categories at the 2014 Marketing World Awards.

The MarketingWorld Awards (MWA) is or-

ganised to celebrate the excellence, creativity and achievements of the marketing industry by rewarding outstanding performance across the integrated marketing communication industry.

The event which sought to recognise the exceptional work of marketing champions over the last one year saw DStv contend against other brands in the broadcast media industry to win the Pay-TV Brand of the

Year award, while GOtv, which had been pitched against long-standing brands such as; GTBank, StanbicIBTC and Zenith Bank claimed the award.

Speaking on the awards dubbed: “Celebrating brands that work passionately and timelessly, General Manager Marketing MultiChoice, Martin Mabutho , thanked the organisers of the MarketingWorld Awards for the recognition.

he stage is set for Malta Guinness Game On, the exciting reality TV show powered by Malta Guinness to hit television screens all over the country soon as the twelve contestants are unveiled on Sunday December 14th, 2014.

Game On is the result of the striking debate about the two passions of fashion and football, a conversation sparked by fashion designer, Lanre da Silva Ajayi and ex-football international, Daniel Amokachi over claims about the superiority of their careers, even sparring on the frontline talk show, Moments with Mo, and taking their battle to the stage of the recently concluded future awards show.

This reality series is designed as a platform to help the public decide which passion they believe best fuels the rise of Naija with Malta Guin-

ness powering the show as part of its tradition of fueling the riseof Nigerians.

“As a premium Malt drink that has passionately helped Nigerians express their ambitions and creativity. The brand has yet again decided to touch the heart of the Nigerian people with these two intriguing passions.” said Gavin Pike, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria PLC.” “The brand will be driving these tough conversations by playing the role of an impartial umpire with Fashion Icon Lanre Da Silva Ajayi and Football Legend, Daniel Amokachi acting as captains of the two teams.”

The contestants, pooled together from all over the country, are converging in one house for six weeks to fight for their passion and fulfill their dreams.

The fashion team which includes Madu Okenna, Ukara Effiong, Modupe Adeoti, Precious Eminue, Mary Rogers and Henri-

etta Ikharo, will also bring their all to play as they challenge the other team and attempt to inject the needed vibrancy in the house.

On the football team, there is Olumide Ajibolade, Isah Abdullahi, Akintoye Yemisi, Benjamin Nwoke, Jerry Onyibe and Adeniji Kamaldeen, – a combination that will bring a sense of balance on the show.

“I am grateful to Malta Guinness for giving me the opportunity to do this.

All my life, I have dreamt of being a great football coach who will win trophies for Nigeria and this reality show will help me achieve that goal”, said one of the contestants fighting for the football passion.

The show promises to be as entertaining, yet inspiring with the highest technical quality as Malta Guinness gears up to show the world that no one can be as passionate as Nigerians.

MTN tops Brand Africa 100 Tony Nwakaegho

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TN has again topped the Brand Africa 100 list as the Most Admired and Most Valuable African Brand valued with over $5.4 billion dollars.

The 2014 Brand Africa 100 rankings of the most admired and most valuable brands in sub-Saharan Africa were released recently on at the Nairobi Stock Exchange in Kenya.

In the overall rankings, Coca-Cola toppled Nokia as the most admired brand in Africa, while MTN moved up a spot in the admiration ranks among Africans.

According to the Executive for Marketing, MTN Group Jennifer Forrester, “While it is nice to again be acknowledged as Africa’s most valuable brand, it is even nicer to be ranked the most admired African brand. It means that MTN doesn’t just have a spot in our cus-

tomers’ pocket book, but in their hearts and minds as well. A special thanks to our employees who are the best ambassadors of the MTN brand. Our em-

ployees have also done very well to partner with communities through projects such as the 21 Days of Y’ello Care staff volunteer programme”.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

15 Energy

Gas flaring ravaging Nigerians’ environment, health Stories By Anthony Nwakaegho

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nvironmental devastation, that emanates from gas flaring among others in the oil rich Niger Delta Region has come to symbolise the tragedy of Nigeria’s vast oil wealth following decades of crude production that have lined the pockets of powerful government officials and generated huge profits for oil majors like Shell, while corruption and spills leave the people with nothing but land too polluted for farming or fishing. The Daily Times Correspondent, Anthony Nwakaegho, here examines why Nigeria cannot have zero percent gas flaring like in some other climes.

Gas flaring is the burning of natural gas that cannot be produced or sold. The Gas flare otherwise known as a flare stack is described as the environmental brunt of burning associated gas from oil drilling sites. These gas stacks pump up greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, impacting the climate, placing everyone at risk.

A report by experts on environment depicts that flaring gas also constitutes a hazard to human health and contributes to the worldwide anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide.

According to statistics, Nigeria flares about 12.5 billion cubic feet of gas and burning off an equivalent of USD1.4 billion dollars annually. It has been recorded as the highest gas flaring country in Africa, both in absolute and proportionate terms, thus making her the largest country in the world involved in flaring after Russia.

The Daily Times, however, monitored some experts’ opinion on gas flaring in Nigeria on a recent Radio Nigeria programme ‘the reformer’ in Lagos.

An energy expert from the Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority, Dr Emeh Uche said that “gas flaring creates amongst others very great environmental and social problems especially on local community near the oil station. It damages the surface, the entire building, makes the whole water acidic and causes reproductive and developmental prob-

lems in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta Region.”

A Soil Scientist with the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Dr Emmanuel Eweremadu said that “gas flaring causes ecosystem imbalance as such flare has the capacity of producing toxic or noxious materials that can destroy lives.

Some of the gases when they are flared react with the water vapour in the atmosphere to produce acid, some of which have the capacity of corroding when they drop to the floor.”

A prominent leader in the Ni-

ger/Delta Region, Prince Ugochukwu Nwaokeoma observed that “those residing in the affected areas have shorter life spam as a result of gas flaring.”

A law maker, Chief Luke Chukwuka lamented what he called “the hazardous effects of gas flaring that destroy the lives of both animals and crops.”

Dr Emman Ndukwu, Public Health personnel in Imo State says that “gas flaring could cause skin diseases on inhabitants and could lead to poor visibility in the environment where it takes place.”

Nnimmo Bassey, Director of Lagos-based Environmental Rights Action and chair of Friends of the Earth International while responding to the bank’s report said: “Gas flares are nothing short of crimes against humanity. They roast the skies, kill crops and poison the air. These gas stacks pump up greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, impacting the climate, placing everyone at risk.

Gas flares go on because it is cheap to kill, as long as profits keep on the rise.”

FG begins design of $5bn Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline

By Tony Nwakaegho

T

he Federal Government has confirmed the development of the design of the country’s gas infrastructure of a N5 billion Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline has reached an advanced stage to deliver gas to the northern and eastern parts of Nigeria.

The Group Executive Director, Gas and Power of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) Dr. David Ige who made the disclosure said the design of the1, 200-kilometre pipeline has already begun while the contract for the project is expected to be awarded within the next few months.

Ige while explaining the work that has been done so far said:

“We have done the right of way survey for the entire pipeline length, we have progressed with the engineering and we hope to cross a major threshold by the end of the month.”

According to him, the plan fits in with the government’s plan to grow the economy with natural gas as half of the country is currently not connected to any gas infrastructure.

The project, which is slated for completion in 2018, will be the first gas pipeline to be built under a public private partnership (PPP) basis in Nigeria, expected as a major boost to the North and industrialise the region as energy sources become more cost effective.

The Difference recalls that analysts have long been advocating the need for the government

to partner with private enterprise to develop the expensive infrastructure needed to ensure adequate gas supply and distribution around the country However, industry watchers are expressing the phobia that the security issue in the north is bound to deter some contractors, given some of the areas that the pipeline will pass through.

Business 16

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Politics bane of investments in refineries-Adenikinju Stories By Tony Nwakaegho

P

olitical instability by government, oil pricing has been attributed as the bane of private investment in refineries as it scares away banks from financing multi-million dollar oil and gas projects.

The Director, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, Adeola Adenikinju made this assertion while addressing journalists in Ibadan, adding that “in the oil sector, the pricing policy is controlled by government, and a government

can come in today and make pronouncement on fuel price while another could come tomorrow and make another pricing policy which may not reflect the cost incurred by investors to refine the product. So there is no bank that will give loan if the economy of the project is not right or if there are lots of political risks involved.”

He lamented that those issued licences for private refineries would not invest in the project because of the government’s subsidy policy, which did not protect their investment.

He explained that those who

have the licence prefer to import the product and get paid by the government, adding that “with fuel subsidy in place, investment by the owners of refineries would not be protected because they would be expected to sell at a domestic price determined by government. Who will pay the difference between the cost of production and the amount they are forced to sell the products.”

The Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, he said, has advised government to come up with a policy that will protect the refineries owners and take up their risks.

“If you must do subsidy and at the same time encourage ownership of private refineries in Nigeria, government must be ready to shoulder the risk, if you do away with the subsidy, there will be incentive for investors to go ahead and build refineries, if the public is well informed about the advantage of full deregulation, they will accept it because it only benefits the rich as it is now,” he noted.

According to him, the Petroleum Industry Bill, (PIB) would solve part of the oil and gas problems because “it will provide stability and certainty”.

Chevron discovers new oil in Gulf of Mexico Chevron Corporation has announced a new oil discovery at the Guadalupe prospect in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The company’s website disclosed that the Keathley Canyon Block 10 Well No. 1 encountered significant oil pay in the Lower Tertiary Wilcox Sands. The well is located approximately 180 miles off the Louisiana coast in 3,992 feet of water and was drilled to a depth of 30,173 feet.

“The discovery further demonstrates Chevron’s exploration capabilities,” said George Kirkland, Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President, Upstream, Chevron Corporation.

“Guadalupe builds on our already strong position in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, a core focus area where we expect significant production growth over the next two years.

NERC set to clampdown on recalcitrant Discos over prepaid meters

US investors, FG sign MoU to deliver 1,200MW solar

I

n the quest to boost power supply in Nigeria, a consortium of American investors in renewable energy, under the auspices of Motir Seaspire, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Power to deliver 1,200 megawatts of solar powered electricity in Nigeria in two years.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo who disclosed that the proposed solar technology will be of the United States standard, added that the consortium had the capacity to increase the scope of the project to 10,000MW

in the next five years.

The President/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Irono, was quoted by a statement from the Power Ministry as saying that the team had a portfolio of over $5 billion that could be accessed over a period of five years into its integrated renewable energy projects, while the initial 1,200MW would be realised in the next two years.

“As a compatriot, the concern for providing employment to the teeming populace will be a plus to the company’s quest for the provision of training for

the Nigerian workforce in the power sector in general and renewable energy in particular,” he enthused.

The Power Minister in his response expressed his excitement that a compatriot was making the giant strides of harnessing the vast potential of solar energy.

Interestingly, Nebo said studies had shown that Africa was greatly endowed with solar power put at over three times the capacity of all other renewable energy sources combined, and commended the American group for taking the bold step to

undertake the project.

He promised that the Federal Government would do all within its power in fast-tracking the project and assist the group to leverage the Power Africa initiative of President Barrack Obama in seeking funding for the project.

“We must support this project, as it will be in tandem with Mr. President’s long-time wish for Nigeria to enjoy its abundant solar potential especially those in rural areas, as it is envisioned that through a project like this, they would be linked to micro or mini grid system,”

In line with the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is now set to clampdown on electricity distribution companies in the country that have failed to comply with its substitute order on meter provision.

NERC has decided to embark on a nationwide fact-finding visit to distribution networks across the country, starting from Abuja, following the widespread complaints by electricity consumers of the discos’ non-compliance to the agency’s order on CAPMI, which allows consumers to voluntarily pay for meter and get rebate on energy purchases.

The Difference learnt that the commission will kick off the factfinding visit from Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which recently hiked electricity tariff under its estimated billing platform and then move to Enugu, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Jos, Kano, Kaduna and end with Yola Distribution Company on December 17.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

17 Labour

ITF, NECA to boost skilled workforce

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L-R: Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Executive Chairman, CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran; Dr. Leke Pitan; National Conscience Party Governorship Aspirant, Comrade Kehinde Adeoye, and the representative of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at a Town Hall Meeting in Lagos.

End JOHESU strike now, NLC tells FG Stories By Joy Ekeke

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an end to the strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU), now in its second week.

NLC’s General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, who warned the government of the dangers of a prolonged strike in the

health sector, especially as it has caused the death of innocent Nigerians, urged the government to address the substantive issues raised by the unions.

He said: “We urge the government to, with every sense of obligation to JOHESU on the one hand and responsibility to the people of Nigeria on the other, speedily bring to an end this strike by way of addressing the sub-

stantive issues raised by the health sector unions.”

“We dare say government’s honour is at stake and the least expected of it is to redeem it by acceding to the demands of JOHESU”, he added.

According to the NLC’s scribe, the health sector unions have exhibited a high degree of understanding, patience and patriotism in an effort to avoid the action.

He said: “In our estimation, the health sector is too sensitive and the situation therein, too fragile for government to maintain this level of obduracy.

“Although issues of health should never be politicised, we are concerned that at the threshold of general elections, government could afford to conduct itself in this manner on issues which it is obliged to act upon.”

he Principal of the Government Technical College, Ikorodu, Mrs Elizabeth Babalola has stated that the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) went into partnership with the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), for the purpose of enhancing the training of citizens who opt for technical and vocational schools, to boost the nation’s skilled workforce.

Babalola made the declaration while interacting with newsmen during ITF/NECA facility tour of ongoing projects conceived by the duo in recognition of the importance of empowering the Nigerian youth at the school.

She said: “The goal of ITF/NECA involvement in skill acquisition scheme in Government

Technical College, Ikorodu is to eradicate unemployment in the country by making the students self-employed when they pass out of school by fitting into the world of work without looking for jobs.”

She expressed delight that ITF/NECA believes in the idea of revamping technical schools around the country.

“The duo has started the construction a big size workshop to enable the students perform better as compared to the small workshop we had before now”, she said According to Babalola, the ITF/NECA recognised that the importance of technical and vocational schools cannot be overemphasised because they provide the country with the requisite skilled workforce in every conceivable vocation.

Jobs: Business Club Ikeja tasks FG on infrastructure projects

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he Business Club Ikeja (BCI) has called on the three tiers of government to make life more meaningful to Nigerians by investing in basic infrastructural facilities, create job opportunities and boost industrial development.

BCI’s President, Mr. Sulaiman Tella made the declarations at a news conference organized by the Club to consider

how the government can cushion the effects of the ongoing policy of austerity measure in the country.

He said: “The multiplier effects of availability of infrastructural facilities will be enormous as manufacturers in the sector of the economy would have an enabling environment to be used in the developmental efforts thereby keeping their factories running.”

ASCSN demands reversal of irregular recruitment into civil service

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he Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has condemned the appointment of graduates with 12 years ‘ post National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience as Director in the civil service at the expense of those who have put in over 30 years, stressing that the government must reverse past cases to restore sanity in the

system.

The association has also called on the Federal Government to implement consistent and realistic monetary and fiscal policies that will favour real sector growth rather than the current unnecessary borrowing that have negative implications on all sectors of the economy.

ASCSN’s President General, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, who made the declarations at the

National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the Association at Axari hotel, Murtala Muhammed highway in Calabar, Cross River State, also insisted that only effective mechanism put in place by the government to curb all unnecessary borrowing and good governance will save the nation’s economy from collapse.

He said: “It is totally disappointing that the precious value of seniori-

ty that was once the pride and envy of all in the civil service is gradually fading away as we now have a situation whereby graduates with 12 years’ post NYSC experience are being appointed as Directors in the civil service at the expense of those who have put in years of commendable service to their fatherland.

“This negative development has adverse effects on the morals of officers

that have been forced to report to their juniors in schools and this has definitely impacted negatively on productivity in the service.”

He added: “While we urge the government to adhere strictly with the guidelines for appointment, promotion and discipline in the civil service, we equally want to strongly call on the government to reverse all the cases of irregular ap-

pointments made in the past three years in order to restore sanity into the system”.

Kaigama, who is the current President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also expressed concern over the current state of the Nigerian economy, in spite of the rebasing of the GDP, which has repositioned the country as the 26th biggest in the world, and the largest in Africa.

Opinion 18

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Oil piracy and hegemonistic complicity

“I

Bobson Gbinije

f you shut up truth and bury it under the ground.

It will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through. It will blow up everything in its way”.

Emile Zola (1840-1902)J’accuse Some Ijaw / Urhobo / Itsekiri adages runs thus, “the worm that eats the kola-nut is inside the kola-nut” and “how can a man be circumspect and careful with a witch in his own house” and “it is the rat in the house that invites the ones outside into the house”. It is clear without a tincture of doubt that the petroleum industry is filled with all kinds of players and the oil pirates are from there and beyond. It is now clearly obvious, that pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal oil bunkering and other horrendously fraudulent acts in the oil industry are carried out

by Nigerians and their recruited surrogates in the NNPC, some of its subsidiaries and oil multinational companies etc.

As for refined product, barring the reckless action of desperate and psychotic thieves, it is only the

Pipelines and Products Marketing Staffers that know the kind of products being pumped down the pipelines at any point – in - time.

It is they who know whether it is Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and High Pour Quality Fuel Oil (HPFO), Low Pour Quality Fuel Oil (LPFO), JET A1 etc. They give the information to the criminal syndicates who now position the tankers and barges to siphon the products.

The NEITI report has also been befuddled by vortexes and countervortexes of denials, accusations and contradictions. In a joint meeting between NEITI and PPPRA at the instance of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the two agencies said that the missing fund has indeed been deposited in the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Joint Reconciliation Meeting also posited that the two organizations have devised strategies aimed at addressing other matters arising from the NEITI 2009-2011 audit report through the instrumentality of the Inter- Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) set up by the President to address remedial issues arising from the audit report.

This belated accounts fence mending is seen by critics as a jigsaw puzzle calculated to bamboozle the Nigerian masses and launder the image of the Jonathan’s administration.

Virtually all the oil companies indicted by the NEITI REPORT have all denied the allegations

crude oil theft, pipeline vandalization and corruption will linger on a long time to come

made against them. The Acting Group General manager Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Abuja echoing the retort of the current Group Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Yakubu said “Under the current Group Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, the NNPC recorded an all-high 2.7 million barrels of crude oil per day last year. But this evadable

feat was short-lived because of Crude theft, oil bunkering and the incessant vandalization of crude oil pipelines”.

He further posited that “in as much as the NNPC is not a perfect organization just like any other, it should be objectively criticized and not vilified all the time. Efforts should be made to appreciate its challenges. Some of these negative publications and destructive criticisms have far-readily implications on the business relationship between the Corporation and its International Partners. They impact also on the nation’s ability to bring in investors”. But he was silent on whether the NNPC is guilty as charged or whether it will refund the money demanded by NEITI REPORT. SO THERE ARE NO OIL THIEVES AND THE NNPC IS NOT INVOLVED? It is however clear from the politicization of the report and the culture of gross impurity and defiance being played by the castigated oil companies that the sysiphyean albatross of oil bunkering, crude oil theft, pipeline vandalization and corruption in the oil industry will linger on in the deepest recesses of our national and petroleum industry’s psyche for along time to come.

Tension, fear & alarmism in Nigeria

I

Ethelbert Oney

nside the Boko Haram (BH) camp, like in any other terrorist organisation, all is never full of roses as many may assume, they also have their internal war to unravel. Research shows that reasonable amount of BH members are not uniformly motivated by the cause, nor equally willing to sacrifice for the cause and the best tactics of killing innocent citizens to achieve their strategic end. Reasons being that; the original members of the sect have been killed, injured or displaced.

Reasonable amount of its current members received no formal training rather taken under duress to join the sect. Within the principles of counter-terrorism modules, it may be construed that the sect is running out of ideas and genuine followers, thus mistakes, peaceful negotiation or surrender seems to be inevitable. Therefore, our policy response should be to exploit this short fall of the BH sect.

This organization is currently torn by strife and disagreement as members’ debate ideology, strategy, and tactics as pressure continue to mount from our liberal democratic workforce. Even when there is no conflict within the group, leaders often engage in costly efforts to monitor their agents. Historically, terrorist groups have repeatedly splintered because of differences of opinion about how to conduct their struggle. The Irish Republican Army, for example, spawned at least five splinter groups in the mid-1970s. Further evidence suggests that the cohesion of Islamist terrorist groups is similarly tenuous, although conflict at the upper levels does not always preclude low-level cooperation. It may be surprising to know the level of infighting and conflicts over strategic focus and arcane points of doctrine within the BH caucus.

To understand why there is so much preference divergence in terrorist groups, it is important to

differentiate between divergence in underlying preferences and divergence in induced preferences.

Induced preferences are a function of three factors namely: underlying preferences, the information individuals receive about the situation of our entire law enforce-

to understand how terrorist organize themselves and carry out attacks, it is critical to understand their disciplinary challenges ment workforce in the northeast, and beliefs about the actions implied by specific information.

People who have exactly the same underlying preferences can have very different induced preferences

if they get different information or have different beliefs about how to interpret that information.

Focusing on induced preferences suggests several reasons why the very nature of terrorist operations drives preference divergence. The first reason is that people who are good at violence, those who make ideal recruits as far as their ability to conduct operations, often have underlying preferences for violence which lead them to seek more violence than is politically desirable. Early Marxist militants were the first to document problems caused by the positive correlation between skill at violent action and the amount of violence one finds appropriate.

Within the terrorist organisation, for example; it is unlikely that the leader may have ideas and directs all the attacks in the country. Furthermore, to understand how terrorist organize themselves and carry out attacks, it is critical to understand their disciplinary challenges.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

19 News

Between known faces and new faces

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Abdul-Warees Solanke

igeria is counting down to another season of general elections.

Election is about choice of candidates, parties, programmes and policies, all represented by faces of actors.

Behind any face are antecedents.

So, in the emergence of any electoral candidate, the questions that will be normally asked are: What are his antecedents? What interest does he represent? What is his experience? In totality, what can he offer? For us in Nigeria, we must ask, for what are the faces we project for public offices known?

Ideally, antecedents, interest and experience should be enough to sell a candidate.

Irrespective of the political, the purpose of government remains the same: providing services and ensuring that all socioeconomic deliverables are distributed justly and equitably. Also underlying this imperative is the notion of the social contract: the agreement between the ruler and the ruled.

There is only one way of meeting this social contract: ensuring distributive justice in service pro-

visioning and access to privileges and opportunities.

How well this seemingly utopian objective is achieved will be dependent on the quality of elected leaders at the executive and legislative arms of the government strengthened by the professionalism and impartiality of appointed judicial arbiters. But this also depends on the leadership training, recruitment and selection process of the nation.

When we harp on leadership, we are not concerned with just the political leadership. We are rather interested in leadership recruitment in all its ramifications, because in the final analysis, the various state institutions sum the totality of players who are all involved in the governance framework as critical stakeholders of which the government is just a driver. Therefore, the quality of choice, representation, participation and contribution in public management in any country, the effectiveness and the efficiency of the service provided by its public managers, the reach and the impact as well as their relevance to public and societal, needs are underpinned by some fundamental values and require rigorous training.

Central to this notion is the idea of providing service for the greatest good of the greatest number.

By the greatest number, we do not mean just the majority, but inclusiveness. Even those that would not be beneficiaries or justifiably excluded from the service will have some understanding and

Ideally, antecedents, interest and experience should be enough to sell a candidate sympathy and are, therefore, carried along in the decision making and implementation processes.

To attain such height, we must begin to reevaluate our values and practices in public management.

Here, we may ponder to ask: What is the depth of our understanding of service? How do we arrive at the resolve to provide one service and not the other? What yardstick should we use to exclude one group and include another? What factors

were considered in the determination of the timing and delivery of the public goods or services?

The advanced countries of Europe and North America are today at an enviable stage of development, with higher standard of living and encouraging life expectancy, enjoying the best and most efficient infrastructures as they also utilize and manage their resources and endowments in a way that does not compromise their existence now nor jeopardize the needs of the future generation.

That is as they meet today’s existential needs, they are also aware of the danger of over exploitation of their natural habitat without re-investment in conservation or preservation of the environment.

This is the kernel of sustainable development.

Therefore, if our service delivery must assure sustainable development in the country, satisfying the needs of the citizenry and at the same time mitigating unavoidable negative externalities, patriots and professionals have to rethink their approaches to managing the nation’s resources with a view to arriving at the most effective, efficient and economical strategies of service provision.

The troubling gun violence in South Africa

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Chiedu Uche Okoye

igeria is called the giant of Africa. But is Nigeria truly the giant of Africa? Perhaps, Nigeria is the potential giant of Africa with clay feet and spindly legs. We have the potentialities to make Nigeria the greatest and biggest economy in Africa; but clueless, visionless, inept, and corrupt leadership has continued to hinder our national growth. Is Nigeria not with equable weather conditions, human and material resources, fertile land mass, and many waters? With purposeful and patriotic political leadership, Nigeria can be transformed to an earthly paradise.

Nigeria is far from being an earthly paradise. Millions of Nigerians, who are under-employed, survives on less than one dollar a day. And millions of unemployed university graduates pound our streets daily searching for the non-existent and elusive blue collar jobs. The worn-out soles of

their shoes and discolored collars of their shirts are proofs of their penury and privation. Yet, members of the ruling political elite, the church founders, and some moneybags live ostentatious and expensive lifestyles while the poor burrow in the dirt and scavenge in refuse dumps for food. The disparity between the poor and the rich is widening, daily. And, the impoverished malcontents in the country mull such alternatives as migrating to foreign countries, or taking to a life of crime.

Today, millions of Nigerians are living in Europe, America, and other African countries. They left the shores of Nigeria for economic reason. In order to amass wealth in their host countries, those Nigerians living in the Diaspora engage in such crimes as drug –smuggling and armed robbery. Now, the number of Nigerians serving time in prisons in foreign countries is increasing, exponentially. Thousands of our compatriots are on death-row in Asian countries, too.

And, the Nigerian government is seeking reprieve for them.

Today, South Africa has become the Mecca and the place of refuge for Nigerian economic migrants.

And, Nigerians of the Igbo stock are fast populating the country.

But, daily, we are regaled with tales of how some Nigerians were killed in gun fight in South-Africa, the rain-bow nation. Only a few towns in Anambra state do not have

clueless, visionless, inept, and corrupt leadership has continued to hinder our national growth

causalities of the gun-violence in South-Africa. Those killed were alleged to be involved in illicit and illegal drug trafficking.

Like America, South Africa has a gun culture that permits people to own guns. So, some people in

these countries do use their juggernauts of death to dispatch their friends and relatives to the great beyond when they’re emotionally troubled. And, armed robbers, terrorists, and kidnappers carry out their operations with guns, too.

Lucky Dube was a great musician. He specialized in the genre of music called reggae. And, he was a topnotch reggae musician, whose songs resonated with the persecuted people in the world.

Reggae as a genre of music is used to fight oppressive governments.

And reggae musicians are seen as protest musicians. Bob Marley, Sunny Okosun, and Lucky Dubeall deceased now –belong to the class of protest musicians.

Lucky Dube, the great cultural ambassador of South Africa, was shot dead in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, South Africa, as he dropped off his daughter and son.

Lucky Dube lived between August 3, 1964 and October 18, 2007. His eventful and illustrious life and career were brutally abridged by Sifiso Mhlange, Lodwe Gxowa, and Mbuti Mabe.

Diplomatic Suite 20

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Nigeria is a very extremely impressive place – Finland’s Ambassador Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury is the 17th Ambassador of Republic of Finland to serve in Nigeria. In this interview with LARA ADEJORO, the 50-year-old woman says she would like to build on the economic and trade relations between the two countries.

H

aving been here since September, what’s your impression about Nigeria?

as are environmental challenges and so forth. And if those things can be worked on, then really, the sky is the limit.

So far, I’m happy to come here for many different reasons and so far, I’ve been able to conclude that my instinct was right, when it brought me to Nigeria. It’s a very extremely impressive place. It’s an important country in many ways; there are lots of potentials for Finish business and, you know, the economic relation is actually the centre of the focus of the Finland and the Finish that are here in Nigeria. So, we are really trying on how to promote business and economic relation between Nigeria and Finland.

How would you compare it with that of Finland?

I think sometimes, things are so easy to deal with in Finland, compared to Nigeria, because it’s so small. But, we have about five per cent of the population, who speak Swedish as their mother tongue; the rest have Finnish as their first language and other Swedish speakers also speak Finnish. But, ethnically, it is quite uniform and it’s a very small country. We are about five million people. Helsinki is the capital and it has about half a million people. And it’s just so much easier to handle a small country like that and, then, of course, I’m very proud of the quality of the education system that we have. The system is available to all at all levels in Finland.

What is the bilateral trade between Nigeria and Finland?

Actually, it’s a great too little, because there are quite a few companies that are trading in Nigeria via local but we have some big companies like Wartsila, a power company, Nokia and there are many other companies in the area of health, technology, security or different fields that are active here. There are many Finish companies that sell things already in Nigeria. But there is a lot of room for more.

What’s your assessment of Nigeria economic and political position in the world?

One can make this sum up by saying that there are lots of challenges and, at the same time, so much potentials, if you locate Nigeria globally or regionally, it’s an incredibly important country in the economy, in Africa and the biggest population of 170 million and it’s very active globally in the United Nations. It’s globally very active and a very important international actor and obviously in trade issues. At the same time, there are a lot of challenges, there are security challenges,

Nigeria has just been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), what does it tell of Nigeria globally?

The Ebola situation and the way it was worked on in Nigeria was actually very impressive and I know you have heard from different places, it has been commended all around the world. I’m sure there were many things that were part of equation of how it was contained so well, but I think, for me, it demonstrated that in this country, when you really want to solve certain pressing problems of huge magnitude, you can.

In what way would you want to partner with Nigeria?

The main area that we are looking at is economic and trade relations, and that’s an area I would like in my tenure here to have more progress. I know that my predecessors have already been working on

Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury this, so it’s not something new and we’ve worked a lot on with companies but that’s something I would really like to continue and hopefully score some goals by the time I go somewhere else to actually see trade between Finland and Nigeria and to have more different kinds of Finnish companies here.

What would you say has been your most outstanding observation in terms of governance in Nigeria?

That is a very difficult question, because this place is new to me. It’s a massive country. It’s a very complicated governance system, where I still have a lot to learn. It’s a 36-state political structure and, then, you have a central government, election is coming and, of course, we are really in a very interesting period – politically. I think my first observation is that there’s a lot still for me to learn.

How do you juggle your responsibilities as an ambassador, mother of children and a wife?

At the moment, I have an arrangement with my husband. Sometimes, we are at the same place, sometimes in different places. And then our son is 22, so he’s already quite a big boy.

One thing that stands you out is

your humility, what is behind this?

That is a very interesting issue that nobody has ever spoken to me before. It’s an interesting interpretation of me, but one thing I know is that, I am very curious and interested in people genuinely and that is a part of the attraction here in Nigeria, because I’ve to get to know the people.

How do you relax after a hard day’s job?

I’m afraid I’m a little bit workamaniac, so I don’t allocate too much time to relax.

I think I should do more. But when I do, I love to read. I love to read Chimanmanda Adichie, I read three or four of her books in the spring before coming here and those works were absolutely incredible and she’s an amazing writer. At home, sometimes, I have clearly longer nights or longer time in the morning with my newspaper and if I’m really energetic, I exercise, but that’s not too much.

You are 50, but you don’t seem to look it. How do you maintain your youthful look?

Well, I think it’s laughter and taking life with a bit of sense of humour. Even though, sometimes, I’m faced with many issues, I have have to have a sense of humour in life. I think it helps.

ENCOUNTER

27

If I’m alive, 17 years after, P

Fela

then did not die of AIDS –Widow

METRO

29

P Tales of prostitution from

foreign lands

My regrets...

Uti Nwachukwu 24

P

23

P

Doris Simeon Short cuts are lovely

Fashion 22

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Do The Crops!

Aderonke Akinola

C

rop tops will always find their way back in fashion style and, for the time being, they’re here to stay.

Personally, crop tops are like false eyelashes, great in theory, but are very difficult to incorporate into your everyday life. Most people won’t feel comfortable showing off their belly button, unless they have very nice belly button to flaunt.

Crop tops, definitely, look nice for clubbing, birthday parties, shows; indeed, any event, but not for corporate world for no reputable organization, with disciplined skippers, will allow skin baring.

Mind you, there are different kinds of crop tops to wear and different ways to rock them, too. So many ways to style a crop tops that won’t be showing too much of your skin, all we need is only hint of your skin.

Cropped styles create more attention. For the look not to be that obvious you have to keep it simple, you don’t need to have solid colours. You can go crazy with patterns. Play with proportions like so many other styles. Wearing a crop top is all about balancing the colours and make sure they fit well. To balance your tinier top, wear a high-waisted skirt or high-rise trousers on the bottom.

Wearing a maxi-long skirt

and crop top combination is a fun spring look.

One is very sure striped crop tops will look good on everyone. Besides, one doesn’t mind any style rules in fashion world. Wear a striped crop top that will create a sensational look.

A crop top matches with a pencil skirt, a powerful and sophisticated way to style your outfit.

Pair with a pencil another key to pulling off the crop top is pairing it with a more conservative bottom.

Let’s put it this way: Party on business, the upper part is a party- like wear, and the bottom part is more of a corporate wear.

Matching same pattern on top and on the bottom.

A floral top with the same floral bottom would be boring if the top wasn’t cropped.

The cut-off top breaks up the pattern so you don’t look like a masquerade.

We all know fashion is a playful, mixture of different colours or similar colours.

It’s just clothing, you can be weird about it, no offence as a result. It’s all about creating your own style and fashion trends. Crop tops don’t have to be too sexy, you can wear them to keep cool in hot weather.

What one seems to like so much about crop tops is that all body types can rock them. You don’t need to be skinny or fat, pear shape, big bust, small bust, athletic, broad shoulders; everyone can rock crop tops.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Doris Simeon is one of the outstanding Nigerian actresses who broke into acting through popular TV series, Papa Ajasco.

Although she picks up roles in English movies, her base has always been in the Yoruba movies industry.

Doris was happily married to Daniel Ademinokan, a movie Director with whom she had a son. He later left her for fellow actress, Stella Damasus.

Doris Simeon is our celebrity guest on today’s Hair Ways.

Read on.

What does your natural hair look like?

My natural hair is not long. I cut it because I felt like taking on a new look.

I cut it into the Anita Baker style but later, I allowed it to grow normal.

Who did you take your hair after?

I took it after my mom.

So, how does it feel to always wear short hair?

It feels lovely. But, it’s not all the time I wear short hair. Sometimes, I fix, braid, do cornrow. I do whatever soothes me at any time.

Do you have a favourite hair-style?

I can wear any hairstyle, as long as it fits my

23 Hair Ways

I like colours in my hair

-DorisSimeon face. Although I like long hair-styles, I don’t like it touching my back. So, I think, somehow, I’ll just go with the short hairstyles.

Does your mood dictate the kind of hairstyles you make sometimes?

No it doesn’t. A woman should always look god no matter how she feels and her hair-styles should always be what her man wants.

So if you are ill and on hospital bed you’d still go make your hair?

(Laughs) Nah! That’s not what I meant. A sick person wouldn’t even think about looking good.

What I meant was that in a normal situation, a woman should always look good.

So which hair-style do you dread the most?

I hate puffy hair-styles.

I can’t be caught dead with it!

What about wearing hair-styles with crazy hair colours like red, yellow?

Yes! I can wear colours on my hair. Besides, my natural hair colour is gold.

Are your dreadlocks smelly?

H

ave you ever walked by a man wearing dreads and you felt like throwing up immediately?

Well, I have, and to be honest, it felt like my whole intestine was banging on my stomach wall! It’s one thing to want to join the clique of dread-wearing folks, and another to learn how to keep it clean, because

you don’t want to be smelling like a dead rat.

So, here are few tips to help you out: • If your dreads are new, no need to think of washing them until after a week. But, if they get scratchy along the line, get a menthol hair-spray to help cool the itchiness.

• After a week, tie them up with a rubber band. Use a residue-free, dread-locks shampoo, because normal shampoos leave behind particles, which are unpleasant.

• Soak your dreads well with water in the shower, add some shampoo and gently massage it into the dreads. Then, rinse every bit of it out.

• Lean over letting your dreads hang down in front of you and squeeze out all the water. Wrap them up in a towel for 15 minutes and let them dry naturally in the air.

• After they are dry, roll the dread-locks back and forth between your palms, use the clockwise rubbing method, until they are tight. Then, apply a small coat of dread wax, massage it into dread-locks.

You can use a hair dryer to help melt the wax in. Be careful not to overdo it as it can dry your dreads out. At this point, your dread-locks should last up to a week.

• Afterwards, you can wash them, as frequently as you want, because dreadlocks tighten better than with oil buildup.

Famous 24

Uti

My experience modeling wasn’t a very rosy one. That’s because modeling agencies don’t treat models well. In fact, they treated us like houseboys and house girls.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

As a 25-year-old, Uti Nwachukwu represented Nigeria in the Big Brother Africa Season 3. He became the third evictee of Big Brother Africa 3 house on the October 5, 2008 (Day 42).

During his stay, Uti was known for often teasing his fellow housemates (mostly Mimi and Thami).

Not allowing failure to defeat him, in 2010, Uti again contested in the Big Brother Africa 5: All-Stars, in which he lasted 91 days and ultimately won by defeating Munya in a final vote of 8 to 7.

Since his victory, Uti Nwachukwu has become a name to be reckoned with in Africa; Nigeria entertainment industry especially.

With ‘Star The Winner Is’ being one of his biggest jobs in the year, Uti speaks extensively on his experience, and more. Excerpts:

I wish I’d lied about my age

–Uti Nwachukwu Opeoluwani Akintayo What’s your experience being the anchor of the new reality tv show, ‘Star The Winner Is’?

Oh, it’s been fantastic, especially with the kind of attention I get from the whole crew.

It makes everything seem like I’m in a fairy-tale. You know, like me being lodged into a good hotel in South Africa, where the recording took place and before I finished having my bath in the morning, my food is already set, my clothes ironed and the stylist and make-up artistes were on ground to see that I looked good, I’m walking on the stage and I’m hearing engineers from the control room asking whether I was okay or not and before I knew it,

the audience were already loaded…everything made me feel like a prince, and, honestly, it’s the easiest production scene I’ve ever been on. I can do it over and over again and I won’t complain.

So how did you get the job?

I received a text message from a production company known as AMPN. The message was written casually and I didn’t take it serious. I thought it was a runof-the-mill message I used to receive when I would get there and discover they weren’t serious.

So, they gave me the same date as Tiwa Savage’s wedding for the auditioning and she’s a neighbor and a very close friend, who has been supportive of everything I do. So, I replied the message that I was going for a wedding but I

would see what I would do about it.

I later got a call from Africa Magic that a company had called them that they had invited me for an audition, but I told them I was making for a wedding. I said it’s true. So, they told me that I should make sure I go for the audition. That’s how I burst Tiwa’s wedding and went for the audition. When I got there, I saw some other big faces in the industry and I was scared I wouldn’t get the job. Others took their turns and when it was my turn, I went and was original with my presentation…I was playful with it and that’s how I got it. It was a nice offer with a seven zero figure amount.

Were the jury Nigerians?

Yes, they were all Nigerians.

What about the audience?

About 80 percent were Nigerians and the rest, South Africans.

And they were all flown from Nigeria to South Africa?

Yes. That’s one of the problems we are facing in this country.

Why take our money to develop South Africa?

First of all, let me come from the human angle. If you have an opportunity to further your career and you have two options: to study in Nigeria or abroad, where will you study? Of course, I presume, you will prefer to study abroad!

Nigerian productions and

their production in terms of human resources, electricity, studio quality, equipment quality and picture quality are obviously different. South Africans’ lighting, studio arrangement etc. are perfect. Most Nigerians need to learn to be hard-working, because most of them want to get paid without doing anything!

Everybody wants to be an oga (boss); nobody wants to serve.

Why? Don’t you see me in a lot of movies? That’s because I’m very comfortable working with people like Desmond Elliot, Teco Benso, because they give you the best. When you work with a lot of producers, they waste your time and energy. You can sit for a long time and by the time they are ready to shoot, casts are already tired from sitting and wait-

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

ing for too long hours, and when you now react, they say you have bad attitude. No, that’s because they aren’t being professional. I never had any issue with the South Africa set, because everything worked perfectly. So, if Nigerians want people to invest in their production, they have to first invest in themselves, be better and more disciplined.

Again, it was a partnership and the production they needed was in South Africa, because they wanted the show to have same quality as the U.S version.

So, we couldn’t jeopardize that for anything.

You were a model before going into acting and presentation. What was your experience like there?

My experience in modelling wasn’t a very rosy one. That’s because modelling agencies don’t treat models well. In fact, they treated us like house-boys and house-girls. Companies pay modelling agencies good money for models, but at the end of the day, we get peanuts.

A telecommunications company could budget as high as one million or even two million naira for each model but, at the end of the day, modelling agencies would pay us like 200,000, sometimes 50,000.

I’ve once done a show for TVC and were paid 30,000.

So, it was that ridiculous!

How old are you now?

I clocked 32 on August 10.

You mean that’s your official age?

No! That’s my real age.

You can’t be serious, because we know most entertainers lie about their ages I wish I had lied about my age. When I was in Big Brother, I would have told people that I was 20 so that by now, I will still be between 24 and 25. So, my real age today is taken from August 10, 1982.

Uti

When I was younger, I didn’t like my lips at all because they made me feel awkward. I used to tell my sisters that when I make money I’d reduce my lips.

Many people say if not for Big Brother you wouldn’t have been known?

Well, if you say so. But, it’s a good platform for me and I’m glad I made good use of it. But I’m not ashamed of accept-

25 Famous

ing that Big Brother was the one that drew people’s attention to me, but at the end of the day, I still hustled my way to make it and still be relevant after I won the show. It’s just like telling Davido that if not for his father’s money, he wouldn’t have been popular and rich. So what? Yes, his father is rich but he didn’t lie back as a result.

He’s hustling and making his own money, and he’s well packaged. What would he have done when he found out that his father is a rich man? Would he have thrown away the money?

No! That money was a platform he used to get to where he is today and he’s still not lazy!

So, everybody needs a platform, because it’s difficult to be a celebrity in Nigeria. People come to me and ask how they can be popular. They tell me that they can act well, they have good looks, but I tell them that being able to act and having a fine face wouldn’t make them popular…everybody needs a platform.

So, were my father as rich as Davido’s father, then I would have used his wealth to get what I wanted, as long as I have the talent.

If you say because Davido’s father is rich, what about Naeto C- after all his parents are rich, too?

Naeto C had his time when his music became very popular. God uses different things to project people: it might be wealth, fame, anything…as long as you realize it and capitalize on it alongside your talent.

I tell people that if they don’t have something to sell, they have no business being in the entertainment industry.

So, if you’re not into entertainment, what else would you have done?

I really don’t know, because from where I was in the JSS, I’ve always loved entertainment. I studied Computer Science and Education in UNN at diploma level, and same course in my degree, and graduated with a 3.9 GPA so, maybe telecommunications but, I noticed that even when I was much more younger, I used to have this attention deficiency disorder, because I day-dream a lot, even when a lecturer was in front of me teaching.

I day-dream about seeing myself acting different movie roles…I used to zone-out from when I was 11 years old and I’m not kidding here. And that’s why God has been blessing me in this industry, because this is who he made me to be.

What’s happening between you and Seone.

Everybody thinks you’re dating?

Everybody is asking this and we’ve said all that needs to be said about it.

At the end of the day, whatever you guys say is what it is. So, no comment. Anything you see, take it!

After Big Brother, people started saying you did lips enlargement Did you know that when I was younger, I didn’t like my lips at all, because they made me feel awkward? I used to tell my sisters that when I make money and reduce my lips. People used to call me Chinese eyes when I was young, and I was skinny with full lips.

So, my lips were so obvious and it made me feel like an alien so, I hated my lips and my big ears. My sisters used to call me ‘creepeller’. But, when I turned 19, my big lips and eyes that I wanted to reduce became the toast of girls. So, the things I didn’t like about me became most celebrated.

Encounter 26

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

If Fela died of AIDS, why are we his widows alive and well, 17 years on?

Kevwe, dancer, mama Kalakuta who still lives in New Africa Shrine PAGE 27

My precious time with the Queen of Queens Encounter with 84-yrold Victoria Modupe Oke, the 1957 Miss Western Region who crowned Julie Coker, first Miss Nigeria

I

Enuma Chigbo

84

Eighty-four-year-old madam Oke still radiates beauty.

t’s been a while since I wrote in this special column; a column where veteran Queens are celebrated. But you know what?

It’s okay because over the years I have learned that there’s such a thing as perfect timing. Again I extend this even further because the story you are about to read opened my eyes to not only to perfect timing but also to the perfect location. And purely by divine intervention, my feet are ordered to the ancient city of Ibadan where I met her….the Queen of Queens…

Victoria Modupe Oke, is a very special woman indeed, a rare breed whose combination of beauty, brains and love shines through and all around her. I got to learn about her when I visited Ibadan and even that was another story, which may or may not be told another day.

It was a fine sunny yet cold Sunday afternoon and tired as I was I knew I had to meet this woman. “She’s a wonderful woman,” I was told and the person who said this did not lie. So, minutes later, we arrive at the front gate of her very well kept house. It looks a bit quiet and “Is mama in?” We ask and we are told that she is. That is our cue to alight from our vehicle.

I hear mama’s voice greeting us even before we make our way to her living room. It is a

sound, strong and cheery voice – a voice that encompasses strength and love.

Of course we all descend much lower than we were when we walked in as the Yoruba tradition dictates and we are there for a comfortable length of time. “What’s your name my love?” Mama asks me, being the stranger in the pack or was I really?

“I saw you at the event,” she continues, “You sat in front of me for two days.” Okay, I guess I’m not that much of a stranger after all! However, I couldn’t help but be enthralled at her impeccable memory which seemed to be at par with her surroundings…and let’s not forget her diction...

In my mind, that was the ice breaker as I was not sure how to go about asking mama for her interview. I did, she said yes and the story continues. Mama was the very first Miss Western Region in Nigeria in 1957. At that time there was a national pageant, which was won by Miss Tinuke Oyelude.

When asked why she decided to enter, she brilliantly narrates how she came back to Nigeria from the UK in August 1956, as she does this I marvel at her well manicu red long fingernails and how the colour of her nail polish matches her leaf green long sleeve jersey top, which in turn complements her navy blue trousers. “I was on scholarship as a radiographer in the UK and wanted to further my education, so I came back to Nigeria and asked my father if he would finance it.” “He didn’t have the means to do this at the time but somehow, the opportunity reared its head through an advert we saw in the newspaCONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

27 Encounter

Day with Oke, 1957 Miss Western Region CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

pers. It was the National Beauty “For example, if Pageant and the star prize was a trip to Britain.” “Go for it, my fayou went to buy ther said to me.” foodstuff in the The Lagos Lawn Tennis Club was the venue for this epoch-makmarket, everything ing event. Her father escorted her to the dance. Though she was not was measured announced as the winner, there was a mini riot after the winner and vendors paid was announced as mama was clearly the popular choice. Even dearly for cheating the judges came to some form or short changing of stalemate after the second entry and it was decided there that their customers.” they would give three titles – Miss Nigeria, Miss Eastern and Miss Western Region.

This was when mama was crowned the very first Miss Western Region of our dearly beloved country Nigeria. The following year, 1958 they decided to give three regional titles – Miss North, East and West. Mama was one of the judges. It was then she crowned the legendary Miss Julie Coker, whom she describes in her own words as the “very first authentic beauty Queen.”

Can pageants be instrumental in promoting national development? “Ideally they should in certain aspects.” She says, as she recalls how the Batiq material of Nigeria and Ghana was brilliantly showcased through the platform of an international pageant. She believes that the textile industry can be boosted through pageants. Also if contestants are intelligent and articulate, they should be worthwhile national ambassadors of their various countries; that according to her could translate to national development. However, she’s doubtful if the pageants of today will be able to realise this as a result of the high levels of immorality associated with many.

Photos of her children and grandchildren hang proudly on her wall and it is with a great glow that she talks about them. One of her children Bryon she fondly Mama as a young lady calls, “Mr everything.”

“He works with the British Government – DFID as their regional coordinator, even as she proudly hands us his music CD, Made in Nigeria, but that’s not all she talks about.

In our fairly short but fruitful meeting, I would learn that mama had studied and worked with the North Hampton General Hospital and Middlesex Hospital in Tottenham Court Road UK, extended her studies as far as West Berlin and MC Master Medical Centre in Canada. At the secondary level, she attended the CMS Girl’s Grammar School in Lagos.

For this formidable yet gentle woman who has survived the different phases of Nigeria, the question is, how does Nigeria of today compare with Nigeria of yesterday? “The country is somehow better than it used to be in certain areas,” she says.

“There is a huge improvement in IT and the younger generation is more abreast with international affairs.”

However, she laments the breakdown in order, structure and morals. “I recall taking exams in December 1949 and it was announced that our results would be out on April 3rd or 4th 1950. On those days the results were published in the newspapers. I didn’t have access to newspapers where I was, but my friend who did sent me a telegram saying I made the list. You don’t get that these days.”

Unlike these present times, a good name was revered back then, even more than money or status, she says as she vividly recounts the consequences of the things that could scar your family name. “For example,

Data page of young Victoria’s British passport in the 1950’s

Young Victoria’s British passport

if you went to buy foodstuff in the market, everything was measured and vendors paid dearly for cheating or short changing their customers.” “Sometime in 1945, I recall a prominent business man who cheated his client by short changing him with a roddo of pepper. He was jailed for it, and his family was blacklisted simply because he had a prison record.”

Today, she’s still hailed as the first Miss Nigeria even when she visits the food markets. According to Mama, she reconnected with her ‘rival’ Tinuke Oyelude 10 years ago and the common phrase exchanged was.

“You look familiar.”

However, that aside, she spends most of her time giving thanks

to the Almighty God for keeping her alive to do more good, in church and by looking after the handicapped.

Perhaps this is the real queen who at 84 years still radiates beauty. As she speaks I keenly observe her hairline and see it’s all intact. “I used to have very long hair then,” she says.

Indeed she could have fooled me as many of my female folk half her age and less have resorted to covering up great patches of baldness with hair extensions!

Finally it’s time to say goodbye and gracious mama walks us all downstairs to our vehicle.

Indeed it was a wonderful time, as priceless as the Queen of Queens…

Fela did not die of AIDS, widow insists Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr Seventeen years after the passage in 1997 of legendary afro beat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, disquiet is still making the rounds, contending health ministry’s claim at the time that the iconoclast died of the dreaded HIV AIDS. Determined to set the records straight, friends and colleagues of the Kalakuta dynasty at home and in the Diaspora have

voiced out their suspicions; a section believe that Fela was used as a scapegoat by the government for a medical public awareness campaign on the H.I.V. AIDS pandemic; and fuelled by some widows of the late Abami Eda who have dusted their records, emerging facts are beginning to dispel the notion that Fela died of H.I.V. AIDS. A DTN investigation found

that while some close friends of Fela prefer an open mind on the subject, the larger consensus, including a good number of his widows, is that Fela was most likely a victim of government espionage that used the medical authorities to ridicule the man who had been a thorn in their flesh, the Fela authorities loved to hate and hated to love, even at death.

Their suspicion is born out of the circumstances surrounding Fela’s illness and his eventual death. Those close to the radical icon recalled noticeable traces of his illness, among which was forgetfulness and loss We of his profound boisterous ideological, iconoclastic reasoning and talking ability, which are no symptoms of HIV aids.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Metro 28

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Fela, the Ebami Eda ‘If I’m alive 17-years after, then Fela did not die of AIDS’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

Kevwe’s Interview One of Fela’s widows, the last woman standing of that generation who still wholly resides at the New Africa Shrine, Madam Oghenekevwe Anikulapo-Kuti, nee Igbibedion-Oghomeno, popularly known in Kalakuta as Kevwe, is one of the wives who was detained with Fela by the military regime of Obasanjo at the Doddan Barracks, Obalende in the active years of ‘Movement of the People’ of which Fela was the president.

Reacting to the controversy and the account of her times with her late husband gave leverage to the suspicion that Fela was indeed a victim of a deadly, systematic plot. Kevwe first dismissed the late Prof Olukoye Ransome Kuti’s announcement a day after Fela’s passage.

“If na aids kill Fela, all of us for don die. When I dropped from the group in England, with Fela’s permission, the British people gave me a thorough medical checkup. They tested my blood,

my urine, spit and everything for whatever they were hoping to find, but they found nothing like AIDS; only an infection, not a serious one, which they treated with antibiotics, big white tablets which they gave me for one week and they cleared me of any disease. In those days, we, his wives, were young and sexually active and Fela gave it to all of us, some of us more than the others, but Fela was very strong and he was very fair to all of us.”

Now 53 and still bubbling with the Kalakuta spirit, Kevwe spread out her hands in a modeling gesture, “But see me now; I am not sick, I don’t, we take medicine, and at 53 years, I am strong and healthy. So if it was AIDS; that killed Fela, we all would have been showing signs of the disease, and in fact, after 17 years, we all for don die kpatakpata.”

In a sober reflection, Kevwe went down memory lane. “Let me tell you; Fela didn’t die of HIV AIDS o, don’t let them deceive you: it was government that killed Fela; soldiers gave him injection by force when they detained us at Doddan Bar-

racks, but I don’t know the kind of injection they gave him. They locked us up; I was put in a cell with Fela; many soldiers pushed him face down, pulled his pant down and rushed one big injection into his nyash (bottom). Fela started to shake, but they still held him down, then he started to vomit, before he fainted.

“I was shouting, ‘them don kill Fela o; somebody help me o’, but they said ‘Madam shut up.

Do you want injection too?’ and I shouted more, ‘I don’t want injection o, you people should leave us alone o.”

According to Kevwe, Fela remained in that state for three days, but the soldiers were coming to check him every morning.

“In the morning of the third day, they saw that Fela was awake; then they pushed him and me out; they spat at Fela and called him names, ‘useless man, igbo (Indian Hemp) smoker’.

“They were mocking and cursing him. When they pushed us outside the cell they said, ‘We will kill you, but not here; you will go and die in your house.”

Kevwe was not too sure why they locked them up; she could

only recall Fela had a disagreement over some impropriety with top officers in the barracks.

She said: “Fela used to hold some meetings with officers at the barracks; he was dining and drinking with them; Obasanjo and IBB used to be at the meetings; then on that day, Fela disagreed with them; he was angry with the way they were carrying Nigeria’s money out of the country, something like the excess of budget money they didn’t spend, or something like that, and it was the time we were doing Movement of the People and Fela was the president. They warned me not to talk, otherwise they would kill me; and that’s why I don’t grant interviews. I don’t want trouble from government.”

Another widow, Laide, who lives at Shagamu, Ogun State visited Lagos in the course of this investigation and promised to talk to our correspondent, but changed her mind for personal reasons. Madam Nashite who runs a restaurant not far from Kalakuta Museum was unavailable for a good reason: her daughter just put to bed and she had gone to nurse her grandchild. However our investigation revealed that the living widows according to Kalakuta records are hale and hearty and none of them is living with a medical condition nor taking retroviral drugs.

A virologist and medical consultant at Biotech Diagnostics Centre, Ajao Estate, Dr. Lipede Bhadmus threw some light on the dynamics of the aids virus, especially in the early days before it became a major concern in Nigeria and concluded it was not unlikely that the late musician died of the aids virus if his widows are not living with the virus since 17 years.‘ According to Bhadmus, the virus lives in and transmits through the blood. “If I tell you the virus is a spiritual pillar I may be taking it beyond medical region. Let us just say that so long as there is a sexual union of We the nature called fleshto-flesh contact, then there is blood-to-blood contact; when the woman secrets her fluid at the point of copulating, the man’s own hormones or semen at ejaculation becomes one; when that happens, medically speaking, the virus is at home in both partners.”

But Bhadmus conceded this is not without variation. “That is not saying there are no exceptions because we have seen in this profession that the process of viral transmission is not stereotype.

There are such cases we cannot just explain why, and Fela’s case may just be one of those if truly none of his widows is living with or has died of aids causing virus.”

Bhadmus concluded that whether the virus can manifest

“But see me now; I am not sick, I don’t take medicine, and, at 53 years, I am strong and healthy. So if it was AIDS that killed Fela, we all would have been showing signs of the disease, and, in fact, after 17 years, we all for don die kpatakpata.” in 17 years, or not manifest at all, may be decided by the composition of the individual’s resistance on the one part, and especially, it could just be the merciful ‘hand of God’” An insider and a Kalakuta stakeholder who asked to remain anonymous revisited the day Fela died and the shock that followed his elder brother’s announcement.

“I learnt a lot about HIV from Prof. Olukoye Ransome-Kuti. After Fela died; he made some statements which drew my interest to follow the HIV story closely. I even kept Times and Newsweek publications that featured celebrity victims of HIV AIDS of that era, like Fred Makuri, Elizabeth Taylor’s bodyguard and lover, others like Magic Johnson when he caught the virus, etc. Times and Newsweek magazines did a feature on all the superstars. At that time, medical science was still trying to find a vaccine to control it. There were analyses on the process of transmitting the virus.

“So after the health minister announced that Fela died of AIDS, the press went to him and he made further statements and from those statements I was able to relate it to the research I made already from the international media. From the statements I knew the possibility of people who survive the HIV; the virus does not necessarily transfer 100 percent to a partner; there are factors that have to be present for it to transfer.

“Now, Fela had many girls, and at the point he was sick, the number had reduced considerably; also, some were not in sexual activity with him constantly, and those still active were not as regular as in the 70s; so for that, there exists a chance that they might not have been infected with the virus if indeed Fela was HIV positive.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Tales of prostitution from foreign lands Every year tens of thousands of West Africans migrate to Europe in search of a better life. But for some of them, this leads to tragedy as they fall victim to competing mafia gangs that prey on the hopes of the desperate. However, others like Linda Uwaezuoke may not go out of desperation but are just victims of circumstance. She tells her story to FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON.

Y

oung and pretty with a good job going for her as a manager of a thriving travel agency located in the heart of Lagos, Linda Uwaezuoke was doing fine in her chosen career and living comfortably. With the help of the

job, she sponsored her younger ones through university and was able to cater for their needs being the eldest of them. Life was good, until an old friend of hers, who was also from the same village with her, but lived abroad, came back one day and asked her out.

“A few months later, Chibuzor came to ask my hand in marriage with the promise of taking me with him to Italy, where he lives” recalled Linda. “It sounded good and I felt it would be an opportunity to get to a greener pasture and struggle all the way with my

I am no longer interested in my wife, man tells court

A

44-year-old man, Alhaji Saka Audu of Edun Community in Ilorin, Kwara state, on Monday, told an Ilorin Area Court that he was no longer interested in wife of six years – Bashi-

rat Audu. Audu, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve his marriage to her.

“I am just fed up with the marriage and I prefer to be alone and live my life with peace and rest of mind,” he said.

The plaintiff said that

he no longer has the zeal to carry on with the marriage, saying he preferred staying alone, without any woman in his life.

He told the court that the marriage was contracted in 2008 and had produced three children.

husband, who was already living in the land legally.

Little did I know that it would be the beginning of horror for me”, she said.

She said that if she had known that things would eventually turn out the way they did, she would have declined the proposal in the first place.

“After our traditional and court marriage, we left the country for Italy in June 2008 – with the intention of starting a new life with better opportunities; I did know that I was heading for doom. The first three months was honeymoon for me, as I was home, enjoying and savouring the moments of each day as it came.

The money was still there for the spending. The third month, I started getting bored and redundant even psychologically, and it was becoming a living hell for me by the day. I remember asking my husband when we met before he proposed about what he did for a living and he told me that he was in the employ of a company in Italy and that they dealt in computers and machines.

He even showed me his identity card. “However, when we got there, the story changed as I later discovered that he had stopped working for long in the said company and that, like most of the Nigerian men there, he was into gigolo and drug business” Linda further disclosed that she expected that her husband would resume work after some time but this was not the case.

“I kept asking him why he had not resumed and all he kept telling me was that he was on leave and I kept thinking what kind of job would give an employee such a long leave. When it seemed my trouble was too much he started quarrelling with me.

Our relationship started becoming strained. He did not like the fact that I was always asking questions about his job and what he was doing to get money and there is no way you can be spending money on me without my knowing the source of your money. I became suspicious of him.

“After sometime, I eventually discovered that my own husband was into the business of drug and gigolo; he slept with rich older women for money!

I was mad when I found out and became scared. I was in a country far away

29 Metro

from home, married to a man who was into an illegal business and, worse still, I had nobody else but him. I had no papers yet to allow me work. Survival without him was like a living hell and, back there, at home, they felt all was well and working as expected.

It was a harrowing experience for me” recalled Linda.

Asked if she did not have any idea of the way prostitution was thriving in Italy among Nigerian girls, Linda explained that it was true that she had heard quite a lot of such stories, but when she met her husband, he explained to her that the fact that some Nigerians go to Italy with such intentions does not mean that there are no good people, who are Nigerians and live in Italy doing legal jobs.

“I have heard people say that there are a lot of Nigerian girls, who go to Italy to prostitute but I didn’t even know that men, too, also go there for such purposes.

Besides, my thinking was that for him to have come home, proposed to me and married me and taken me there with him, he must have good intentions and be doing something legal.

I never knew things would end up like this”, she said painfully.

According to Linda, the situation got so bad that the relationship became much-tensed with her man and they started having constant quarrels.

But, luckily, for her, she attended church regularly and was able to make a few friends, who were genuine Christians. After a big quarrel broke up between her and her husband and she had to leave his house, it was at the church she took solace and refuge.

After her experience with her husband of almost two years, she found another man and after sometime, they got married but the story was about the same.

“After I left my husband, I stayed in the church premises, where I got very involved with matter having to do with God. Even before that time, I joined the choir and started developing myself musically.

I also belonged to a few organisations within the church and we even did an album at a point. I got married again, but it just seemed I was not lucky with men. In the middle of all the pains, I managed

to get a resident permit that allows me to work but things were really tough, because the racial discrimination was really much and surviving without a legal business was extremely harsh and I am not just made for and can never condescend so low to sleeping around for money.

“Apart from principles, there had been lots of Nigerian girls that had been wasted in Italy, because of the sex trade they do. Some die of diseases like HIV/ AIDS, some die of other sexually transmitted diseases, while some are victims of irate Italians, who use and dump them. Some even have sex with animals and contact disease that are incurable. Some are abused anally and can even be gang raped.

A lot of terrible things happen around. Even the girls that are into the business are not there ordinarily. A majority of them do all kinds of diabolical things that you cannot even imagine. Back in their home towns in Nigeria, they have mothers and people, who do all kinds of voodoo for them, so that they would make big money off men. They use their brassieres, makeup and all kind of things used by ladies to do voodoo for them, so that there would be influx of men coming with big money for them.

That is why you will see some girls, who will tell you that their mothers sent them some under wears and makeup – all the way from Nigeria to Italy, as if those things are not available to buy in Italy. It was such a terrible life out there. After about four years spent in that country, I had to make up my mind to return home, come what may. For me, it was like a sheer waste of time and resources. If I had stayed back in my home country, I would have been better off ”, lamented Linda.

However, unlike Linda, some got into the situation, because of their desperation to move to greener pastures and by the time they get there, they are trapped to do the bidding of whosoever took them there. According to the United Nations Inter-regional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Italy is now the main destination for more than 10,000 Nigerian prostitutes trafficked from Benin City to European cities and criminal hub.

Court 30

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

She connived He is frivolous and with her lovers temperamental to beat me up – – wife husband Stories By Funmi Salome-Johnson

A

n Ikeja Customary Court was turned into a battle-ground, when a 45-year-old Akinsanmi Odusile engaged his wife, Beatrice Odusile, in a fight right in the courtroom.

The incident, which generated a lot of attention, was alleged to have begun, when a friend of the divorce-seeking couple pleaded with the husband, to settle out of court, but to no avail.

Akinsanmi disclosed before the court that his wife slept with different men, when she travelled to the United States of America in September 2013.

He further stated that on August 15, 2013, his wife slapped him, when he accused her of stealing his property and solicited the support of her lovers to beat him for bringing up

such an allegation against her.

“This woman is an adulterer and it is obvious that she will never change. She even absconded from her matrimonial home. Before I am forced into doing something I will forever regret, I want the court to dissolve our union and I will want custody of my three children,” he said.

Beatrice, however, said that she did not steal any of his property and that she did not, at any point in time, set him up to be beaten up by anyone. She also debunked the allegations of sleeping around with men stating that her husband is the one who is frivolous and temperamental, adding that she did not abscond from her matrimonial home, but had to run for her dear life, when her husband almost beat her to death.

“In the first place, I did not abscond from my matrimonial home, as he said. I had to run for my dear life, when

he wanted to kill me with an iron belt. We have not lived apart for two years like he claimed. My husband is the one who is frivolous and, worse still, very temperamental just like he has demonstrated in the courtroom, a while ago. He beats me at will at every little provocation and accuses me of sleeping around with men. He even said I should stop working and I cannot become psychologically disengaged doing nothing. He is not willing to set up any business for me and he doesn’t want me to work. I am equally tired of the marriage and will want the union dissolved.

But I will plead with the court to grant me custody of our three children,” she said.

After listening to both parties, the court President Mr. Sam Aluko, said the couple should maintain the peace, while adjourning the case to January 19 for judgement.

Court dissolves 4-year marriage over husband’s laziness

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n Ilorin Area Court on Friday dissolved a four-year old marriage between Ahmed Taofik and FatimaTaofik over his lazy attitude.

Fatima 31, a resident of Amilegbe area, Ilorin, prayed the court to dissolve her marriage to her husband, for being lazy.

“My husband will leave

our environment and go out and come back home drunk on a daily basis.

She told the court that her husband would go out and hang around drinking bars without even bothering about what his family will feed on. Since he lost his job two years ago, he has refused to look for another job.

All he does is going

from one drinking bar to another. She said the marriage was contracted in 2010 and had produced a child.

“My lord, I want an end to this marriage, because I cannot contain his lazy habits anymore,” the complainant said.

The defendant did not object to the prayer, saying he was tired of her incessant complaints.

Woman uses child for street begging

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Mapo Customary Court, in Ibadan, on Wednesday, dissolved the four-year- marriage between Lukman Adebisi and Aminat, for using three-year old child

for street begging.

The President of the court, Mr. Ezekiel Ogundipe, held that it was ridiculous for anyone to capitalise on the state of the economy to use innocent children for street

begging.

“I see that Aminat is not responsible and her action constitutes child abuse. I hereby put an end to the union between both of you,” Ogundipe held.

70-year-old man seeks dissolution of 40 years marriage

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70-year-old man, Gabriel Oni, on Thursday, urged an Ikole Customary Court, in Ekiti state, to dissolve his marriage of 40 years to his wife, Funmilayo, for alleged threat to his life.

Gabriel told the court that he married the respondent in 1974 when they both met in Germany, adding that the marriage produced three chil-

dren.

He said Funmilayo’s waywardness made him to send her back to Nigeria shortly after their marriage, but that they started living together as husband and wife when he returned to Nigeria.

“We started living together after the rift was settled by family members when I returned to Nigeria, but there was no remorse from her, as

she has no regard for me, as her husband. She does not care for me or the children; always fighting me and threatening to kill me,’’ he alleged.

The respondent, however, denied the allegations, and told the court that the two houses owned by the petitioner were jointly built by them.

The President of the court, Mrs. Yemisi Ojo, adjourned the case till February 3.

Husband seeks divorce over wife’s alleged attendance of different churches

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63-year-old man, Joseph Okeleke, on Monday, urged an Ikorodu Customary Court, in Lagos, to dissolve his 24 years’ marriage to his wife, Uju, over her alleged change of church.

Okeleke, who lives at 25, Oduyebo Street, Odogunyan Area, said that his wife refused to attend same church with him.

“She is troublesome and adulterous. Uju joined the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement, while I was going to Celestial Church of Christ.

How on earth can my wife attend another church under my roof ? She has also turned my children against me. She has also said she would divorce me, because her church doctrine does not allow her to be a second wife.

In fact, she has turned our five children against me and she lacks control.

Please separate us I am no more interested,’’ he said.

Uju, 48, a trader, told the court to hearken to entreaty of her husband, because she was also fed up with the marriage. ``I want to divorce my

husband, so that I can make heaven. My husband’s first wife is the original owner of our husband and my new church made me believe that being a second wife to another person’s husband is a sin. I have never been adulterous in my life. He is just saying that to back up his claims. I am also no longer interested in the marriage, please separate us,’’ Uju said.

The President of the court, Mr. T.K. Dabor, ordered the couple to come with the children on June 8, when their case would be heard again.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Is Rihanna pregnant?

Bill Cosby’s rape accusers meet face to face Stories by Judith Frank-Edet

A

merican Veteran comedian, Bill Cosby has a total of five sexual assault accusers to contend with. They are: Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis, P.J. Masten, Victoria Valentino and Kristina Ruehli. And they all came out on CNN’s programme The Cosby Show: A Legend Under Fire for a group interview, where they shared their horrifying accounts of how he sexually assaulted them.

During the interview, one of them, named Masten, was asked how she hoped Cosby should be punished if found guilty, she saidl: “I want him to suffer; suffer like we have all suffered.”

She also added that she wanted his Emmy awards to be taken away.

Another victim, Valentino, said he should be stripped of his honorary doctorate from Temple University.

Brabra Bowman said that people close to Cosby created some form of protection for the comedian.

She said that since coming open about her rape experience, she has received many emails from those in Cosby’s inner circle, who corroborated the accusers’ stories of alleged abuse.

“He manipulated those people in the same way he manipulated us into silence,” she said.

Bowman also believes that there are more victims, who are yet to come forward, and Masten con-

31 Extra

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ccording to popular entertainment tabloid, MTO, Rihanna is going to be a mother for the first time.

They claim that Rihanna is working on a new song on her album, in which she will talk about being pregnant. The song is a ballad, in which Rihanna sings about the “baby growing inside her.”

Besides, they have also claimed that Rihanna has prohibited weedsmoking inside the studio, while she records, which is really unusual, because she is doesn’t hide her love for smoking weeds.

Meanwhile, there are no scoops on who the father is, but the grapevine has it that it could be Rapper Drake, who was just accused of having an affair with Chris Brown’s girlfriend – Karrueche Tran and making nasty passes at P. Daddy’s girlfriend, Cassie.

Rihanna is said to be very happy about the news and it’s something she has just found out, some days ago. For now, there are no comments from Rihanna’s team. Let’s just wish her well.

firmed she had spoken to other former Playboy bunnies, who have told her they were allegedly abused

by Cosby.

The hosts of the show, Lemon and Camerota asked the women to raise their hands if Cosby had ever drugged them, and all five women raised their hands. Three raised their hands to indicate they were led to believe before meeting Cosby that he would help their careers, while none of the women raised their hands when asked if they would receive money from him.

The women agreed they were all grateful for the other accusers, who had come forward, and they hoped to make it easier for alleged victims to tell their stories in the future.

Floyd Mayweather witnessed death of VH1 star & rapper husband

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shocking new report claims that international boxer, Floyd Mayweather, witnessed the horrifying murder-suicide of Stephanie Moseley and Earl Hayes while on face time with his longtime friend and producer, Earl.

Floyd Mayweather came forward as a witness in the tragic deaths of Earl Hayes and Stephanie Moseley, who died on December 8 from being shot to death in a murder-suicide. A news

report claims that during the time of the tragic event, Earl was on face to face contact with Floyd.

According to Holly-

wood life, Earl made a FaceTime call to Floyd on the morning of December 8, before killing his wife and then himself. Accord-

The Kardashian-Jenner Clan Tops Tumblr’s List of Reality Stars and Models

K

im Kardashian and her Sisters have totally takes over not just the TV, but also the internet. Now they have dominated Tumblr’s List of Most Reblogged Reality TV Stars and Models for 2014!

Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Ky-

lie, Kris and even Scot and Bruce all made Tumblr‘s list of most reblogged reality TV celebs, while Kendall, who has really had a short but rewarding modelling career made No. 1 model on Tumblr’s Most Reblogged Models of 2014”

ing to TMZ, The rapper was allegedly enraged over claims that his wife had been unfaithful to him.

In the face time call, Earl was ranting to Floyd how he was going to kill his wife, because she was cheating on him, while Floyd tried to calm his friend down. Unfortunately, there was little he could do.

Floyd did not disclose how much he saw, but said he heard the numerous gunshots that went off first on Stephanie and then on Earl.

Drake Reportedly Hospitalized After Fight with P.Diddy

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apper P.Diddy reportedly punched Drake, after Drake allegedly made a “nasty” comment to singer Cassie.

According to New York Daily News, Diddy was supposedly sticking up for his 28-year-old girl-friend around 4 a.m. at the LIV nightclub. Drake ended

up in the hospital with a dislocated shoulder. According to their source: “Drake definitely got the (expletive) kicked out of him, I heard they were taking him to the hospital.”

The rappers were there to celebrate DJ Khaled’s birthday.

While most people hinted Diddy’s girl-friend, Cassie, had something to do with the fight, others believed Diddy started his attack on Drake due to rights over a song. Either way, they say Drake didn’t stay for long after the fight, while Diddy seemed unfazed and continued to party into the night.

Society 32

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Rasaq Okoya shows

Weed takes over Gateway Hotel, Sango Otta Stories by Isaac Oguntoye

T Lagos Tax Chief, Tunde Fowler transforms LIRS

F

owler is working, Lagos is moving” is the new slogan on the lips of many Lagosians as the former banker turned government worker is leaving no stone unturned in transforming the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.

According to information, Fowler’s tax reforms has made Lagos state the only state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is financially independent. While other top politicians are busy moving from one social gathering to the other, the ever-busy Executive Chairman, Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue who also doubles as the CEO of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service we learnt, is busy calculating how to ensure Lagosians understand the need to pay their taxes.

It will interest you to know that despite his achievement, William Babatunde Fowler has never for once bragged about his achievement in office instead, he gives credit to Governor Fashola who has used the revenue to the satisfaction and joy of the people of Lagos State.

he once clean and serene atmosphere which enveloped Gateway Hotel, Sango Otta has vanished, as Information reaching us has it that the Ogun State government owned hospitality facility, is presently below expectation.

As you read this, the infrastructure which ought to have been maintenance by the state’s government, has been abandoned.

If you are conversant with the happenstance around the State governments owned popular ho-

affection to Sade In Public

S tel, you will agreed that it is now a shadow of itself, a forgotten stone. Residents have ceased to use its vicinity for events, and patronages have also ceased on all sides.

As you read this, the swimming pool, event halls, seminar, conference and relaxation center within the hotel are already covered by overgrown weeds, defacing the face of the once glowing facility.

Meanwhile, stakeholders are imploring the state governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, to wade into the situation and bring back its old glory.

aying that Sade Okoya is the undisputed numero uno of Alhaji Rasaq Okoya’s heart is like stating the very obvious fact. But the news here is that the prominent society lady and her jewel, Alhaji Rasaq Okoya, couldn’t keep their hands off each other even in public view and glare, making it clear that the duo are not ready to compromised their love for anything despite Alhaji Okoya’s old age.

Looking through this shot, this isn’t the regular of what you have seen of the notable socialite especially in public. Ever since Shade replaced the first and second wives, Alhaja Kuburat and Wosilat she has been his most favourite as they both attend every hot gig in town together. Recently the romeo and juliet were spot-

I What You Can’t Take Away From Hon.

Abike Dabiri

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on. Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri Erewa has continued to distinguish herself as a virtuous, respected, trustworthy woman with strong values, ability to achieve results and a woman worthy of emulation.

The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora is fast becoming a more respected socialite as we’ve discovered she now takes time to honour virtually every invitation despite her busy schedule. Her weekends are now fully booked as she’s always spotted at one

event or the other. But one thing you can’t take away from the three-time member of the lower legislative chambers, is her husband’s presence at every gig she attends.

Another thing is that, they most times adorn themselves in the same attire and make sure they sit side-by-side, chatting and laughing, giving no room to intruders. Our paparazzi’s lens caught up with the duo penultimate weekend at the traditional wedding of Chief Samuel Adedoyin’s daughter, and we were wowed at the way the duo felt comfortable in each other’s presence .

f you call her everradiant socialite, you are not far from the truth as the former Minister, Chief Mrs. Onikepo Akande commands respect with her soft and glowing look anytime she steps out.

The Ekerin Iyalode of Ibadanland who turned 70 recently, opened up on her greatest fear. When asked what it felt like clocking 70, the beautiful septuagenarian said she was afraid she might not clock the golden age.

“I feel great, very very happy and I am grateful to God almighty for sparing my life to be 70 because my mother died early at 49 and my uncle Olu Aboderin who was very close to my mother, also died at 49. When he first came back from England, he first of all stayed with my mom. So, they were very close, and then the two of them dieing that young scared me. So when I turned 50, I said thank God. I had broken that jinx. And then I became 60 and now 70 and by the grace of God 80.”

ted at Landmark event centre during the holy solemnisation of Anuoluwapo Atinuke and her heartthrob of many years, Nosike Chukwudi, holding and gazing at each other without minding whether or not anybody was staring.

Alhaji was all over the mother of two girls, Olamide and Aminat, even dragging her to meet and take pictures with his old

time friends.

As you well know, the Okoyas are one of the most prominent families within the Nigerian social establishment. They have very visible and conspicuous landmark projects across the length and breadth of Lagos. But in recent years, they have made more headlines purely because of their social lifestyle than for their economic significance.

Nike Akande’s greatest fear

Nike

I feel great, very very happy and I am grateful to God almighty for sparing my life to be 70

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Stories by Opeoluwani Akintayo

Finally: Don Jazzy explains meaning of ‘Dorobucci’

M

ove over Tania, someone is about to take your

man away!

Something spectacular happened at Hennessy Artistry South Africa club tour as Wizkid, who was one of the headliners, got a kiss from a female fan.

Wizkid, who performed on the night of November 21 – alongside 2Face Idibia, at the first ever South African club tour, had female fans screaming his name throughout the event.

Wizkid attended the club event without a date, unlike in Lagos where his girl-friend, Tania would ward off over eager fans.

No wonder he posted on his Instagram account, “Single for the night!” The club was crowded, as female fans could not wait to lay their hands on him.

While Wiz tried to shake fans and pose for photos on stage, one female fan pulled the superstar for

F Female fan kisses Wizkid at club tour! a quick kiss to everyone, including Wizkid’s surprise.

The StarBoy later per-

formed a few tracks off his latest album, “Ayo” as fans sang along to every song.

Did

Asa just

dump her dreadlocks for afro?

Davido Calms Fans Frayed Nerves

33 Buzz byte

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fter reports spread that O.B.O dude, Davido, didn’t win a single award at the just concluded 2014 Channel O awards, held last weekend, in South Africa, the artiste is trying as much as possible to console himself and his loyal fans.

Obviously, team Davido hit hard on him for letting them down this time, rounding off year 2014 on a very sad note, he quickly took to Twitter to calm their hurting hearts. He

inally that moment we’ve all been waiting for is here, it’s Don Jazzy again!

Since the debut of Mavin family song, ‘Dorobucci’ which has become more like a national anthem, the crew has kept us in suspense as to the true meaning of the word, ‘Dorobucci’.

And because the crew has kept mum all along, various meanings have been thrown up, including that the word ‘Dorobucci’ is a song in praise of a mysterious god of entertainment.

But now, we don’t have to look further, because the true meaning of the word is finally out. In fact, it came straight from the

D

id we ever dream of seeing the day internationally-acclaimed singer, Asa would dump her signature dread-locks for an Afro?

No, we didn’t see this coming! But yes, that moment is now.

Or, maybe it hasn’t really come yet, we know she’s got it on her mind.

assures his fans that he’ll work harder and that year 2015 will be better.

“Shout out to team Davido, we didn’t win yesterday. It happens, but trust me we are coming back harder and harder. I love you guys for all the support” Although Davido didn’t pick any plaque out of the five categories, he was nominated in for the Channel O awards, year 2014 has, however, been a fruitful year for the artiste.

horse’s mouth, Don Jazzy himself.

The crew was in Akwa Ibom on Friday, Nov.7, when they performed at the grand opening of the world class stadium newly built by the recent governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

During the opening ceremony, the anchor called out Don Jazzy, who was draped in all white attire, and asked him right in public view and glare what ‘Dorobucci’ means.

And of course, since there was no way he could dodge the question, he had to spill the beans!

“Dorobucci is the boss that is higher than the normal boss”, he said.

There you go!

Now we can rest.

The singer is presently preparing for the launch of her new album and she got loads of illustrations for the art cover already streaming in.

One of those illustrations was from @TheLastArtxtect on Twitter, where it had the singer not wearing her usual ‘locks’ but ‘afro’.

The art work is so beautiful that it caught Asa’s

attention and she’s eyeing the hair-cut already!

“Got sent this illustration by @TheLastArtxtect on Twitter... loving the new hair cut”, she tweeted.

So, we guess she might be on her way to getting rid of her dreads for this beautiful Afro!

We think she’d look stunning rocking the afro just as in this illustration.

2Face Idibia, Alibaba, Others star in Baba Dee’s ‘Head Gone’ Movie

B

aba Dee’s highly anticipated release “Head Gone” is getting rave reviews, after making its Nigerian debut at a media premiere in Lagos, recently.

The movie, which is a comedy, is centred on a busload of patients being conveyed to a mental

institution, whose paths cross with unsuspecting people along the way and culminates in a string of hilariously unfortunate events.

“Head Gone” features an all-star cast, which includes the talents of IK Osakioduwa, Wale Ojo, Yomi Obileye, Akpororo, Basketmouth and others.

34

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Law

ÆÆ s

Falana:

FAMOUS CASES

Love tango ends in tragedy, then joy

From Motherless boy to nation’s topmost human rights defender

Mustapha Ogunsakin

H

is deft combination of human rights activism and legal advocacy has set him apart as a defender of the downtrodden and the oppressed.

He discovered the death of his mother by accident. As a Primary Three pupil, he grew up under the influence of his step mother who he believed was his real mother.

His mother, Juliana, had died a few months after his birth.

It was painful to his father, Joseph, who remained devout in his Catholic faith. The care for the lad was thus entrusted into the hands of Joseph’s second wife, who took care of him like his own, giving the young boy no clue that he was motherless.

However, an incident in Primary Three changed all that.

His teacher one day asked all motherless children in the class to signify by the raise of hand.

Since he never knew he belonged to that category, the boy did not signify, at least, until the teacher asked him to raise his hand with others. That day, he got home and asked his father who confirmed his fears.

That was how Femi Falana SAN, the stormy petrel of the Nigerian legal system, and human rights activist par excellence, discovered he had no mother.

Inspirations come to people from many sources. Personal experiences, influences of role models and stories of happenings in distant places can sometimes contribute towards shaping people’s approach to life. Could this early experience have served as an influence on this little boy to dedicate his life to fighting for the rights of others? His father, after the death of his wife, had vowed to give the best in terms of education.

That too was truncated by the death of Pa Joseph in 1972, a

few weeks before he left home for the Sacred Heart Seminary, Akure to start his training into Catholic priesthood. For Falana therefore, the nudge to toe the path of human rights and socio-political activism was a natural sting that started from childhood.

This was fertilised by the great minds that he encountered in his formative years as a student. Armed with an inquisitive mindset, Falana began early to probe into the problems of the society, the myths that surround it and to unravel even subjects that were forbidden to be discussed. For example, as a young seminarian, he constantly asked his teacherpriests questions that bothered on sacrilege. One of such was why Jesus Christ exhibited elements of fear in the Garden of Gethsemane during his trial.

Falana, was born in IlaweEkiti, Ekiti State in 1958. He attended the St. Michael’s Primary School, Ilawe between 1963 and 1968 before leaving home for his secondary education.

Independent mindedness could drive an individual’s sentimental commitment to a cause. As a young person at the Seminary, Falana caught the church’s message of selflessness and sacrifice; the virtues that epitomise the priesthood.

Perhaps, dissatisfied with the atmosphere of contradictions – sacrificing in silence [since people were forbidden to ask certain questions regardless of the sacrifice they made], he gravitated elsewhere without moving further along the line of spiritual service. Thus, rather than proceed to the major seminary, Falana found his way to the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. There, the ground was fertile enough to nurture his aspirations. He reminisced elsewhere that the presence of radical intellectuals like Pro-

Mustapha Ogunsakin

I

Falana fessor Wole Soyinka, Drs. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Dipo Fashina, Segun Osoba and Kole Omotoso, among others, triggered the rapid growth of the inner feeling and laying the foundation for what will become a career choice.

In Ile-Ife, he wanted to become a journalist. And he proved it by honing his skills in writing and working with several campus newspapers and magazines like The Combatant, and The Voyage among others. But by 1977, his love for journalism was jettisoned for law as a result of an interruption by a major national event which convinced

was born in Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State in 1958. He attended the St. Michael’s Primary School, Ilawe between 1963 and 1968

him to use law as an alternative path to seeking justice for the oppressed. Thus, from active guerrilla journalism practice, The Ali Must Go riots of 1978 brought him closer to another set of role models who would play a role in finding his choice profession.

The riots helped him to see the role played by the great human rights campaigner, Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN. Besides, his decision to take to the legal profession was influenced by the fact that some of the global icons who had effected change CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

t was supposed to be a marriage across the Atlantic that was capable of breaking all racial and segregation borders.

In 1945, the difference between the white and black people across the globe was well-established. It was in those days when Martin Luther King (Jnr) and Malcom X in the United States of America were waking up to the reality of their colour, and trying hard to fight against racialism in their country. It was a time when Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela and other patriots of the African National Congress in South Africa were beginning to see the light to fight racial discrimination if they must survive.

It was in this same year that a hot romance began between Maurice Hall, a Briton, and Esther Johnson (real name: Ada OchaNtu), a Nigerian girl, started in Ibadan, the then Western Nigeria. Maurice was then a locomotive engineer with the railway corporation and lived in the railway compound. On the other hand, Esther was a damsel from Sapele in the then Warri Division of the Mid West, Nigeria.

She had followed her brother to Ibadan when she was a young girl.

In those days, it was the responsibility of the elderly children to train their young ones.

On a fateful night in 1945, Maurice had gone out to relax after a hard day’s work. He went to a pub and ordered for a bottle of beer. As he took the first gulp to satisfy his thirst, his gaze fell upon Esther, looking radiant in her prime. He liked what he saw and approached her. Esther was initially shy as she looked into Maurice’s eyes. Looking deep, she saw the passion and what she later referred to as trust in his eyes. From that moment, both became inseparable.

Their passion for each other became so intense that few weeks after their meeting, Esther moved into Maurice’s apartment at the railway compound. They lived CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

35 Law

FAMOUS CASES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

happily together in the apartment for seven years as Maurice had promised to marry her. In the seventh year, Maurice borrowed 800 pounds from Esther to buy a taxi for commercial use on the streets of Ibadan. Esther did not hesitate to give him the money since he had promised to marry her. That was in 1952.

However, rather than buy the taxi, Maurice proceeded on his annual leave to Britain while Esther, like a dutiful wife kept his Nigerian home. In Britain, Maurice met another lady that dazzled him and before one could say “Esther”, he had tied the knots with her. Leave over, he left Britain for Nigeria with a promise to his wife that she would soon join him.

Meanwhile back in Ibadan, Esther received Maurice like any woman who had missed her man for a while would – with warmth and tenderness. Rather than getting the same warmth back from Maurice, what she got was a cold shoulder. His attitude to her changed and just as she worried her mind on his attitude, Maurice dropped the bombshell: “I have married an English lady back in Britain and she will be joining me soon”.

His words did not immediately sink into Esther’s head. She felt as if she was in a deep slumber and struggled to wake up. “But you promised to marry me on your return from leave….”

Maurice turned to the usual male chauvinistic braggadocio: “Pack your things and leave. My wife will soon arrive from England”, he said. Like the first day they met, Esther looked at him deeply and found out he meant every word.

A love affair of tragedy, and joy

Maurice and Esther Johnson An argument ensued. Esther asked Maurice to return the 800 pounds she lent him before she would leave. Maurice replied that he had no money to pay her. But Esther insisted on having her money back before she would leave. Both went to bed that night with rage and anger. Early in the morning, Maurice woke Esther

up and asked her if she still stood by her position to get her money before packing out. Esther’s reply was affirmative. She further threatened to get him arrested, first for collecting her money under false pretence and for breach of promise.

Maurice was enraged. He moved towards a drawer, brought

out a revolver pistol and began to load it with bullets. In a reflex action, Esther saw a table knife lying on a table beside her, picked it up, and threw it at Maurice. As Maurice turned, the knife hit his stomach, pierced his skin, and got buried deep into his bowels. The revolver dropped from his hands just as blood started gushing out of his stomach.

It was the sight of blood that alerted Esther to what she had done. She screamed and ran out of the house in the streets. The day was yet to break. She entered the first lorry that came her way.

In her mind, she wanted to get to the police station and report herself. But the lorry she boarded was on its way to Lagos. The lorry had travelled reasonably far before she realised this. On getting to Lagos, she had to part with her wristwatch in lieu of her transport fare.

Immediately she alighted from the lorry, she walked straight to the Central Police Station, Tinubu Square, where she reported the incident. Detectives from the station returned with her to Ibadan and inspected the house. They found the dead body of Maurice in a pool of his own blood, stone dead. Police photographers also came in and took pictures of the incident.

Esther was subsequently charged with murder. Her trial started in 1953 at the Ibadan High Court before Justice Sir AdetokunboAde-

mola.

When her plea was taken, she pleaded “not guilty” and said she was provoked and that she acted in self-defence. But the prosecution argued that she killed her boyfriend because she found out that he had married another woman in England. In a courtroom filled to capacity, Justice Ademola delivered judgment on June 18, 1953. He refused the plea of provocation of the defence and sentenced Esther to death.

The defence team of Esther however appealed the judgment before the West African Court of Appeal. On 0ctober 7, 1953, the appellate court also refused the appeal, upholding the death sentence handed down by the High Court.

The lawyers thereafter petitioned the Privy Council. The council after reviewing the case reduced the death sentence to life imprisonment. The then Governor General, Sir John Macpherson signed the review on behalf of the Privy Council. It was the first reprieve made by the council since the enthronement of Queen Elizabeth 11.

Meanwhile the Esther case had become celebrated. Newspapers reported and even wrote editorials on it. Many people and several groups agitated for her release.

On October 1, 1961, the Governor General of Nigeria, Dr NnamdiAzikiwe during the first Independence anniversary granted Esther reprieve and signed an order remitting her unexpired terms of imprisonment to the Crown. Esther became a free woman after spending 3,028 days behind bars. A hopeless woman, a hopeless situation was turned around. Esther eventually got married and settled down into a new relationship in April 1964.

From Motherless boy to nation’s topmost human rights defender CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

were themselves lawyers: Lenin, Bolshevik, Bishop Morris of Grenada, Nelson Mandela, Obafemi Awolowo, etc were some of the great legal luminaries who put their profession for the betterment of their societies.

As a student-activist, it is on record that Falana was a moving force behind the formation of the National Association of Nigerian Students, an umbrella body, which in its hey days gave students a voice and made them a strong force change that demanded good governance and

better welfare for not just themselves but for all Nigerian citizens.

He left the university in 1981 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School the same year. He passed out the following year.

Having switched from journalism, his first love to law, the outlet which aided his activism, Falana’s heroism began to manifest when he took on the authorities of the University of Ibadan. As a corps member with the Public Complaints Commission, Falana had cause to defend a group of students who were arrested and detained

for breaching the law by demonstrating. Without prodding, Falana took up the case and with the assistance of his benefactor, Chief Fawehinmi, he got the students off the hook. This led to the seizure of his NYSC discharge certificate by the Oyo State government which was bent on punishing the students by all means.

Without a discharge certificate, the late Mr Alao AkaBashorun, who was later to lead the Nigerian Bar as President, offered the pupil lawyer a job in his chambers. From that moment onwards, the Lagos Law-

yer became a thorn in the flesh of despots, a threat to those who perpetuate injustice and a constant force in the struggle for democracy and good leadership.

The reward for this hyperactive quest for a better society ranged from short-term to long-term incarcerations by Nigerian military despots.

Because of concern for human rights, Falana took up cases involving the people from virtually all strata of the society. He defended the late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti on several occasions.

36

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

Politics

ÆÆ s Nasko picks Niger PDP gov. Ticket

Abia 2015:

How Orji installed Ikpeazu as PDP gov candidate Ugochukwu Onyeocha

T

he emergence of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, as the governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in Abia State, did not come as a surprise to many political observers in the state.

Ikpeazu, who is widely believed to be the anointed of the incumbent, Governor Theodore Orji, defeated seven other aspirants, including the immediate past Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, who quit his position as minister to contest the position of governor.

Prior to Monday’s governorship primaries, events within the state had shown that Governor Orji fondly addressed as “Ochendo Global” had settled for the former boss of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), and it was only a matter of time before he would be declared.

The politics of imposition has continued to generate controversies across the nation and Abia State has had its fair share. The conduct of the ward congress in the party across the state was an eye opener and its results saw a split within the party that led to the decamping of some notable party members and their supporters.

37

When the list of delegates expected to vote at the various primaries was released, it became obvious that the scheme of Governor Orji had been perfected to suit his political desires much to the dismay of other stakeholders. Despite series of protests by some aggrieved persons, the list was adopted and approved by the leadership of the party.

Even the current serving senators from the state were taken aback by the manner in which the congress was conducted and distanced themselves from what they described as a “charade” in the name of ward congress. By the time the list was out and approved, the deed had been done and it was too late to stop the governor from imposing his boys in several positions. The congress also availed Governor Orji the opportunity to weed out his political foes most notably his immediate predecessor and benefactor from the party and assert himself as the alpha and omega of the party in the state.

Some party members had petitioned the national leadership of the party claiming that there was no conduct of the ward congress in the state and that the list drawn up by the governor was a list of loyalists who would ensure that himself, his

Keji Ola

F

Orji

alternative plan was to arrange for the impeachment of Mr. Ikpeazu and the deputy governor to be replaced by his son.

son and other cronies get whatever positions they so desired during the primaries.

According to an aggrieved party member who pleaded not to be named, the process that produced Ikpeazu was fraudulent and did not truly represent the wish of the party.

“Chief Theodore Orji knows he is very unpopular in the state. Therefore he has conducted party primaries in order for handpicked candidates for positions in the state,” said one of the senior party members opposed to the governor’s plan.

“There is no record of any

election of delegates. The election of delegates was slated for 1st of November in the state, but it did not hold,” one party member said.

“Each local government area is supposed to have three delegates. To our shock, the names of the three delegates from each LGA were announced, but we are aware no elections held,” a spokesman for the protesting group said.

Some of the disaffected members said they had written a protest letter to the national leadCONTINUED ON PAGE 38

ormer Chief of Staff Government House in Niger State, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko has clinched the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 governorship election.

Nasko polled 908 votes to beat eight other challengers among them the Niger State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto who scored 34 votes. Former Minister of Commerce, Mustapha Bello scored 11 votes like Alhaji Sahabi Danrangi while Engineer Hannafi Sudan returned 57 votes.

Alhaji Dukku and Former Kano State governor Aminu Isa Kontagora though contested did not return any vote.

Chief Returning officer for the Primary Election and former Minister of State Finance, Senator Jibril Martins Kuye said 1027 candidates were accredited for the election while three votes were voided.

In his acceptance speech Nasko attributed his victory to God and the delegates promising to campaign vigorously in the nook and crannies of the state to ensure his victory at the general election.

‘I pledge to continue with the development of the state as started by Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu,’ he declared adding that the vision of the state to be among the top three most developed states in the country will be pursued with vigour.

There was jubilation amongst members of the Evergreen Mandate Group which championed the campaign of Nasko and hundreds of his supporters after the declaration of the result.

Earlier, after casting his vote at the election, Niger State Governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu sued for peaceful campaigns by political parties and their candidates as the countdown to the 2015 general elections in the country begins.

The Governor who has also picked the ticket of the PDP to fly its flag in the senatorial elec-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

Politics 38

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

ership of the PDP in Abuja, to no avail. “We complained and protested over the absence of any election that produced the delegates, but that the party has so far ignored us,” said one member.

Despite the absence of elections as some party members claimed, Governor Orji manipulated the state sponsored media and a selected media organisations to claim that candidates had been successfully elected by the Abia chapter of the PDP for all the elections in 2015.

“I am very happy with the party delegates for conducting themselves peacefully and casting their votes in an atmosphere that could be described as free and fair,” Governor Orji was quoted as saying.

The aggrieved party members argued that the state governor should have apologized for undermining the primary process instead of gloating that the process had worked credibly. “We expected an apology, and announcement of a new date for the election to hold properly. Instead, the Abia State PDP went ahead with the governor’s game, ignoring our complaints,” an aggrieved member fumed.

“Olisa Metuh knows about this fraud, but he is quiet because the arrangement is to keep loyalists in Abia to help President Jonathan secure the state for the presidential election,” one aggrieved party member said.

Some other members of the PDP also claimed that the scheme of Governor Orji was to install his son, Chinedu Orji as

Orji anointed Ikpeazu as PDP gov candidate the next governor after a brief period in which a stooge would hold sway in the state. The stooge some claimed was Ikpeazu, who was introduced to the governor by his son.

“He [Theodore Orji] is using a proxy known as Okezie Ikpeazu.

One plan is to make Okezie Ikpeazu the governorship candidate for the party in 2015 while Theodore Orji’s son is supposed

to be the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. With this arrangement, Mr. Orji aims to continue using Ikpeazu to run the state, said the group’s spokesman.

He alleged that the governor’s alternative plan was to arrange for the impeachment of Mr. Ikpeazu and the deputy governor using candidates he plans to plant in the state assembly. “He

wants his son to take over as governor, because it is a stipulation of the constitution that the speaker will take over if the governor and his deputy are impeached.”

To further support their argument that the national leadership of the party had decided to jettison the will of the people to suit the wishes of the governor, a member of the party who

spoke with our correspondent wondered why the son of the governor was cleared by the leadership of the party after he had been duly disqualified by the screening panel of the party.

It would be recalled that Chinedu Orji, had earlier been disqualified from contesting due to his alleged membership of a group that allegedly attacked perceived enemies of his father.

Buhari VS Jonathan: Would he be 4th time lucky?

Akinjide Akintola

M

ajor General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday emerged the Presidential can-

Buhari

didate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) after beating four other contenders including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

To clinch the ticket, he polled about 50 per cent of the total votes of the delegates pushing Atiku, who has already conceded defeat to a distant third position behind Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state who came second.

His emergence brings him in direct confrontation with President Goodluck Jonathan who earlier on Wednesday emerged the sole candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Both will be facing each other again in the February 2015 presidential polls.

This will be the second time that they would be in contention for the same position of presidency of Nigeria. When they first met in 2011, Jonathan who ran on the ticket of the PDP and won the election pulled a total of 22,495,187 or58.89 percent of the total votes while Buhari who was the candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change polled 12,214,853 or 31.98 per cent of the votes.

It was a better performance against the result of the 2007 presidential polls when he faced the late President Umaru Yar’Adua who also defeated him.

In that election, Yar’Adua polled 24,638,063 or 69.82 per cent of the votes while Buhari who contested on the platform of the All Nigeria

Peoples Party (ANPP) bagged 6,605,299 or 18.72 per cent.

For Buhari, next year would be the fourth time he would be contesting the Presidency. First was in 2003 also under the flag of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) when he faced former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was seeking a second term in office.

Would Buhari be the fourth time lucky this time around against a Jonathan that appears desperate to grab a second term in office at all costs?

Would Buhari emerge the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria’s politics who failed woefully in many of his attempts at political office but never quit only to emerge President of the United States of America?

The next two months will determine who of them will be victorious as Nigerians anxiously awaits who will rule them for another four years.

Jonathan

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 12, 2014

39 Politics

2015: No credible alternative to Jonathan Dele Adigun, Technocrat, ex Permanent Secretary, ex Secretary to the Oyo State Government and former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), now one of the frontline leaders of the Accord Party in Oyo State. In this interview with AKINJIDE AKINTOLA, he speaks on various national issues and recent political developments in the Pacesetter State insisting that of all the Presidential gladiators in the country, there is no credible alternative to President Gooluck Jonathan of the PDP. Excerpts: In the last three years, a lot of people have described President Goodluck Jonathan as weak and not in control of his Presidency. What with the upsurge in the attack by the Boko Haram sect, threatening the entire Northern part of the country. How do you see this?

Well, I don’t see President Jonathan as a weakling. Many people have created difficult situations for him, an environment that is not enabling for the government.

For example, the former President, Chief Obasanjo has been at daggers drawn with him all this while. Some parts of the North believe that it is their God-given right to rule; that they will not allow anybody from this part of the country to rule at all costs, so they have been creating a lot of probSo, let Jonathan use the eight lems; Whereas Nigeria belongs to years for the south-south and all of us. So, they devised all sorts of problems for him. In fact, he it goes back to the north has been very lucky to have surmounted some of these problems. economy of the entire North East seriously thwarted by those who Like this Chibok girls imbroglio. because you are against the cen- believe that they should be in It was created to embarrass the tral government? Why must you power; but there is still hope for government seriously. cut your nose to spite your face? the country.

One thing I cannot fathom However, in spite of all these, the The same thing will ultimately is: Why must you destroy your President has been able to main- happen in Oyo because the people people because you are protesttain some normalcy in Nigeria are tired of the tyranny of the ing against someone far from except that his efforts are being minority, they are tired of improyou? Why must you destroy the

Adigun

visation; they are tired of insensitivity as exemplified by the Apete bridge episode. The Apete bridge was damaged by rain on 26 August 2011 and the people living there including those in Awotan are over 500,00 and they’ve been cut off and they had to take circuitous routes to get out and come in. The bridge is not even up to half a bridge but because of the insensitivity of government they’ve not been able to complete it for them.

People are tired of them, they want a change. The workers have been groaning, the market women have been groaning.

Government is supposed to be the greatest spender in most developing economies through projects, through salaries and other interventions that would then have a multiplier effects.

But this is not there, as the contractors and suppliers come from Lagos, they collect their cheques from the Accountant General’s office and take the cheques to Lagos to lodge in their banks or wherever. So when then they are distributing incomes like VAT, the credit will go to Lagos and not Oyo State.

So its like that, the multiplier effect of government is expenditure is not felt by the people because there is serious capital flight to Lagos. Also, so many people are fed up with life as the government has deprived many of their means of livelihood by planting trees and flow-

Nasko picks Niger PDP gov ticket CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

tion for Niger East said with the peaceful nature of the primary elections conducted in most states of the federation, it is expected that such will be replicated during the campaigns and the general elections proper.

Governor Aliyu declared: ‘we want to ensure peaceful campaign devoid of mudslinging and blackmail.

‘We are all coming with the

same product, it is only the packaging that is different’ he said, adding: “politics is not about war, politics is about electing who you want to lead you at a given time.’

The Governor said he had been meeting with all the aspirants that lost in the House of assembly and National assembly primaries with a view to making them understand why they should take their defeat in

good faith and work with those that won.

On his victory at the senatorial primary, Governor Aliyu attributed it to the ‘will of God’ and the trust of the people in him.

‘I am happy to win, my being there (senate) will be a serious and articulate business that will benefit all, not only the Niger East senatorial district but the entire state.

Nasko

ers.

How will these people appreciate the aesthetics if they are hungry? A government that cannot provide water for the people now digging boreholes to wet flowers; how can people be happy with that? You first of all think of the people before you think of the environment, this will make them appreciate whatever you are doing.

President Goodluck Jonathan has been in the saddle now for over some time now and things seem not to be getting any better in the country.

Do you think he deserves to be re-elected for another term?

We are all wary in the country but there is no credible alternative to Jonathan even within those who populate APC. Lets give him a chance. The problem started with Yar’Adua who was from the north but who did not enjoy the best of health and who eventually died before Jonathan who is from the south took over. And the south-south who have never been there are shouting that he should be allowed a second term in office. So, let Jonathan use the eight years for the south-south and it goes back to the north.

This time around, there wont be somebody like Obasanjo. Four years is short in the life span of a nation. Obasanjo was there for eight years, so they should allow the man to stay for another four years so that the south-south has their full term.

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Our Heritage Æ s

Wole Soyinka Centre honours journalists, others on world anti-corruption day Stories by Agozino Agozino

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IFTEEN journalists joined the list of finalists for the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting at the award presentation ceremony on Tuesday, December 9, in Lagos.

Of the 15, eight have earned themselves the honour of being called Soyinka Laureates, four made the runners-up list and three were commended for their efforts. The winners were unveiled at the ninth edition of the annual programme hosted by the investigative journalism centre, in commemoration of the world anticorruption and the international human rights days.

Fisayo Soyombo won the online category with his work - Blood on the Plateau, published on Flair Nigeria.

Tobore Ovourie of Premium Times clinched the report women category with her story, Inside Nigeria’s ruthless human trafficking mafia. Juliana Francis of the New Telegraph was rewarded with the top space in the print category as well as the overall best prize with her report, Extra-judicial killings in SARS. The work, pupils in Oyo community school drink cattle urine, take turns to learn in class, published by the Punch won Dumo Eric the local government award. The duo of Olatunji Ololade and Olukunle Akinrinade of the NationNewspaper, took the health category prize home with their report, Deadly potions: Nigeria’s herbal gin nightmare. The

winner of the photo prize is Kunle Ajayi of the Daily Independent with his piece, Ordeal ofrural dwellers.

National Mirror’s Femi Adedeji was the laureate for the cartoon category with his work titled Haram. Finally, the four year jinx of lack of awards in the broadcast television category was broken by Emekalam Ezianne, a reporter with Television Continental with her story – War without end.

The runners-up up were Seun Okinbaloye of the Channels Television, Nurudeen Oyewole of Weekly Trust, Ibanga Isine of Premium Times and the duo of Olatunji Ololade and Olukunle Akinade of the Nation. They were second in the local government, health, online and print categories respectively. On the other hand, Falayi Olakunle of the Punch, Alber Ohams of the Sun and Betty Abah of Premium Times were commended in the print, cartoon and report women categories respectively. The climate change, broadcast radio and sports categories failed to produce finalists.

Mr Ademola Osinubi of the Punch was named recipient of the honorary Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence while the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) received the Anti-corruption defender award.

A number of innovations were introduced in this year’s award. First is the commencement of an electronic entries collation and assessment method. This has reduced work turnover time as the Centre now compiles

“The award submissions not only attest to the respect that journalists have for the award, but also reveals a real interest in investigative journalism.” and sends entries to judges electronically. The innovation also helps the Centre expand the judges’ board to persons outside the country. Secondly, the report women category was introduced in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy in a bid join the global call for attention to the plight of girls and women. The award is part of a larger project which the Centre commenced earlier in the year. Another addition is the half a million naira VinMartin Ilo grant given to the best work in the broadcast category for the purpose of conducting an investigative work.

The 2014 judges’ board was chaired by a Professor of Mass Communication, Lai Oso. Other members include Ms Amma Ogan, former Editor of The Guardian Newspaper; Mr Boye Ola, head of the photo department at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism; Mr Theophilus Abbah, Sunday

Editor with Media Trust; Mr Gbile Osadipe, director of Picture Perfect; and veteran photographer, Mr Tam Fiofori. According to the judges, “the award submissions not only attest to the respect that journalists have for the award, but also reveals a real interest in investigative journalism.”

With the quality of stories that emerged from the winning entries, the WSCIJ has once again proven that it is committed to its mission of building a society where social justice is promoted. As the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Simon Shercliff, observed in his goodwill message, “only brave and principled media reporting can transform a society.” Similarly, Mr. Michel Deelan, Deputy Head of Mission, Kingdom of Netherlands, encouraged the need to fan to flame the passion for investigative reporting in Nigeria. He expressed his country’s readiness to continue to give support to further this cause. Prof Ropo Sekoni in his opening speech reiterated the need for the Nigerian government to get serious with the fight against corruption.

The 2014 awards event was compered by Mr. Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron while Ms Motunrayo Alaka, WSCIJ Coordinator, gave the closing remark. A highlight of the occasion was a stage performance of Wole Soyinka’s The Beatification of Area Boy by the KininsoKoncepts art group.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

41 Our Heritage

Mystery of two dimensional arts unveiled

An elegant exhibition celebrates relief sculptures inspired by two dimensional arts Agozino Agozino

T

HOSE who are familiar with two dimensional art forms, also known as sculpted relief, would agree that it is a no go area for most practicing visual artists because of its highly technical nature.

When producing a relief piece on a wall or on board, the artist would have to grapple with issues of perspectives, depth measurements and so on. But Roland idubor, one of the rising stars in the visual arts industry in Nigeria has decided to dare the lion’s den as he pushes the limits with different creations in this format. Many of his art pieces were on display recently at a weeklong exhibition tagged, ‘Rebirth’ which opened at Nike Art Gallery in Lagos In the outing, the artist celebrates ev-

ery item of adornment, gait and gesture in his paintings. As one beholds his finishing, especially his elegantly poised elongated images, it becomes clear that images can be a labyrinth of colours as well as a visual dialogue with the viewer. His work tells the story of a young artist keen on a social mission. About 25 of the exhibited works are executed in sculpted relief on canvass, while five are in other media.

Roland explains, in the preface of the exhibition catalogue: “Capturing humanistic aspect of life in this project as well as to tell the story of how God has changed my life is the drive of this exhibition. We should be responsible for the preservation of our history, I am happy this is what art is all about. We artists should also be grateful for God for placing on us the role of documenting soci-

ety and preserving cultures.”

According him, one of the mainreasonsfor the exhibition is to showcase his new works to the Lagos public so as to sharpen his technical skills.

On display are works like Finding your path, Dreams and attitudes, Vessels of honor, to mention but a few. Roland who held his first group exhibition in Lagos in 2000 has moved on to greater things, even holding his first international exhibition at the Shangri-lla Hotel in AccraGhana in 2004. His works adorn homes and offices in almost every continent. But what he considers as one of his most fulfilling moments was when he was commissioned by the marketing department of Coca cola Nigeria PLC to produce a dummy replica of the World Cup Trophy during the Trophy tour of Nigeria a few years ago, as

there were doubts as to whether perfection could be achieved in Nigeria. This added another feather to his cap when it was approved for use by FIFA international officials.

Roland, son of the renowned legendary Bini sculptor, Felix idubor also brought to bear on his art a complimentary gift of poetry. Poetry has always been one of artists favorite past times and this love has grown as time went by. He has recently completed a compilation of forty original poems which is due for release. Every art piece he produces is under girded by the influence of poetry. Just as with his art he addresses social, political and spiritual issues with his poems. Here is one of Roland’s poems: titled “Rain.” With it he speaks against the evil of selfishness in the society and its effect.

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Sport

Æs

Adidas spits fire!

Vows to take NFF to court if they violate kits termination order

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portswear manufacturing giants, Adidas, has threatened to sue the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should any of Nigeria’s national team wear Adidas kits effective January, 2015.

President of NFF, AmajuPinnick confirmed this in a chat with reporters in Abuja.

According to the German kit suppliers, Adidas has written formally to ter-

43 minate the kitting contract by the end of December, 2014.

Pinnicksaid to avoid being taken to court; all national teams would seize to use Adidas kits and equipment once the contract runs out this month.

The NFF boss allayed the fears that the Federation could face ‘kitting crisis’ saying he was working round the clock to ensure that another sportswear manufacturers come on board soon.

South Africa wins Emirates Dubai 7’s Rugby

S

He however noted that the leadership may not get a better deal because of the current crisis bedeviling the Federation.

The NFF president described the issue of minority report released by the Appeals Committee headed by OkeyAjunwa, as diversionary and assured stakeholders of Nigerian football that it would not stop him from forging ahead to take Nigerian football to greater

Afelokhai, Ojo open up on LBA goalkeepers’ shortlist

outh Africa in a clinical display of sevens rugby defeated Australia 33-7 to lift the Emirates Airline Dubai 7s Cup final for the first time since

Football Page 43

Continued on page 43

Football Page 47

Golf: Spieth shines in Hero World Challenge

-year-old NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick

height.

It is believed that the inability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Equatorial Guinea may be one of the reasons why kits suppliers are pulling out.

Adidas supplies kits and equipment to all the national teams worth over 7billion Euro and about 850, 000 Euro annual grants to the NFF.

Canada 2015: Okon upbeat over Falcons’ success Football Page 43

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

43 Sport Afelokhai, Ojo open up on LBA goalkeepers’ shortlist Two players nominated for the 2014 League Bloggers Awards (LBA) Best Goalkeeper Award, Theophilus Afelokhai and OlorunlekeOjo, believe the field of shortlist is full of quality.

Kano Pillars goalkeeper, Afelokhai stated that the other three nominees have put in massive performance in the immediate past season.

“For the first time in my career this is a list full of big performers. But I still believe I’ve done enough to merit this award. I believe I can win it again like I did in 2012,” said Afelokhai.

Continued on page 47

Super Falcons’ players celebrate after winning the 2014 African Women Championship.

Canada 2015: Okon upbeat over Falcons’ success S uper Falcons coach, Edwin Okon, has stated categorically that the Super Falcons will excel and pick one of the Group D tickets for the next stage of Canada 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Falcons are drawn against former world champions, USA and top female football nation, Sweden and Australia in Group D which has been termed the ‘group of death’ with Winnipeg as host city.

An upbeat Okon said he was

not afraid of the big names in the group, hoping that his players will rise to the occasion and pick one of the Group D tickets.

“We are not afraid of any team as no group is simple; every group is tough, having USA in our group does not put fear in us, instead it will give us the extra determination to train and prepare better.

“Going into the World Cup as African champions they too are afraid of us. We have set a target for ourselves which is going farther than we have

ever done in the World Cup. This is achievable but we cannot afford to fear any team,” Okon said with great optimism.

The highly experienced and well-travelled coach also said that his team does not need too much information about their opponents but focus on preparing well for the tournament.

“We don’t need to know about our opponents; all we need to do is to prepare very well and then come out to play.

We are not nervous about any

team, every team is good and we just have to prepare very well.

“We are hoping to top our group, which is our target.

With God on our side and good preparation, we hope to top the group and go all the way,” he said.

This is the first time ever that the World Cup will be played by 24 countries .The event runs from June 6-July 5, 2015. Falcons start their World Cup campaign against Sweden on June 8.

South Africa wins Emirates Dubai 7’s Rugby Continued from page 42 2008, with Kwagga Smith putting in a commanding performance in attack and defence.

To reach the finals, South Africa disposed defending series champions New Zealand 28-0 as the win puts them second in the overall series standings behind Fiji. However, South Africaare ahead of Australia and New Zealand who complete the

top-four in the race to qualify directly for the 2016 Olympic Games with Gold Coast winners Fiji beating New Zealand to third place.

End-to-end rugby was the feature of the early exchanges with neither side able to break up the opposition defence during Dubai 7s Cup final. It was South Africa’s three-try semi-final hero Smith who posted first points with a strong bust down

the right. Australia hit back right on half-time, spreading the ball wide to PamaFou, levelling at 7-7 going into the break.

Unlike the first half it was only a matter of seconds before the scoreboard ticked over again, Philip Snyman diving low beside the posts for the Blitzboks’ second.

Sam Myers had a chance to level the score for Australia, appearing in their first-ever Dubai

Cup final, but was held up over the line by Smith in a last ditch show of strength.

SeabeloSenatla then put on the after burners to chase down a kick and made a try to extend South Africa’s lead to 21-7. Senatala’s second, bringing him level with Ambrose Curtis on seven tries to lead the tournament try scoring charts, and a RuhanNel five-pointer sealed the win.

Afelokhai

Obiano’s Christmas soccer tourney debuts in Anambra The 177 communities in Anambra would on December14, take to the football pitch as they battle for glory in the maiden Gov. Willie Obiano Christmas Football Competition for boys and girls.

Tony Nnacheta, Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state made the announcement in a chat with sports writers in the state on Wednesday.

Nnacheta said that the competition was part of the Obiano’s government’s programme to make the Christmas and New Year holiday in the state worthwhile for its citizens.

The commissioner said that

Continued on page 47

Sport 44

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

Mourinho: Schurrle in my plans

Transfer Briefs Real Madrid targets Sterling

A

Raheem Sterling is stalling on talks over a new contract at Liverpool, with Real Madrid ready to make a big-money move to bring him to Spain. The England winger is thought to be unhappy about the club’s Champions League exit.

Sterling

Man United joins Kramer’s chase Manchester United are the latest club to show interest in signing midfielder Christoph Kramer. The German, on loan at Gladbach from Leverkusen, would cost £8 million but Louis van Gaal must beat off competition from Real Madrid.

Kramer

Liverpool, Tottenham battle for Bony

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iverpool and Tottenham are ready to test Swansea City’s resolve to keep Wilfried Bony by bidding for the striker in the January transfer window.

Bony only signed a new fouryear contract with Swansea last month but that will not stop the Ivorian attracting attention in the New Year as Liverpool and Spurs try to boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Both clubs made approaches to Swansea for Bony over the summer but pulled out of deals after turning up their noses at the 25million Euro asking price.

Swansea manager Garry Monk has warned it would take an “astronomical” fee for the club to sell their star striker in January, when Bony will leave to play for Cote d’Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Arsenal and Manchester City have also been linked with the Bony, but Liverpool and Tottenham would both be able to offer

the 26-year-old a regular starting spot as they look to bolster their attacking options.

Bony is a proven goalscorer having netted 33 times since signing for Swansea in a 15million Euro deal from Vitesse in July 2013, while he is the leading scorer in the Premier League in 2014 with 19 goals this calendar year.

Liverpool have struggled badly in attack following the summer departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and without main striker Daniel Sturridge, who has been injured for most of campaign.

Mario Balotelli arrived for 20million Euro from AC Milan but is yet to score in nine Premier League appearances, with the Reds scoring just 19 goals in 15 league matches this term.

Brendan Rodgers is a longterm admirer of Bony and again bemoaned the lack of goals in his side after Liverpool’s Champions League exit against Basel on Tuesday.

ndre Schurrle is firmly in Jose Mourinho’s plans, but must learn to adapt to the Premier League more, the Chelsea manager said yesterday.

Schurrle, who was outstanding in the 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, was back in the team as a new-look Chelsea side impressed.

His goal from the edge of the area put Chelsea 2-0 up and the German put forward a good case for more minutes domestically, having started just four times in the Premier League this season.

Mourinho said: “He is in my plans. We had a problem when he went to the national team the last time and he came back very, very ill and was in trouble for quite a long time.

“Today he had 75 minutes to improve his form, he is a player who needs to adapt better to the Premier League but is also a player that in three shots usually scores a goal. That’s an important qual-

Schurrle ity.”

Willian was rested for the final Group G game alongside John Terry, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois, but the performances of those coming in pleased Mourinho, who believes his side have a better chance of winning the competition than last year.

Roma: Strootman not for sale

Strootman

R

oma have told Manchester United their Holland midfielder Kevin Strootman is not for sale, at any

price.

The 24-year-old was heavily linked to United, as well as Milan, before moving from PSV Eindhoven to the Giallorossi in July

2013 for £15.6million.

Strootman returned to competitive Serie A action recently from a serious knee injury picked up in March, which ruled him out of Holland’s run to third place in the World Cup in Brazil.

United manager Louis van Gaal had worked with Strootman during his time in charge of the Dutch national team ahead of his move to Old Trafford and is believed to rate him highly.

He was an unused substitute as the Romans limped out of the Champions League in a 2-0 home defeat to English champions Manchester City but Roma general manager Mauro Baldissoni said: “This is something I’m reading every day. It is also something our president doesn’t like to read every day.

UCL: Man City deserves more credit – Pellegrini

M

anchester City head coach Manuel Pellegrini claimed that his side deserves more credit after beating Roma 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to make it through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

The Premier League champions headed to the Italian capital under huge pressure to remain

in Europe’s premier club competition after a stuttering Group E campaign which had seen them languishing down in third place in Group E ahead of kickoff, and knowing that nothing but a win would do.

However, the visitors responded in fine style by producing one of their most accomplished Champions League displays, with second-half goals by Samir

Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta handing City their first victory on the road against an Italian team.

And all this despite missing the usual spine of their side, with the likes of captain and key centre-back Vincent Kompany, midfielder Yaya Toure, playmaker David Silva and inform striker Sergio Aguero all absent from the City line-up on Wednesday due to either sus-

pension or injury.

But the City boss believes that his squad now has the strength in depth to cope with such absences.

However, Pellegrini now wants the champions to completely forget about this competition until it returns again next year and instead concentrate on reducing Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League.

Pellegrini

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

UCL: Iniesta happy to secure second leg win A

Chamtie.

ndres Iniesta expressed the importance of Barcelona securing home advantage in the second leg of their UEFA pions League (UCL) last-16

Luis Enrique’s side secured their progress as winners of Group F with a 3-1 over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, ensuring they will face one of the group runners-up in the knockout stages.

As per UEFA rules, all pool winners are drawn away from home in the opening leg, something which Iniesta believes will work to Barca’s advantage when they return to Camp Nou for the second half of the tie.

“I really do prefer the second leg at home,” he said.

“I know that there are teams who will go away for the return game and get a result, but I prefer to play that second match at home, with the fans helping us get through.”

Iniesta has recently been restored to the starting XI after recovering from a calf injury, and the midfielder believes he is gradually getting back into top gear.

“I’ve been off for a while and now I just have to keep feeling better and better and getting the rhythm back into my game so that I can move forward,” he said.

“I don’t know what stage the side is at, but if we want to fight for every title, we have to continue to grow as a team.

“We are on a good run of results and we are improving our performances.

“That’s what we work for in training and that’s why we keep working to prepare for the next challenge.”

Rodgers needs more funds, says Neville

45 Sport Briefs Silva bemoans sloppy UCL start Sporting Lisbon coach Marco Silva bemoaned his side’s start after they lost 3-1 at Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League (UCL). Sporting’s defeat - coupled with Schalke’s 1-0 win at Maribor, also on Wednesday eliminated the Portuguese side from the competition.

Crolla: It’s payback time against Red Devils Ahead of Manchester United and Liverpool cracker on Sunday, the jibes and wisecracks have been flying round the ring as much as the punches. Crolla is convinced it’s payback time for last year’s nightmares.

Adebayor won’t be rushed back – Pochettino

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Iniesta

PREMIERSHIP TABLE

TEAM 1. Chelsea 2. Man City 3. Man United 4. West Ham 5. Southampton 6. Arsenal 7. Newcastle 8. Swansea City 9. Liverpool 10. Tottenham 11. Aston Villa 12. Everton 13. Stoke City 14. Sunderland 15. Crystal Palace 16. West Brom 17. QPR 18. Hull City 19. Burnley 20. Leicester City

P 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15

PTS 36 33 28 27 26 23 23 22 21 21 19 18 18 15 14 14 14 13 12 10

Rodgers

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES

Saturday, December 13, 2014 Burnley v Southampton 16:00 Chelsea v Hull City 16:00 Crystal Palace v Stoke 16:00 Leicester v Man City 16:00 Sunderland v West Ham 16:00 West Brom v Aston Villa 16:00 Arsenal v Newcastle United 18:30 Sunday, December 14, 2014 Man United v Liverpool 14:30 Swansea v Tottenham 17:00 Monday, December 15, 2014 Everton v QPR 21:00

ary Neville says Liverpool haven’t spent enough money to reclaim their place among European football’s elite.

The former Manchester United defender was discussing the Merseyside club’s failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League following Tuesday night’s disappointing draw with Basel.

And ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford to face their bitter rivals on Super Sunday, he says the summer outlay of over £100million is small fry when you take into account the money they received for the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

He said: “They obviously sold Luis Suarez for £65m and spent (around) £100m on five or six players, so they spent £40m.

That’s not even touching the sides of what the big European teams do, and are spending when they’re really going for it.

“When you’re talking about a big club and Liverpool winning European Cups over the last 30 years, building a new 65,000-seater stadium; £40m net is not ‘going for it’.”

Brendan Rodgers paid large fees for Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Alberto Moreno, Lazar Markovic, and the injured Mario Balotelli over the summer, but none of those players started against Basel.

And while Neville says the manager must take responsibility for the signings, he says Rodgers hasn’t been given the budget that many of his rivals, including Louis van Gaal, have enjoyed.

Adebayor Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino has told Emmanuel Adebayor to take as much time as he needs to sort out his offfield problems. The Togo international was granted a leave of absence on Wednesday with Tottenham releasing a statement saying the striker was allowed to return home for “personal reasons”, with reports suggesting a family member has been taken ill.

Stoke fans defend ‘Delilah’ song Stoke City supporters have defended their right to use the Tom Jones song ‘Delilah’ as their unofficial club anthem.

The song has come under fire this week with former Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Iwan calling on Wales rugby fans, who have long since sung the No 2 hit from 1968 at international matches, to find another song to blast out to try and inspire their players.

Sport 46

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

think about the World Cup. If you make it that far, then you obviously want to be involved, though I always firmly kept in mind that, having received my first international call-up, I’d already achieved more than I’d expected to in 2014.

My aim was to break through at Sampdoria and become a first-team regular, so the national team call-up vastly exceeded my expectations. Of course, you’re sad when you come so close and don’t quite make it, but I have a positive attitude and a great family who helped me out. That meant it wasn’t overly difficult to deal with.

Mustafi: 2014 will be hard to beat!

If you had to pick out two highlights from the past year, what would they be?

The World Cup would definitely be No1 and becoming a regular starter at Sampdoria would be No2. It was when SinisaMihajlovic took over as coach that I made my breakthrough at Sampdoria, which in turn led to my involvement with the national team.

Says he had emotional experience when Germans lifted the World Cup in Brazil Mustafi in action for Germany during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

ShkodranMustafi, 22, was born in Germany to Albanian parents. At the age of 17, he left boyhood club Hamburg to continue his development in England at Everton’s youth academy and, within three years, he completed a switch to Italy, where he helped Sampdoria gain promotion to the top flight in his very first season. However, this year has seen this member of Germany’s UEFA European U-17 Championship 2009-winning squad eclipse all of his previous achievements in the game. First of all, he established himself as a consistently strong top-flight performer in the Sampdoriadefence to the satisfaction of Germany’s senior coach, Joachim Low. He had his first senior call-up in February, ahead of March 5 friendly with Chile, and made his debut for Germany in May in a goalless friendly against Poland.

Mustafi was also included in Low’s provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, but failed to make the final 23-man squad for the Mundial.

He later benefited from a serious injury to Marco Reus and was drafted in for the global showpiece in South America. Twice Mustafi was used as a substitute in the group phase of the World Cup; he started the Round of 16 win over Algeria and ended the competition with a World Cup-winners’ medal. Now, on the books of ambitious La Liga outfit Valencia, where he is already a first-team regular, Mustafi took the time to speak exclusively to FIFA.com on what has been an extremely exciting and eventful year.

H

ow have you settled in to life at new club Valencia?

Things are ok now, thanks.

It wasn’t all plain sailing to begin with, because I still had to recover from the injury I picked up at the World Cup, but everything’s great now. I’ve settled in well and I feel happy here.

A lot has happened to you in 2014. How do you assess the past year?

Whenever I think about everything that’s happened, I come to the conclusion that I’ve experienced more in the space of one year than most players do during several years of their careers. In my case, one thing just seemed to keep happening after another. It was an unbelievable year, an unbelievably successful year. I’ve grown both as a person and as a player – this year will be difficult to beat.

Have you also noticed any changes in yourself personally?

Experiences and titles like the ones I’ve picked up this year definitely change you, as you’re suddenly exposed to a lot more media and public attention. Everyone wants a piece of you and it’s something I’ve needed to learn to cope with.

That said, it’s also helping me to become more mature.

How long did it take before your World Cup victory and your subsequent switch to Valencia to actually sink in?

I think I still need a bit more time!

There have been so many things happening in quick succession that I haven’t had any time to think about it. It’s just

been one thing after another and all so fast. I had two weeks off over the summer and then I had to think about my future a bit. I was still a Sampdoria player at the time and then I had a few others things I had to focus on, so I couldn’t really let it all sink in. That’s how things have been so far. And then there are games that I need to and want to concentrate on every weekend here, so I have to put our World Cup success to the back of my mind and focus on my job as a Valencia player. I think that it’ll still be a while before I’ve really taken in everything that happened in Brazil.

So, you must be looking forward to the upcoming Christmas break, when you’ll have some time to think things over?

Yes, I’m going to go back home, spend some time with my family and do very little else. I think that’s the best thing for me, and I think I need it too. It’s very important to me.

How did you feel when you were initially left out of Germany’s 23-man squad for the World Cup? To tell you the truth, I never expected to be included in the provisional 30man squad in the first place. Prior to the tournament build-up period I’d only been called up for the Chile match in March, and I thought to myself: “OK, well it’s nice to have been involved and for the coaches to have taken notice of me. Now let’s just see what the future has in store.” And then suddenly I was named in the 30-man list, which was unexpected, but of course I then started to

Which World Cup moment made the greatest impact on you? Coming on against Portugal and Ghana, starting against Algeria or the Trophy presentation after the Final?

The greatest moment was when the Trophy was handed over to me and I lifted it into the air. I experienced so many emotions at that moment that it’s hard to describe, and I think I still need more time before it really sinks in. That wasn’t the only wonderful moment though: making my first substitute appearance and my first start were also brilliant experiences.

Starting a World Cup Round of 16 match for Germany at the age of 22 is a big thing and it’s something I’ll never forget, but none of those things can be compared to the moment when I got my hands on the Trophy.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday December 12, 2014

47Sport

NFF crisis: Pinnick waves olive branch to aggrieved parties

P

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has beckoned on persons who feel aggrieved in any way concerning the recent crises in Nigerian football to bury their hatchets and join hands with the NFF Executive Committee and Management in redefining football culture in the country.

Speaking to sports reporters in Abuja the NFF boss expressed appreciation to President GoodluckEbele Jonathan, GCFR, for the huge support that the new NFF administration has received from the country’s leader and the Government since coming into office 72 days ago.

“I want to express my appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan for the huge support he has given to the new NFF Board since coming into office 72 days ago.

“There is so much to do, and only

few persons cannot do it. The support, prayers and contribution of everyone in the huge football sector is needed for this administration to be able to fulfill its mission and vision.

“I am pleading that people should forgive the NFF Executive Committee for any of our actions or inactions since coming on board, and let us jointly take Nigerian football to much higher heights,” he said.

The NFF boss also praised the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Distinguished Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (GCON), Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. GbengaElegbeleye and the sports committees of the National Assembly ably led by Senator AdamuGumba and Hon. Godfrey Gaiya for their steadfastness in supporting the new NFF team.

“We also must give kudos to the NFF Congress – the supreme authority in Nigeria football – as well as the NFF Executive Committee, NFF Management and Staff, stakeholders of the game and the nation’s very vibrant media.

“There is no victor, no vanquished in this matter. Ours is one big, marvelous family and here, football is the winner,” he added.

World football –governing body, FIFA, on Tuesday backed the majority decision of the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee, which upheld in its entirety, the NFF 2014 Elective Congress ofSeptember 30, at which Pinnick and others were elected into the NFF Executive Committee for a four-year term.

Golf: Spieth shines in Hero World Challenge • Tiger Woods ties last

A Obiano’s Christmas soccer tourney

Pinnick

debuts in Anambra Continued from page 43

the competition which would be community-based was also targeted at fostering intra and inter communal unity, as well as discovering raw and young talent spread across the state.

According to him, the government wanted all Anambra citizens to return home for Christmas and enjoy the yuletide with their loved ones because crimi-

nality was now a thing of the past as the state had been ridded of criminals.

The football competition which would be hosted in 8 venues including, Rojenny Games Village, Oba; Godwin Achebe Sports Complex, Onitsha;Otuocha Stadium, Nnewi and High School Field Nnewi.

Others are Obosi Sports Complex Obosi; Awka Mini Township Stadium and Neros Stadium, Nanka.

merican Jordan Spieth won the Hero World Challenge by 10 shots, with Tiger Woods finishing in a tie for last

place.

The 21-year-old led from round one and carded a final round seven-underpar 66 to finish 26-under on 262.

Speith, whose closest challenger in Florida was Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, remarked: “It was the most fun I have ever had playing holes of golf.”

Woods, making his return from a back injury, had a triple bogey on 13 and tied on level par with Hunter Mahan.

Woods shot 72 while Mahan had two double bogeys in a round of 75.

However, the 14-time major winner

Afelokhai, Ojo open up on LBA goalkeepers’ shortlist Continued from page 43 Ojo was full of praise for the organiser and the Giwa FC goalkeeper also fancies winning the award despite being shortlisted alongside three of the most experienced shot-stoppers in the Nigerian top flight.

He revealed that Afelokhai, who is also in the running for the award, has been a source of encouragement in his career, but added that winning the award is all he dreams about.

“I’m very, very elated to be nominated alongside the top goalkeepers in the league. No disrespect I also

want to win the award. I’ve been encouraged by Kano Pillars goalkeeper (TheophilusAfelokhai) and it is a dream come true. It’s a big chance for me,” said the Giwa FC goalkeeper, Ojo. Enyimba’s Femi Thomas won the LBA Goalkeeper Award in 2013.

said he was delighted to be back swinging powerfully and pain free after his four-month lay-off.

“It feels good to feel that rush again,” the 38-year-old said.

“I didn’t hit the ball as well as I would like. My short game was awful.

But I was able to play for four days and hit the ball the way I wanted to and that’s progress.

“It’s so nice to hit drives that hard again, take bunkers out of play, cut corners. I hadn’t felt healthy enough to do that in a very long time.”

Woods went into the final day with the modest goal of escaping last place in the 18-man event but fluffed two more chips, bringing his total to eight for his week.

Spieth, who won the Australian Open by six shots last week, carded six birdies and an eagle in his final round to win his second title of the year.

He also shattered the tournament record of 22-under 266, set by Woods in 2007.

England’s Justin Rose carded a oneunder 71 to finish tied sixth with Rickie Fowler on 11 under.

And Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell also carded a 71 to tie with Bubba Watson in 11th on eight under.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014 www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

VOL. 1. NO.2

How can so many young people face a fate worse than terror attack and the institutions of state function as if nothing happened?

“T

he truth of the challenge of saving the dying conscience in Nigeria, it seems to me, has to begin with enlightenment on our shared humanity. The death of anyone should, as the great quote goes, diminish us.

The death of so many should crush our spirits and inspire action. The abduction of so many innocents unto so uncertain a fate should force us all to lose sleep“.

It used to be said that a conscience can become seared. As I watched a country carry on after more than 200 young

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The death of conscience in Nigeria women were abducted by anarchists who use terror as their signature tune and the powerful carried on as if nothing was troubling, and most of us as if it were a distant irritation, I felt rage in my spirit and a sense that in Nigeria, man’s humanity had been crushed and conscience had passed from being seared to suffering death.

To reflect on the death of conscience is a grave thing. As conscience is the inbuilt compass that enables the human navigate between good and evil, if it dies, I wonder if we can truly call who is left, human. Yet, as you look around, you see conscience in a frightening state. How can so many young people face a fate worse than terror attack and the institutions of state function as if nothing happened?

Much has already been said about the President celebrating and dancing in Kano and Ibadan the day after the first Nyanya bombing left nearly a hundred citizens dead and so many more severely injured. Many have compared Aso Rock’s response to that bombing with the response of The White House to the Boston Marathon bombing in which three lives were lost. Those comparisons lead me to recall a similar incident I commented about several years earlier.

In the same week that a cable car accident in Austria resulted in three deaths, a tanker truck

crashed into a traffic jam created by a roadblock near Ibadan caused more than 200 deaths. Austria went into national mourning; flags flew at half mast, broadcasts appealed to the national spirit.

In Nigeria, the President, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, did not even bother to ask the media officer in the Villa to issue a statement.

I asked at the time what a Nigerian life was worth.

But we know that the Fed-

eral Executive Council can suspend sitting if a sibling of the Vice-President dies.

Is it a matter of relativising the worth of people?

My friends who teach ethics will tell you that once you relativise the worth of another, you have made your own worth relative. This is precisely why people in power are worshipped and the day after, they are out of power, are treated like dirt by those people who the day before

said they were the greatest thing since sliced bread.

The truth of the challenge of saving the dying conscience in Nigeria, it seems to me, has to begin with enlightenment on our shared humanity. The death of anyone should, as the great quote goes, diminish us. The death of so many should crush our spirits and inspire action.

The abduction of so many innocents unto so uncertain a fate should force us

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. www.dailytimes.com.ng email: www.dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI

all to lose sleep.

Instead of leaders closing ranks in advance of the common good, everything is reduced to partisanship and some are even questioning that the abduction took place as some people question that the holocaust took place.

This cannot be our way.

Again, it is important for those who think it is something happening to one remote part of the North-East to be reminded of Rev. Martin Niemoller and Dante’s inferno.

Niemoller reminds that they first came for the Jews, and the object kept quiet. Because those Jews were troublesome anyway. Next, they came for communists but he stayed mute because he was not a Communist, then they came for the Catholics but he kept quiet because he was a protestant. When they came for him, there was no one left to speak up.

To this I would like to remind that in Dante’s inferno, the hottest part of hell is reserved for those who in a moral question take refuge in neutrality.

We cannot go on with consciences that leave much to question. We saw a country cheer on as power raped the banking system, stealing people’s property and ordinary Nigerian shareholders lost their life’s savings and investments but we failed to speak up. Those that tried to point to truth were shouted down. Now, the wound is open.