Daily Times of Nigeria

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.23

N150

Robbers kill 17, raid four banks in Ondo

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Ï ^ ƋƈƅƆ ƇƇƈƅƆƏ ƇƋƆƆè Əƌ ƑƏƆƗ ƒƆ ƈƅƋƆ ƗƆƌ ƄƈƋƈ ƆƗ

Obasanjo with the APC chieftains at his Abeokuta home on Tuesday.

PHOTO: David Idowu

INSIDE XT Exclusive

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME Full name: Nicknames:

Salami

Poster!

Rated at:

X2

Height: Reach: Nationality: Born: Place of birth: Stance: Total fights: Wins: Wins by KO:38 Losses: Draws: No contests:

I have to give people time to take a picture, and sign autographs. I have to be generous to people. It is in my heart. Without that, I would not be Manny Pacquiao.

EMMANUEL DAPIDRAN PACQUIAO

hits Serbia for Belgrade deal

Pac-Man Ang Pambansang Kamao (The Nation’s Fist) The Mexicutioner The Destroyer Fighting Pride of the Philippines Pambansang Ninong (National Godfather) The Fighting Congressman The Filipino Slugger Flyweight Super Bantamweight Featherweight Super Featherweight Lightweight Light Welterweight Welterweight Light Middleweight 5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (169 cm)[3] 67 in (170 cm) Filipino December 17, 1978 (age 36) Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines Southpaw 64 57 5 2 0

Major World Titles: WBC Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs) WBC Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBC Lightweight Champion (135 lbs) WBO Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) WBC Light Middleweight Champion (154 lbs) WBO Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) Minor World Titles: IBO Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs) The Ring/Lineal Championship Titles: Lineal Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) The Ring Featherweight Champion (126 lbs) The Ring Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) The Ring Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs) Regional/International Titles: OPBF Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) WBC International Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs) WBC International Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBO International Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) Special Titles: WBC Emeritus Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBC Diamond Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) WBO Welterweight Super Champion (147 lbs)

I remember as a little boy I ate one meal a day and sometimes slept in the street. I will never forget that and it inspires me to fight hard, stay strong and remember all the people of my country, trying to achieve better for themselves.” —Manny Pacquiao I’ve always fought for my country, in my own way, showing that Filipinos are a strong people and can do anything that they put their minds to.

Emmanuel

Dapidran Pacquiao

X4,5

MAN CITY RED STOPS INJU

IHEANACHO, NWAKALI

Thank God you visited C Ɛ Ɛ ^ me, Obasanjo tells Buhari ƅ ƋƋƆ ƆƏë d Ɠ ƕ ƑƏ ƅƆƏƐƈƇƈƅ ƐƆ ÏÏÏ Segun Adio

Serving Nigerian Tennis Into Stupor X6

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday expressed delight and appreciation to God that the All Progressives Congress

(APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), deemed it fit to visit him during his campaign tour of Ogun State.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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X3

WATSON beats Stephens in Hobart tourney

Ennis-Hill to make heptathlon return X7

X7

How importers sabotage Nigeria’s rice policy –Minister

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NCAA suspends Discovery Airlines

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Politics Page Three

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Editorial Time to diversify the economy

T

he recent fall in the international prices of crude has no doubt thrown Nigeria’s present and future economic prospects into a tailspin. There is no denying the fact that the country is in for very difficult days ahead. Today, the price of crude oil in the international market goes for as low as $45 per barrel as against the all time high of $110 per barrel only few months ago. In what may be a historic payback for the 70s oil boom, Shale oil: an equally ‘clean’ alternative is now driving global oil prices into a ravine.

From the look of things, the massive quantity of Shale oil may reduce the demand for Nigeria’s Brent Crude in the international market and in effect trigger a reduction in revenue and an economic paradigm shift that may not be too palatable. For a monoculture economy like Nigeria’s, the implications are quite far reaching, because 90 percent of our foreign exchange earnings comes from the sale of crude oil. With a continued plunge in oil prices and the glutting of the market with shale oil, the question is: where does Nigeria go from here?

With very little industrial production capacity, the country must rely on importation for a majority of its needs, even food, which last year cost N700 million. Two things may cushion the slump, namely a massive investment in domestic refineries, and huge agricultural schemes on state and federal levels. For example, agriculture, manufacturing, hospital-

ity and tourism and the knowledge economy have been postulated as holding the key to the country’s diversification. Strangely, instead of being diversified, the economy has become more straight-jacketed into the smallest ducts and vents of the oil industry.

Over the years also, successive governments simply mismanaged the high oil rents and failed to use them to develop other sectors of the economy for enhanced revenues. But all hope is still not lost. Nigeria should, through the private sector or public private partnerships, invest in boosting local petroleum refining capacity. With this, the country will stop spending money to import refined petroleum, while the resources spent as subsidy will diminish, thereby conserving scarce foreign exchange.

Another area that should deserve attention is agriculture.

It is imperative to note that prior to 1973, agriculture was Nigeria’s economic main stay. As at then, the country was self-sufficient in food production and imports were just few commodities, despite the discovery of oil. Definitely, investment in this sector will make far more dent on unemployment because it is labourintensive, unlike petroleum where technology is helping every day to minimise its workforce. It should be noted that Nigeria is an agrarian society, with far more of its territories arable than most countries. This means that she can produce enough to feed her population and indeed the entire Africa.

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Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏThere is no gain saying the fact that the political atmosphere of the Nigerian state in the run up to February general elections remains charged and with every passing day, reports of intolerance filter in, resulting in the maiming of supporters of rival parties and the destruction of property.

On Sunday, it was the turn of the Okrika chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to experience the heightening intolerance as

its headquarters was bombed by unknown persons. A day or so before this incident, unknown persons also burnt two campaign buses of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in Jos, Plateau State. Gombe State also last weekend had its own share of rising political intolerance in the land as irate youths destroyed property of the PDP. On and on the list goes. The perpetrators go scot-free with the police making the usual pledge to apprehend and prosecute them. But this promise, going by experience, remains a pipe dream as it is difficult to point at a scape goat in the past.

Words On Marble :

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Who will rein in the foot soldiers?

Though there may be no concrete evidence to link the two gladiators in the February presidential poll to this rising intolerance, not a few believe that the perpetrators are foot soldiers of the two major parties and can be called to order if the PDP and APC choose to do so practically beyond just mouthing it.

So, will these parties do so?

Will their chieftains who keep these foot soldiers at their beck and call have a change of mind and save Nigeria the agony resulting therefrom? This will be the acid test of their patriotism as the polls draw nearer.

Nigeria and her people urgently need this.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Deputy Editors Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head of Operations

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Bisi Abidoye Segun Adio

Innocent Nwankwo Adetayo Adelaja

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Sports Editor

Head, Sales & Marketing

Okay Osuji

Andrew Ekejiuba

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Moses Ebong

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

Deputy Head Graphics Afeez Odeseye

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

Gen Muhammadu Buhari

Abubakar Tsav

Oba Akiolu of Lagos

I urge you not to insult or be rude to any leader on my behalf. Your conduct must not tarnish the image of the party

I don’t think we have a government … if we had a government it should not have allowed those girls to remain in captivity for almost 300 days

Let me tell you something… if YarÁdua had been alive for six more months, Obasanjo would have been in prison

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

City File

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Photos of the fire scene at Balogun market, Broad street, Lagos.

BALOGUN MARKET INFERNO

The mourning is just beginning

There was pandemonium at dawn in Lagos on Tuesday, January 13, as Lagosians woke up to the news that the famous Balogun market on Lagos Island has gone up in flames.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

City File 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Merchants, importers, lose billions

Photos of the fire scene at Balogun market, Broad street, Lagos.

Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr IT’s the morning after, signposted only by the mourning.

Balogun, the ever burstling market in Lagos State was a shadow of itself on Tusday. Gone were the bright faces that usually welcomed visitors. In its place were forlon looks, as traders, and passersby beheld the shadow of a billion-Naira market.

About 24 hours earlier, there was pandemonium all over. Lagosians had woken up to the news that the famous Balogun market on Lagos Island had gone up in flames.

Learning about the fire, big time merchants, importers and traders that ruled the market besieged Balogun Street, only to meet a barricade of police and fire fighters battling to bring the inferno under control.

The fire, which razed a large area of Balogun and Gbadebo streets, the trading hub and nerve centre of business for decades, started about 3am, and there was very little the fire fighters could save.

There is no clue yet on what led to the inferno, which some of the

shop keepers and security operatives hinted might have been the result of electrical discharge, when power came on in the wee hours of the day.

The smell of burning leather, plastics and textile products hung heavily in the air as the reporter approached Balogun Street from the Broad Street end. When Daily Times arrived, security men had barricaded the street from about 200 metres from the Broad Street end - six Lagos State Fire Service vehicles and two Rapid Response Squad (RSS) patrol vans formed part of the barricades, with security men milling around the scene, both preventing anxious and wailing traders from going in to assess their losses.

A crane could be seen at work further down the street hoisting and shooting water directly onto the multi-storey buildings oozing thick black smoke into the atmosphere.

The whole of Balogun Street was a sea of misery, chaos and wailings. Traders and business men, women, many of them young hawkers for their masters, could be seen sitting in

‘Evil visited us today’ “Ah, what will I tell Alhaja?” she lamented; “the goods in that shop were worth more than N10 million.

Alhaja must not hear of this; what are my going to tell her?” rows and in silence; also young women, all commission sales persons, who eke out a living from what they sell.

Gbajumo Street, off Davies Street, directly behind Balogun Street, is a haven of leather goods; the fire had engulfed a greater part of the street known for its wholesale trading activities, retail and hard bargain leather businesses.

Alhaja Tura is one of the most grieved. Pushing 70, Tura has been in Balogun market since her middle age. She wept as she revealed that she has never dreamt one day that she would lose all her life’s labour to fire.

Speaking in her native Yoruba dialect, Alhaja said she could not quantify her loss; all her life’s efforts and investment had perished before her eyes in her old age. Nothing can be more wicked, she lamented.

“I’m finished,” said Sylvester Ike, an Aba businessman in his 40s whose shop had been razed.

“My life is cut off and this is the end for me,” he wailed.

A fair-complexioned young woman whom the Daily Times had trailed from Balogun to Gbajumo finally gathered enough wits to talk. She had been struggling with security men to allow her in to see what she could with her eyes, so that she would know what to report to ‘Alhaja’, but her demand was firmly turned down. Giving her name as Mrs.

Sulaimon, she was in charge of Alhaja’s many shops.

“Ah, what will I tell Alhaja?” she lamented. “The goods in that shop were more than N10 million. ‘Alhaja’ must not hear of this; what am I going to tell her?”

‘Alhaja’ turned out to be her mother; she had been the one running the chain of three shops - two on Gbajumo and the biggest one on Balogun - and all had been razed by the mysterious fire.

“We took in market only on Monday. Then I was called up on phone on Tuesday that Balogun was on fire. I didn’t know how I got here.

“The cash in the Balogun shop,” she seemed to have just remembered the cash, as she spoke, and held her head and screamed: ‘Yeeeeeh’.

It was gathered that she had been selling for her mother since she left secondary school, over 15 years ago.

Another of the women lamented that “Iya Ruka has heard the CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

7 City File

The big time losers Top Igbo and Hausa business men were the biggest losers. Daily Times gathered that some of them have not fully resumed business this January, as they traveled abroad. Others are still taking their time before they resume, but their sales managers and apprentice salesboys have been up and doing, since the second week of the new year.

Daily Times tried to get word from an importer of textile who was said to have opened four container loads on Monday; he was unable to speak a word. His boys could not take him away from the scene, so they just gathered around him and mourned over the destruction of their business empire.

One of his boys was able to give a hint of his master’s loss.

“We used to offload two containers every Thursday and Friday but, last Monday, because of the holidays, we opened four containers. Customers have paid

and we were sorting out their orders for them to collect from day break, when the fire started.

Now all those are gone.”

Mr. Innocent Ikeguonu, one of the top importers there said nobody can know what this disaster is, “many of us cannot even feel it yet.”

This may well be so as most of Balogun traders do not carry insurance covers for their businesses; even cash-in-transit covers are few and far between.

Panic calls were still being made when our correspondent left the scene. Some of the business owners are not even in Lagos yet…they had to be informed on phone.

Balogun market is as old as Lagos Island, all markets from Idumota, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Martins, Davies, Gbajumo, even the very corporate Broad Street all flow into Balogun market.

Many businesses on the mainland draw their life-line and resources from the razed market.

enough to retrieve some of her cash. “I was here yesterday (Monday) and I rushed there inside the fire, recovered part of my money in the drawer, but the rest got burnt with all my shoes.”

Many of the victims said they had never experienced this tragedy in Balogun market. “I used to hear of fire in other places, even that one that happened in Great Nigeria House, but it never happened to me,” Ifeoma wondered.

“How can this kind of thing hit us when we are just beginning a New Year?”

Seeing the despair on the faces of the crowd and traders, you know that their losses in the last two days can never be quantified.

It is a colossal loss.

According to Ifeoma, “everybody lost everything…from this part to that place, fire is burning; nobody could save anything. Evil visited us today.”

Photos of the fire scene at Balogun market, Broad street, Lagos.

It’s chaos, tears in Balogun market CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

news. She is still in shock. She has not spoken a word since yesterday. Her husband is the one keeping her inside, assuring her that it was not a serious fire and her area of the market was not affected. I just came from there.

Baba has turned off the television and radio so that Iya Ruka will not hear any news. If Iya Ruka knows the truth, she would die.”

“Mummy is not okay o,” another said. “How can she be okay?

You cannot know what we are talking about. Six shops she has been building up for more than 20 years. All our lives are in that business, then all of them burnt down; just like that? I hope it is a dream.”

An Igbo woman who gave her name as Ifeoma was biting her thumb in her grief when Daily Times approached her. She managed to tell her story.

“They called me early in the morning that Balogun was burning o. I don’t know how that could happen because I have been selling in this market before I married; more than 10 years ago, and

this kind of thing had never happened.

“We were calling ourselves on phone and everybody run up here, but police will not let us in. See, everything is burnt. The shoes I have in my shop are more than 500 pairs; that is all my life,” Ifeoma sobbed.

As she talked, a policeman on guard accompanied a young man holding wads of completely burnt out money, and Ifeoma exclaimed, pointing, “Look at money; our goods and money are all burnt.” She held her head in both hands and lamented in Igbo language: “O God, what will I do?

This market is my life and my blood.”

It was gathered that the heavy losses of merchandize, including cash, is the result of massive trading turnovers, especially those that come in the evenings.

“Before you close, the banks have closed, so we are used to keeping huge amounts of money in the shops. This is Balogun market; everybody keeps cash over night, sometimes for many days. Then when the banks open, you go and put them there, but

“We were calling ourselves on phone and everybody run come here, but police will not let us go in; see, everything is burnt.

The shoes I have in my shop are more than 500 pairs; that is all my life” now,” she pointed, “all are gone, gone.”

Ifeoma said she started as a sales girl in Balogun before she married, and it took a life time to build her business that has now gone up in flames.

A second woman beside her, Monika, said she was able to reach her shop on Monday early

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Robbers kill 17, raid four banks in Ondo ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏIN

a most daring raid, armed robbers on Tuesday stormed the sleepy town of Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State, used dynamites to blow open the security gates of four banks, killed 17 persons and carted away yet-to-be-ascertained sums.

The affected banks are: First Bank Plc, Ecobank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and Spring Bank.

Among the 17 fatalities were four mobile Policemen and a seven-year-old-girl who was returning from school.

According to an eyewitness, Bola Ademulegun, the robbery operation lasted for three hours while an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed to control such occurrence was badly damaged and demobilized by the robbers.

The eye witness told the Daily Times: “The APC was raised inside the gutter and

badly destroyed the front of Skye Bank in Oke Agbe. Several persons including the four mobile policemen were shot dead in front of First Bank.”

He added: “Even two persons who came to bail one of their family members were killed at the counter of the Oke Igegbe Police station.

“The robbers also shot another person and took away his Toyota Almera vehicle”.

The witness further said fear gripped residents as

they scampered for safety as a result of heavy and sporadic gun shots.

The Daily Times learnt that on arrival in the town, the robbers headed straight to the Oke-Igbede Police Station and shot indiscriminately at the security personnel on sight.

They badly vandalized the police post.

It was learnt that the remaining policemen on duty took to their heels following their inability to confront the

superior fire power of the rampaging robbers.

Several other Policemen were hit by bullets and were immediately rushed to the hospital.

People believed to have been injured as a result of the incident have been rushed to the Trauma Centre in Ondo.

The Spokesman of the Ondo State Police Command, Wole Ogodo confirmed the incident to the Daily Times but said he could not give details as at press time.

Rice importers owe FG N36b, says minister

One of the bombed banks in Ondo State on Tuesday.

Jonathan to Buhari: Show your certificate Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti & Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ÏÏÏPresident

Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday asked his main challenger, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, to show Nigerians his academic qualification.

The president has also assured Nigerians that his government would not deceive them if voted in office for a second term.

There is a raging controversy on the academic credentials of the APC candidate who, in an affidavit, indicated that the military was in custody of them. The Electoral Act stipulates the possession of a minimum of secondary school leaving certificate for an aspirant to the office of president.

Jonathan who said his priority on social development would be the youths, gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti, Capital City of Ekiti State while addressing a mammoth crowd that welcomed him at the Oluyemi Kayode stadium.

In Osogbo, Osun State capital where he also went on campaign, the president drew attention to a train whose passengers waved intermittently to praise him, as one of the positive effects of his transformation agenda.

Jonathan said in AdoEkiti: “We will not deceive you, the era of politicians telling lies with lots of words is over. Ekiti State is known as one of the state with educated personnel. Over 60 per-

cent of professors in Nigeria are from Ekiti State so how will a state like that not have a federal university and your people never ask me before, I gave you the Federal University in Oye. On my way, we drove from Akure to Ado and I noticed some roads that need to be constructed. This I will work on and thank God the Minister of state for Works (State) is from here.

“My Government has been able to put in place immense measures on improving agriculture. The Minister of Agriculture who is from Ogun State, has been able to improve on our agriculture greatly. Our youth have been empowered in terms of entrepreneurial agriculture that have been making our youth million-

aires, billionaires, more so the improvement on Cocoa and Cassava Products, perhaps we are now producing at least times three over our past produce. In terms of job creation, we have put in place over two million jobs for our youth, more so the YouWin programme where young Nigerians willing to be entrepreneurs and put up well prepared business proposals have been put in place by our government and we give grants not loans. This is among many other things we will do. Ekiti, Bayelsa among other states were created same time and I know that we haven’t witnessed much development, I promise to ensure that Ekiti is highly developed if you vote me in again.”

ÏÏÏEfforts of the Federal Government to implement a sustainable backward integration policy in rice for the country has met with resistance and plans to sabotage its workability by foreign importers, who also exceeded the approved import quota allocation to fill the national supply gap by 410,368.16MT. They are owing the federal government about N36.56 billion for the excess quota outside the preferential rates.

On May 26th, 2014, a new rice policy was approved by President Goodluck Jonathan to encourage investment in local rice production and milling through the introduction of an import duty differential on rice (brown or polished) imported by rice investors compared to rice traders.

Investors that have milling capacity with verified Domestic Rice Production Plans (DRPP) enjoy an import duty of 10 per cent and levy 20 per cent while traders will pay an import duty of 10 per cent and levy 60 per cent.

According to the minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, while speaking in Lagos yesterday, there is an ongoing struggle between the lofty policy on self-sufficiency in rice production of President Goodluck Jonathan and a perverted rice importation plan of a handful of Asian companies determined to undermine Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in rice production.

I prayed to God that you visit me, Obasanjo tells Buhari Continued from page 1 It was a different ball game on Monday when the presidential candidate of his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, was in the state.

It was widely reported that the former president sneaked out of his Hilltop residence in the state capital apparently to avoid t President Jonathan.

It had taken the intervention of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel) counterpart, Bishop David Oyedepo, for Obasanjo to agree to meet Jonathan.

But during Buhari’s visit, Obasanjo said he had prayed and longed to have the APC presidential candidate visit him and had had to cancel all his engagements for the day to receive the Katsina State-born army general-turned politician.

Obasanjo welcomed Buhari this way, “Let me welcome all of you; but let me, in a special way, welcome Muhammadu. Our path have crossed on a number of occasions and when I was told you are going to be coming to Ogun State, I wasn’t sure whether you will come here or not though I had prayed you would. Since I was not sure, I told my boys; I said “Well, whatever programmes we have outside Ogun State for today, let us shelve it just in case Muhammadu and his party and his team decide to call here.”

Obasanjo

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

9 News

Briefs Director Of Publicity, PDP presidential campaign, Mr Fani Kayode; PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and vice-president Namadi Sambo during at the PDP Presidential campaign in Osogbo on Tuesday

Rivers attack: APC begs Police, DSS for protection Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏ

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has cried out to the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS), appealing for urgent protection in the face of increasing attacks on its members and offices by hoodlums believed to be working for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

“As a law-abiding party, we are determined to continue to resist the temptation to take the laws into our hands, hence we are passionately appealing to the state Police Command and DSS Directorate to urgently come to our rescue, as the rate of attacks is becoming frightening”.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman, APC, Rivers state, Dr. David Ikanya lamented that APC in the state has come under attack by PDPsponsored political thugs on four different occasions in less

than a week.

“The first of these dastardly attacks was witnessed last Wednesday when gunmen allegedly hired by PDP leaders opened fire on APC supporters from Asari Toru and Khana local governments on their way to Port Harcourt for the APC Presidential Campaign Flagoff, leaving eight of them in critical condition and battling for their dear lives at the intensive care unit of the Kesley Harrison Hospital, Port Harcourt.

“Last Saturday, the Okirika LGA Secretariat of APC was bombed by the PDP hoodlums, while last night all the key APC actors in Obio-Akpor, the Local Government with the highest number of voters in Nigeria, were viciously attacked, with some of them being maimed” Ikanya stated.

He noted that while the desperation of Rivers PDP is understandable since the party has been overwhelmingly rejected by the people of the State,

PDP and its members should realize that election is not war but a democratic way of choosing the people’s leaders.

The Party Chairman commended APC members in the State for restraining themselves from retaliating the attacks and appealed to them to continue to give peace a chance.

He also commended Chief Tony Okocha, former Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who is the political leader of APC in Obio-Akpor and Federal House of Representatives flag-bearer of the party in the area, for leading other APC grassroots leaders such as Dr. Lawrence Chukwu, the CTC Chairman; Chief Ike Chinwo; Solomon Ikewuru; Hon. Corlins Ordu; Hon. Freddy Ichegbo; Chief William Ubeka and thousands of APC faithful to the Police Commissioner and State Director of DSS to formally protest the continued brutalisation of APC faithful by PDP hoodlums.

Mass defection hits Ondo PDP Ï C Ǝ ƃ ƃƄƉ ƐƆ ƆƎ Ǝ ƈƏƍƄ Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏ

It was a shocking political movement on Tuesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as former Chief of Staff (CoS) and younger brother to the late governor of the State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, Femi Agagu, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with scores of members and stalwarts of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Mr. Agagu defected alongside two former Speakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Victor Olabimtan and Taofeek Abdulsalam, including a governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, Mr. Bankole Oluwajana.

At the occasion, scores of aggrieved members and supporters of the PDP officially joined the APC, stating the ‘injustices’ in the party for their mass movement.

The event which could be best described as a political tsunami for the PDP in the state also witnessed a surprising defection of ‘big fish’ from the party to the

2015: NANS endorses Jonathan Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏ

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ondo State Joint Campus Committee (JCC) axis, has unanimously adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for next month’s Presidential election.

In a statement issued by its Vice President, Comrade Timileyin Ayenuro, said the students’ leaders also resolved to mobilise support for Governor Olusegun Mimiko in helping the President

APC. Daily Times correspondent report that the big fish are major stakeholders and voices in the Ondo State chapter of the PDP who had served in various capacity during the administration of late former governor, Olusegun Agagu.

On the lists of the defectors are former Commissioners and Board Chairmen which include: Mr. Tola Wewe, Akin Akinnigbagbe, Bukola Tenabe, Laitan Ayeni, Gboye Adegbemisoye, Tola Awo, Niran Sule among others.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, at the APC secretariat on 17, Oyemekun road in Akure, the state capital, Mr. Femi Agagu said he and other bigwigs from the PDP decided to leave the party for the APC to embrace the wave of change in the country and support General Muhammadu Buhari.

“There are several reasons for our decision but most important is the obvious fact that Nigeria needs change. to realize his second term ambition.

Ayenuro noted that the students’ resolve to support the President, came after a meeting of Students Union Government (SUG) Presidents and Ondo Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Chairman Odunayo Kowe including Southwest Zone D. He further said the students hinged their resolution to support President Jonathan for a second term on his key achievements in the education sector like establishment of 150 Almajiri modern schools to boost education in the north, establishment of nine new federal universities, and equipping of 51 Federal and State polytechnic with state-of-the-art laboratories facilities.

APC planning to discredit Jonathan’s expected victory, says PDP Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Jonathan

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, has dismissed as mischievous and unfounded the allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Department of State Security (DSS) is in cahoots with the PDP and planning to postpone the February 14, 2015 Presidential Election.

The Director of Media and Pub-

licity of the Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said that the election would hold and predicted an emphatic victory for President Goodluck Jonathan in the election.

Fani-Kayode described the APC charge as an attempt to discredit the electoral process and wreak havoc when the opposition party loses as it surely will.

He said in a statement in Abuja that, “it is interesting that the APC

never came out with these lies about plans to postpone the election until its cloning and hacking activities were uncovered by the DSS. “Rather than address the evidences presented by the DSS such as a video of 21 hacking tutorials, multiple registrations of individuals and underage persons including babies and foreigners, possession of temporary and permanent voter cards, the APC is raising post-

ponement as a red herring, hoping to distract Nigerians from its nefarious activities.

“Our Campaign Organisation categorically states that our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, and the PDP-led Federal Government have no intention, whatsoever, to interfere in the workings of the INEC and therefore dissociates them from the plan, alleged by the APC, to postpone the February 14, 2015 Presidential Election.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

L-R: Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.

Attahiru Jega; INEC Commissioner, Dr. Abudulkadir Oniyangi; and INEC Commissioner, Dr. Chris Iyimoga , during the meeting with all political parties and official publication of voters register for 2015 election in Abuja.. on Tuesday PHOTO: TEMITOPE BLOGUN

PDP replies APC over Ombatse killings Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), yesterday, said that the claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that President Goodluck Jonathan is not serious about the welfare and security needs of the nation’s security agencies, as evidenced by the Ombatse killings in Nasarawa State in May 2013, is another example of the unconscionable insensitivity and crass opportunism of the party.

The PDPPCO further declared that the claim also showed how the desperation of the APC presidential candidate, General

Muhammadu Buhari, for power had pushed his party’s campaign organisation into a frenzied search for any imaginable reason or ground to accuse Jonathan of incompetence in the handling of security matters.

The crisis that led to the death of the security personnel, in the first instance, the PDPPCO said, was as a result of in-fighting within the political echelons of Nasarawa state, which is controlled by the APC. It explained that as is the case with the Boko Haram insurgency, after the APC had willfully exacerbated a dangerous security situation, through its unguarded utterances and encouragement to rogue elements

Mu’azu within its ranks, the party now turned around and tried to profit from further politicization of the fallout of a heinous deed in which it was complicit.

The PDPPCO, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday, said: “The charge that

President Goodluck Jonathan is not serious about the welfare and security needs of the nation’s security agencies, as evidenced by the Ombatse killings in Nasarawa state in May 2013, is another example of the unconscionable insensitivity and crass opportunism of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It also shows how the desperation of the opposition APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, for power has pushed his party’s campaign organisation into a frenzied search for any imaginable reason or ground to accuse President Jonathan of incompetence in the handling of security matters.”

Edo doctors threaten strike over unpaid salaries Titus Akhigbe - Benin

ÏÏÏThe

Edo State Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Professor Afekhide Omoti, has given the state government a 21-day ultimatum, within which to pay the July and August 2014 salaries of doctors under its employment, or face strike.

Omoti, in a statement on Tuesday in Benin City, said if the state government did

not heed the demands of the association, all doctors working in public hospitals in the state would soon withdraw their services to press home their demands, which he noted includes failure of the state government to implement the full consolidated medical salary, poor infrastructure and lack of appropriate working tools with consequent poor health care delivery, as well as gross shortage of health manpower in the

state.

Omoti, while lamenting the dearth of medical infrastructure and the deplorable state of existing state-owned hospitals and other state health facilities, said gross shortage of health manpower in Edo state has resulted in the “work overload for the few available unmotivated hands rendering services in extremely difficult working conditions.”

He noted that the Edo

state government had withheld the emolument of its doctors for the month of July and August 2014, following their participation in a nation-wide strike called by the national leadership of the association, adding that the multiple taxation in private hospital facilities, as well as other health sector, challenges including inefficient management policy had hampered quality health care delivery in the state.

Ajimobi commissions road equipment ÏÏÏGovernor

Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Tuesday, commissions and presented 99 earth-moving equipment, including bulldozers, graders and low beds to all the 33 local government councils in the state to facilitate accessibility to rural areas.

He said that the move was aimed at promoting rural integration and development, as well as ending the regime of waste of farm produce.

Ajimobi explained that the equipment would enhance movement of farm produce from the hinterland to urban centres, stressing that farm produce

Ajimobi were hitherto destroyed due to lack of accessible roads to farmlands.

He disclosed that the procurement of the graders and bulldozers would improve road rehabilitation, especially in the rural areas at cheaper costs.

In his remarks, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ibadan North-West Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun said that the state under the Ajimobi administration was the first to achieve such a feat in the history of the state.

APGA may drag INEC to court over PVC Val Okara, Owerri

ÏÏÏ

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Imo State Chapter, may take the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court if it fails to provide Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) for its supporters by January 31, this year.

The leadership of the party lamented, the nonavailability of the PVC, particularly in areas considered to be pro-APGA. Addressing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital, on Tuesday, the state

Enya Enya Ndem, Calabar

ÎÎÎAs

preparation to the 2015 general elections in the country gathers momentum, the Calabar Municipality chapter of the National Association of Seadogs in Cross River State has cautioned the electorate against accepting various forms of bribes in exchange for political support.

Speaking at the citizen forum organized by the National Association of Seadogs, NAS, to educate voters on the importance of citizens participation in the electoral process and the use of permanent voters card, a guest speaker, Mr. Tony-Ray

Chairman of the party, Mr. Peter Ezeobi, disclosed that it’s governorship candidate, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho and other party loyalists have not received their PVC. He said: “Besides, the fact that our governorship candidate, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho, myself and a lot of other APGA loyalists have not got our PVCs, the non-availability of PVCs in areas like Owerri Municipal and Owerri North, areas known to have been voting for APGA since 1999, makes the issue worrisome.”

2015: Seadogs cautions electorate against bribe Ene, said “in the context of an election, a bribe will be a gift kind or cash offered to a voter or an electorate to persuade him or her to vote for the giver who is seeking for an elective office’’.

Ene said that the electorate should refuse to be bribed, but rather vote in candidates of their choice based on their credibility, integrity, and capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

11 News

Gemade, six others dump PDP Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏBarely one month to

the general election, seven senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Part (LP), and the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

The senators, who defected from the PDP to other political parties when the Senate reconvened for the 2015 session yesterday, are Barnabas Gemade, Atiku Bagudu, Bassey Otu, Helen Esuene, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, Mohammed Magoro and Ita

Enang.

The decision of some of the senators to defect to the opposition parties was the aftermath of the PDP primaries, which was allegedly hijacked by some state governors in collusion with the national leadership of the PDP. Senator Bagudu joined the APC and was given the ticket to contest the governorship election on the party’s platform, while Senator Magoro joined the APC to pick the senatorial ticket for Kebbi South Senatorial District.

Also, Senator Esuene, who is among the G-22 aggrieved governorship aspirants in

Akwa Ibom State, dumped the PDP over alleged injustice.

Senator Otu was also denied the party’s ticket for re-election for Cross River Southern Senatorial District.

He has pitched his tent with the Labour Party and had been given the senatorial ticket in the state.

Similarly, Senator Abatemi-Usman has also been given the PPA senatorial ticket for Kogi East Senatorial District in Kogi State.

A former National Chairman of the PDP and erstwhile Minister of Works, Senator Gemade, has picked the APC’s senatorial ticket in

Benue State after series of battles with the Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, who won the ticket.

The senators’ defection was a fall-out of the PDP primaries nationwide during which they lost out in their bids to seek re-election.

Some of them were allegedly schemed out by their state governors in collaboration with the national leadership of the party.

Senator Mohammed Magoro, representing Kebbi South on the platform of the PDP also joined his colleague, Senator Bagudu to the APC, while Senator

R-L: Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Chairman, Chief Ejiroghene Bodjor; Delta State APC Governorship candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor and Delta State APC Chairman, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, at a media interactive session in Lagos.

PHOTO: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE

Oshiomhole backs el-Rufai for Kaduna gov Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏ

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that Kaduna State will be better off with Malam Nasir elRufai as the next governor.

Oshiomhole, who stated this during the flag-off of the campaign for el-Rufai/ Bantex ticket at the Trade Fair Complex in Kaduna, added that since he arrived Kaduna, he had not seen anything new in terms of development.

“All places of work have been shut down in Kaduna. I’m in Kaduna in solidarity with the people and to ensure that a competent person emerged as governor,” Oshiomhole said, adding “We want a Kaduna that will work, be-

cause I see myself as a Kaduna man. With el-Rufai, Kaduna will grow. Kaduna people must unite and vote el-Rufai who knows how to develop a place.

“As a federal Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he made Abuja great. If he emerges as the next governor, Kaduna will be great again.

There is no new thing in here. All places of work have been closed. Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Edo, Lagos, Sokoto, Bayelsa and all other states and Nigeria, as a whole, will be governed by APC,” Oshiomhole said.

“My running mate, Bala Barnabas Bantex and I would not disappoint Kaduna people if we were voted in for a four-year

Oshiomhole term, our focus is to reposition Kaduna. We will not abuse anyone. We urge our party members not to cause trouble. If they torment you, don’t retaliate,” el-Rufai said.

The former minster said “APC will form a new and progressive government.

If elected, we will not take

state resources to anybody in Abuja in the name of loyalty. We will focus on the empowerment of farmers, teachers, students, state workers, market men and women and we will make Kaduna great,” he added.

Speaking earlier, the running mate, Bantex said with the formidable team APC has, victory will be theirs and urged all party members not to deface anybody’s poster or involve in any act of violence.

APC’s North-West National Vice Chairman, Lawal Shuaibu, speaking on behalf of the National Chairman, said Kaduna people were lucky because the needed change they were clamouring for would manifest soon.

Ita Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business and one of the strong members of the PDP, recently as a result of the shoddy way he was denied the return ticket, decided to work for all the APC candidates in Akwa-Ibom State.

Senator Esuene, in company of the aggrieved G-22 aspirants, had last week paid a courtesy visit to the Akwa Ibom State Senate Caucus, where they gave the national leadership of the party up till January 11, to substitute the name of Udom with any other person or the G22 (as they are popularly called) would defect to the opposition.

Group faults INEC on PVC distribution Michael Bamigbola, Osogbo

ÏÏÏ

A pressure group, De Change Coalition of Nigeria is displeased with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC), saying millions of prospective voters may be marginalised.

The group faulted the non-release of the PVCs of some eligible voters in the country, saying such action was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise some Nigerians from participating in the February general elections.

The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Abayomi Adegoke who spoke with newsmen in Osogbo on Tuesday, said millions of Nigerians could be disenfranchised from exercising their civic rights.

He appealed to INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega to allow individuals with the temporary Voters Cards exercise their franchise in the forthcoming general elections, while such individual collect their PVC after the election.

Falae launches SDP rally in Auchi Titus Akhigbe – Benin

ÏÏÏAuchi,

headquarters of Etsako West local government area was a beehive of activities when it hosted the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by Its National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae to flag-off the campaign for the National Assembly elections scheduled for February 2015.

Falae, accompanied by the SDP chairman in the South-West, was welcomed by party faithful, led by Edo State party chairman, Prince Ikonga, BoT State Chairman, Alhaji Usman Shagady and Abubakar Momoh with a gaily-dressed horse in SDP colours as pilot.

At the palace of Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji H.A. Momoh, Falae sought the royal father’s blessing and informed him that SDP was revived due to the absence of ideals of democracy in the two major political parties in the country.

Ebonyi APGA guber candidate lauds Obiano Okey Chris, Awka

ÏÏÏ

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Senator Sunday Agbo, has pledged a befitting burial ceremony for all fallen heroes of Ebonyi State extraction, if he emerges winner at the forthcoming election.

Agbo, who stated this in an exclusive interview with Daily Times in Awka, commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for hosting such an event in Anambra, noting that Anambra indigenes who died in the Biafra/Nigeria civil war and other crises in the country would, henceforth, rest in perfect peace.

He attributed the poor state of economy in Ebonyi to the tears of its unburied citizens, and vowed to put an end to it if elected a governor in the February 28 governorship election in the state.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Alleged N500m loot: You are a serial liar, Ajimobi tells Ladoja Ekwueme

APC defends Ekwueme over Jonathan’s comment Fred Ede, Enugu

ÎÎÎThe

All Progressives Congress ( APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have traded words over former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme’s statement that President Goodluck Jonathan would not, entirely, win the South East votes as he is anticipating.

The South East Governors’ Forum had carpeted Ekwueme for the statement saying that he had lost touch with reality.

The APC, however, rose in defence of the former Vice President, saying that he was right in his views, as its zonal spokesman, Osita Okechukwu said that despite the huge support the people of the South East had given to the ruling party in the past 16 years, it had nothing tangible to show for it.

The PDP, however, said the opposition party’s claims that it would make in-roads to the zone in next month’s presidential election amounted to a wild goose chase as the zone remained the ruling party’s stronghold.

The party’s National Vice Chairman for South East, Austin Akobundu, in a statement reaffirmed the party’s earlier position that it would deliver 100 percent block votes to its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, contrary to the position of former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme.

Minister urges youths to shun violence

ÎÎÎOyo

State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has described the denial by Senator Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor, to refund N500million to the state as panicky and lamentable.

According to a press release signed by Dr. Festus Adedayo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, with reference to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, the gover-

nor insisted that Ladoja, indeed, refunded the said amount, as well as vehicles he procured from the sleaze, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ladoja, who is the governorship candidate of Accord Party in Oyo State, for the February 28, 2015 election, had, through an advertorial in a national newspaper on Tuesday, denied allegations that he refunded N500million, alleg-

edly stolen from the state’s treasury.

Ajimobi had, in an earlier interview published in a national newspaper, accused Ladoja and some of his former aides and close relatives of fleecing the state during his tenure as governor, following which the EFCC reportedly quizzed him.

To wriggle out of the mess, the former governor was alleged to have entered into a plea bargaining with

the EFCC, which informed the refund of N500million and some exotic vehicles.

According to Adedayo, “Ladoja’s shameless denial of his refund of Oyo State’s stolen loot is not only regrettable, but lamentable.

His brazen denial in the face of overwhelming evidence reflects what led to the lack of trust from the led to the leadership of this country.

“The general public will recall that in 2008, Ladoja

Lagos state PDP Governorship aspirant, Mr. Jimi Agbaje (2nd left) addressing the Balogun Traders that are affected by the fire out breake in Balogun Market in Lagos Island on Tuesday PHOTO: OLAWALE ROTIMI

ÎÎÎAs

the next month’s general elections inch closer, the Senate President, Senator David Mark has allayed fears in some quarters over the possible disintegration of the country.

Mark, categorically, declared that Nigeria would not disintegrate after the elections as being threatened by some political war mongers and doomsday prophets.

The Senate President,

Chika Okafor

ÎÎÎThe Minister of

Youth Development, Boni Haruna has called on the Nigerian youths to shun violent in other to ensure a free and fair election come February

who allayed the fears of Nigerians yesterday in his welcome address to the Senators after the Christmas and New Year break, appealed to the lawmakers and other stakeholders to play their expected role in ensuring that Nigeria witnessed peaceful general elections.

According to him, “I am disturbed and saddened by the war songs emanating from many quarters, particularly, from highly placed Nigerians who are threat-

ening fire and brimstone.”

Elections need not dissolve into theaters of war. It is my belief that war-mongering will only result in a legacy that we will all regret.

“As distinguished Senators, we have a role to play in ensuring that Nigeria witnesses a peaceful general election.” Despite the much vaunted fear, apprehension and anxiety that our nation may not survive the elections by some doomsday prophets, I, personally, remain optimistic

14.

Haruna who was commenting on the recent reported incident of the burning of two buses with President Goodluck Jonathan’s picture by irate youths in Jos, Plateau State yesterday, de-

scribed the act as one which has the potential to escalate current security challenges facing the country and the resolve for transparent and peaceful elections in February.

Haruna noted that the

NCAA withdraws Discovery Airline’s AOC for safety reasons Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÎÎÎThe

that we have the strength of character, the political will, the perseverance and maturity to rise above all the challenges that lie ahead.

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) of Discovery Airline.

A statement by the Deputy General Manager Public Affairs, Mr Sam Adurogboye said “the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority [NCAA] has lately carried out a review of the operations of some domestic airlines after which letters of warning or suspension of Air Operator’s Certificate [AOC] were served on defaulters.

“A case in point is an Airline that failed to carry out certain corrective actions within one week from the 1st to 7th of January, 2015 as raised in an earlier letter to the operator”, the statement added.

Adurogboye said, consequently, upon the inability to address the issues raised, the Authority, in its 8th of January, 2015 letter to the operator, decided to suspend its operations.

on-going capacity building workshop for effective youth participation in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria being organized by the Ministry of Youth Development is strongly supported by our development partners.

“It is an intervention programme meant to proactively build the capacity of youth to identify the potential risks and danger inherent in partaking in violence as a means of settling political scores at all levels.

Feb polls: Nigeria won’t break up, says David Mark Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

was embroiled in an allegation of theft of proceeds from shares belonging to the state government, which he converted to personal use. He was, subsequently, arrested and detained by the EFCC”, the release added. ``Governor Abiola Ajimobi revealed that, indeed, Senator Ladoja returned N500 million to the EFCC which, thereafter, drew a cheque later collected by the state government.

Mark

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

13 World Pakistan hangs seven militants

ÏÏÏPakistan early on Tuesday executed seven convicts sentenced to die by the courts for involvement in Islamist militancy, an official said.

Three were hanged in Sukkur and one in Karachi in the southern province of Sindh, while another two were executed in Faisalabad and one in Rawalpindi in the eastern province of Punjab.

No formal announcement was made but an official from the interior ministry confirmed the hangings.

“Those executed today belonged to banned militant outfits and were convicted for killings,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Samantha Power, the United States’ ambassador to the United Nations speaks during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at United Nations headquarters.

US, Pakistan intensify fight against terror ÏÏÏThe US and Pakistan have

vowed to intensify a crackdown on militants hiding in lawless border areas, as top diplomat John Kerry urged renewed peace talks with India to strengthen regional stability.

Last month’s shocking school massacre in Peshawar by the Pakistani Taliban triggered global outrage, and sharpened the focus on militant groups hiding in Pakistan’s north-western tribal region.

Islamabad began a full-scale offensive against Taliban and other militants in the North Waziristan tribal district in June, after ignoring US calls for action

for years.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistan’s national security adviser Sartaj Aziz, Kerry said Pakistan deserved “enormous credit” for the operation. “I emphasised that the US is committed to deepening our security relationship with Pakistan in order to eliminate threats in the border area and elsewhere,” the US Secretary of State told reporters.

Last month’s massacre killed 150 people, mostly schoolboys.

In response the government announced plans for military courts and ended a moratorium on the death penalty for convict-

Islamic State must be wiped out - French minister ÏÏÏIslamic State fighters must be wiped out, France’s defence minister said on Tuesday, indicating that Paris would not pull back from military operations overseas after 17 people were killed by home-grown militants in the capital last week.

After the United States, France has the largest number of planes

and troops involved in the coalition fighting Islamic State, which last year took control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

It also has about 3 500 troops and special forces operating in the Sahel-Sahara region hunting down al-Qaeda-linked militants.

France intervened in Mali to oust Islamist militants from its

ed militants.

Pakistan executed seven militants on Tuesday, bringing to 16 the number hanged since December.

The attack was “a reminder of the serious risk of allowing extremists to find space, and be able to command that space and operate within it”, Kerry said.

Earlier in strategic talks with a top Pakistani official, he said the operation in Waziristan had already led to “significant results”.

Kerry later met senior Pakistani military commanders at their headquarters in Rawalpindi to discuss joint military

former colony in January 2013 and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian noted that two years later French forces were now fighting the “same threat” on home soil.

“It is the same enemy. Our forces are on the ground here because... for our troops it’s the same fight,” Le Drian told Europe 1 radio, referring to the 10 000 soldiers being deployed across France to secure key sites following last week’s attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo

by Islamist gunmen.

efforts and plans for greater intelligence-sharing.

The US has carried out a series of drone strikes in the tribal regions since Islamabad resumed its own offensive there, raising speculation that the two nations’ militaries are working together on Pakistani soil.

Pakistani officials however denounce the drone attacks as a violation of sovereignty.

Pakistani officials have said Kerry plans to visit the Peshawar school where the massacre took place. But the State Department has not confirmed any trip and Kerry was due to leave later on Tuesday for Geneva.

Japan lecturer left naked in public by student lover ÏÏÏA 55-year-old Japanese university teacher stripped naked on campus in a bid to prove his love for a 21-year-old student, the school said on Tuesday, only for his young amour to make off with his clothes.

The older man, who taught computer sciences at Tokyo’s Taisho University, was left in the buff after de-robing in public at his live-in lover’s request.

The teacher, who was not named, told officials his girlfriend had ordered him to “take off your clothes right there if you want me to trust you”.

But after stripping to demonstrate his dependability, his beau -- who was said to be “emotionally unstable” at times -- picked up his clothes and ran off.

Saudi rights activist flogged

French President, Hollande Parliament will vote later on Tuesday on whether to extend France’s military mission in Iraq, four months after its launch.

ÏÏÏSaudi Arabian rights activist Raif Badawi has been publicly flogged for insulting Islam despite international outcry over the sentence handed down by a court in the conservative kingdom, Amnesty International and his wife said.

The flogging Friday in Jeddah was the first of 20 such sessions imposed by a Saudi court after Badawi’s 2014 conviction.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

2015 Election: Between a rock and hard place

I

Femi Awodele

tuned off Nigeria’s political or economic scene many years ago, when I felt my writings or arguments at social events would change nothing. I have written almost ten articles on transforming Nigeria, I have argued at many forums but it seems nothing was changing, until couple of weeks ago.

Please note that the change I’m writing about is not an epiphany but to me it represented a twist in our politicking. Let me explain, some months ago there was a message by a pastor with the last name Emmanuel. His message about Nigeria’s constitution being Islamic and the plan of APC to Islamize Nigeria was not so subtle. In that message, he gently nudged Nigerian Christians to support President Jonathan and the PDP. Then came the primary season, and to the surprise of everybody (and chagrin of CAN AND PFN who have subtlety campaigned for the current government),the primary season brought, politicking only found in US politics. A not so liked man, Gen. M. Buhari and his counselors pulled a rabbit out of the hat, by choosing a relatively unknown professor but with great calculation that comes

with vice-president choice in America, they by-passed powerful lobbyists and well-known ambitious political names to carry out this coup.

The professor, whose last name seems to be misspelled hence mispronounced, is an ordained pastor of the largest and fastest growing Christian denomination in Nigeria and Africa, whose leader is well respected –knowing how Nigerians think – many will be swayed simply by that. Coup number two, the professor just happened to be married to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s granddaughter, the Chief is more or less a political god in western Nigeria and there is no doubt that loyalist or apologists of the Awolowo political dynasty would sympathise with the professor on the ticket with Buhari. By one appointment, the APC neutralised the PDP campaign strategy in Western Nigeria and among Christians.

There is no doubt that Nigeria is a complex nation to govern because the problem plaguing the country is endemic and enshrined through every sphere of government. It will take more than one man to clear the mess, but it will also take a strong leader to do it.

I am one of those who felt a ray of hope when Dr. Goodluck

Jonathan became the president of Nigeria, I felt with his education and the seemingly divine circumstance through which he ascended the presidency, that we had hope. Instead, his government has become as equally as corrupt as the previous governments he condemned. Most of the egg heads in his administration have become sophisticated thieves; a country whose debt was forgiven couple of years ago is now looking for loans. Whatever happened to saving for rainy day?

Another thing that bothers me and terribly disappointed me about President Jonathan is how his passive nature destroyed his administration. Due to his nature, so many people have grown wings, from his wife who ignore protocol to Okonjo-Iweala who now feels she is accountable to no onet,to the really cute minister of petroleum,Alison Madueke who simply does what she wants.

General Mohammad Buhari is no saint either, he ruled Nigeria once and honestly there is nothing to write home about that administration, the general feeling is that he was a passive guy, who because of rank was made the Head of State but the strong people behind that administration were Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon and the most corrupt

person ever to rule Nigeria. I believe the question about Buhari’s education is silly politics – what has primary education certificate got to do with governance, when his life experiences is more than those asking the silly question?

For the sake of politics – he should release his certificates, not to distract from real issues.

The impression today is that, powerful regional brokers seeking a national competition to PDP put together APC and that both candidates are stogies to these powerful regional godfathers.

Nigerians cannot but feel that all these powerful godfathers would be compensated with positions and titles, and any hope of things getting better would be consumed by the same system that keeps turning good intentions into bad governance.

In my opinion, having weighed/ considered the rock and the hard place – the choice for Nigeria although not too promising is actually clearer that most of the decision we have to make regarding our dear country. The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has had six years to show who they are, and with all the egg heads, it seems Nigeria has gotten worse on every count, when we compare what is spent to what is delivered.

Hello Mr. President, how market?

‘An age is called Dark, not because light fails to shine but because people refuse to see it.’ – James A. Michener

Gbenro Olajuyigbe

A

nywhere, whether on the main streets or on the cyber streets you turn to in Nigeria today there is one loud but shameless noise of celebration in the air!. People are rejoicing! Celebrating; naked and they are not ashamed. Virtues have died. Values are already in the grave. Come on, let’s celebrate! It’s their funeral! That is the reason for the celebration. A thorough definition of Dark Age is catching up. It is a time when people rejoice in falsehood, iniquity, heresy and evil and go ahead to honour those who package, promote and market them! For the reason of what to eat, some women, men, young and old have become lovers of lie, apostles of falsehood and retarders’ of virtues.

This type of happenstance was what provoked Prophet Jeremiah in the Bible to write about once

upon a time beautiful city of Jerusalem in The Book of Lamentation. A city that then laid barren and reduced to rubble by Babylonian hordes that invaded it. Nigeria is fast becoming the ‘old testament version’ of that Jerusalem.

A city whose rulers are products of whoredom and whose large number of her people are given to reprobate mind. A nation where falsehood has become the foundation for policy details; and profanity, the guidance of practise, has slender chance of recovery from mire into which it has sunk.

That slender chance is what the February 2015 election is about.

Slender chance of rescuing the country from those that are irredeemably corrupt. They have turned to disgusting abusers of compatriots with divergent views, cursers of the righteous and molesters of anyone with odour of integrity. Ambassadors of corruption are parading themselves as transformation ambassadors.

What manner of a President

would be this consumed by personal ambition to the extent of no longer recognising what bitter division is all about? How can a President be persistently holding his political party’s (PDP) meeting in the State House and did not see that as an initiation of division?

How can a President of a country, who claims to be a Christian be gallivanting from one church to the other like those that Jesus called Pharisees, making political statements without giving a damn to the sensibility of others, and yet thinks he is not dividing the country along religious line?

They go from church to church, from Jerusalem to Galilee, yet they do not stop stealing government money! They love God with their mouths but their heart is far from God. How can a President of a country yearning for national integration allow under his watch, a group of rag tag supporters like TAN to go to the extent of dividing Nigeria Football Supporters Club.

Indeed, I agree that such a President needs a parent. Thank God he has found one among his type. His newly adopted father is Babangida. Babangida has endorsed him. However, Babangida made it known to the world recently that giving the ‘corruption that is currently going on, our government was run by angels.’

I do not know why people are frowning at Babangida’s endorsement of Jonathan. The exchange between the two men, united by expertise in science and art of corruption is mutually beneficial.

After all, by the words of Babangida and by the acts of Jonathan; what Babangida, could do, Jonathan can do, even, better.

Nevertheless,the people’s blind eyes are opening, the Dark Age is almost gone out of our land.

The market will soon be over; but before then, as TAN would say ‘Keep on doing it Mr President.’

The dealers with you are more than the minders who tell you the truth!

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

15 Opinion

Buhari and the burden of education

T

Femi Ayelabowo

here was once a popular Professor Peller in this country. Nobody cared about his academic profile, nor what he professed for a living. The reason being that he neither posed a challenge to anybody nor was he in competition with those in the academic world. What this means is that you are free to make any claims: and you would go unchallenged until you take that claim to a job in competition with others.

That, precisely, is what seems to be happening to General Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari joined the Nigerian Army in 1962 as a combatant soldier and rose through the ranks to the position of Major-General before he shot his way through in 1983 to become Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The details of how Buhari got into the Army, in the first instance, were not clear, nor do we know the

exact qualifications with which he entered, all of which have been taken for granted until he threw his hat into the ring in competition for the President of this country in the election scheduled for February 14, 2015. Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the candidate must be “educated up to at least the School Certificate Level or its equivalent”.

The issue of Buhari’s qualifications came to the public glare because he was widely reported to have declared, in an affidavit attached to his INEC form, that: “All my academic qualifications, documents as filled in my presidential form, are currently with the Secretary, Military Board as of the time of presenting this affidavit.”

Short of denying Buhari’s claim, the Military made the rather subtle clarification that Buhari should be familiar with the process of retrieving any of his credentials in his file.

Up till this moment, no certificate, whether original or copy, has been brought out by not even the most basic primary school leaving

certificate Indeed, if it is true that Buhari does not possess any qualification, then, the National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, was rather generous in describing Buhari as a semi-literate.

Given Buhari’s background, he surely went into the profession that suited his less-than-average level of intellectual endowment, especially in his days when the requirements for entry into the Nigerian Army were more of considerations of the recruit’s physique and appearance than his mental capacity. To a large extent, it has always been so in human history, as it was well articulated in Plato’s Republic, written by the renowned Greek philosopher, who drew a line between the category of men and women who should be professional soldiers and those suitable to be rulers. It is now obvious that Buhari made the colossal error of crossing this line in 1983.

Although Plato talked about the philosopher-king, as the most suitable person to lead society, which essentially is an emphasis on education, we are realistic enough

in this country not to be looking for such an ideal man or woman to be the President. Yet, the difference is clear between the two major candidates – General Buhari of the APC who is seeking to occupy the number one position and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is seeking to retain the position.

From the campaigns so far, we have a Jonathan who has grown more and more in confidence and experience; who is able to articulate, sector by sector, the challenges facing the country; reel out his achievements in the past years and project ahead what he intends to do, if given the opportunity of a second tenure. On the other side, is a Buhari who, in appearance and thought, remains a man of yesterday; who is barely able to articulate the current situation in the country, understand the complexity of the challenges and tell Nigerians his plan of how to resolve them.

Without mincing words, education is responsible mainly for the difference between Jonathan and Buhari.

The efficacy of APC as spare tyre

A

Tom FredFish

s the 2015 elections draws closer, the major opposition party, APC appears ready to take over power from the ruling PDP. But the PDP is not ready to concede power that easily. However, proponents of both camps have had claims and counter claims of why they should be voted in or out of office by February 2015. The PDP says it has done much and deserves to be reelected, while the APC says the 15 years of PDP ruler ship in the country is a waste and if Nigerians do not rise up for change , the country will sink under.

I am not a member of the All Progressive Congress, APC. I do not speak for them as well. Since the emergence of Mohammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the APC, the party has been tagged with different names, depending on who levies them.

Many paid, and others, volunteer media gurus of the PDP have attempted to assess the credibility of the APC leadership. Some see them as no difference with the ruling party, PDP. While others say they are ambitious and selfish. Their view is driven by the fact that, 70 per cent

of the current members of the APC are those who had occupied political offices in the PDP and had to defect when they were ‘no longer at ease’ with their former party.

Some say they have nothing to offer. Others call them good for nothing or yesterday’s men, (apology to El Rufai). Many sees them spare tires. Whichever category you belong, may not be far from the truth.

I however agree with those who see them as spare tyre.

In 2006, I had a very important meeting at Ogba, in Ikeja, Lagos. I was to drive from Badagry to Ogba.

I had prepared for the journey the previous evening. When servicing the vehicle, I realised I did not have a spare tyre. I rushed to the automobile market and bought a brand new one. I did not use the new one as a spare because I felt it was new and more reliable. Not too many will think otherwise. After a ten minutes’ drive to Aradagun, an infinitesimal village close to Badagry, I heard a loud sound.

I thought it was a gun shot. With tremendous fear, I stepped on the break and parked the car. But when I highlighted, I realised I had a flat tyre. The new tyre I bought the previously evening was punctured. Air was discharging from the realm. I turned around and luckily for me, a vulcanizer was just by the corner.

He advised me to replace the new tyre with the spare. I was angry to hear that and quipped “how can I do away with this new and reliable tyre that is less than 24 hours old, patch it up and let me move”. He obeyed my order.

When he finished, satisfied with the job, I paid him double for a job well done. Approaching Mowo, another five minutes’ drive from Aradagun, I heard a tiny sound from behind. What could that be, I asked myself as I parked the car to check. The same tyre was punctured from another spot. I was lucky to negotiate with a vulcanizer from a distance who was less busy. He came, and as he removed the damaged tyre, he asked me in a somewhat surprised manner, “oga you no get spare tire?”

The question was confusing as well as annoying. I retorted in angst, “Am I a fool? Why I no go get spare tyre? Abeg patch am up make I go. I cannot depend on spare tyre on this bad road”. As he rolled the tire away to where his workshop was situated, he apologized with words I could not forget to this day.

He said, “oga no vex , I go do as you talk but you see, some of this new tyre, them be mumu (fool) for bad road like this.

A fifteen minutes’ drive after Mowo, around Agbara, the vehicle

started wobbling. I was too confident that the new tyres are reliable, so I refused to change to a spare.

Motorist started shouting as they zoomed past me, “Your tyre don spoil”. To avoid embarrassment , I decided to opt for the spare tyre.

This time, the stress was severe because there was no vulcanizer around neither was there anyone to assist me to jack up the car. With my well-ironed and starched kaftan, I bent down to do a simple but tough job. I cursed the spare tyre as I coupled it to the vehicle. I did not count on the spare but it turned out to be a risk worth taking. To my greatest surprise, I got to Ogba, in Ikeja and back to Badagry and drove round about town for days without remembering I was using a spare tyre. Alas! The spare got me through the journey.

Nigeria is a moving vehicle. The people are drivers who mandated the ruling party, PDP, to pilot Nigeria. The APC whose dictum is change and has conglobated to take over power from the PDP is the spare tyre. Nigeria’s journey to self-fulfillment has been marred by military coups, economic degradation, civil unrest, infrastructural degradation, unemployment and insecurity. These are impediments to the smooth flow of a prosperous nation.

16

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Politics Bribena Efiye

17

s EFIYE Adeboye has not endorsed any candidate

Speculations were rife that the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.O Adeboye, might have directed members of his congregation to support the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, because of his choice of Prof Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate. But, Mr. Bribena Efiye, a pastor in the RCCG, dismissed the insinuation as a figment of imagina-

tion of the APC supporters in this interview. Excerpts: Concerns have been expressed in some quarters about the Christian and Muslim presidential candidates contesting for this coming general election. What do you think may likely be the implication of this on the polity?

Yes, for the first time, the opposition has really gained strength and we have two major political parties. But it is equally not true

that the two parties are purely democratic institutions not created by any individual. While you can say that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), you cannot say the same of the APC because it is like a creation of Buhari and Tinubu. The two are the major tendencies in APC. On one hand, you have the tendency of an individual that is a religious fundamentalist, ready to pursue sectional interest. On the other hand, you have another individual and CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

OBA AKIOLU’S BOMBSHELL

Obasanjo would have been jailed had Yar’Adua not died The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, in this interview with Political Editor, AKINJIDE AKINTOLA, said but for the death of former President, Yar’Adua, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would have been jailed. Excerpts: On comeback of Daily Times of Nigeria Problems are made for human beings to be solved; with dedication, commitment and prayer you will succeed. Daily Times would not die again. It is the oldest newspaper in Nigeria with the likes of Ernest Ikoli, Babatunde Jose and others

Maku

and, with time, you will assume your leadership role again. You must not be sensational but put the interest of the country first while publishing your story.

Newspapers can mar or make a nation, that is why they say a pen is mightier than the sword.

We can only try, but everything is in the hands of Almighty Allah.

During your reign, the city of Lagos has witnessed tremendous development all over, comparable to the best capitals in the world, How do you see this?

Well, I would say Alhamudu-

Those who served under Jonathan are the ones betraying him -PDP

lahi, Alhamudulahi, Alhamudulahi; it is the work of God, dedication and prayers at its best. In Lagos, we don’t discriminate against anybody, we are always our brother’s keeper.

With open mind, we take care of everybody, and that is why God has done it like this. And you have not seen anything yet; it is going to multiply in geometric proportion by the grace of God Almighty in the years ahead.

Are you saying more giant strides are still on the way?

Of course, by the grace of CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has come down heavily on former Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku describing him as a destroyer and an ungrateful party man.

North Central Zone Vice Chairman of the PDP Alhaji Yussuf Ayitogu who gave the thumbs

Oba Akiolu

down in Minna also disclosed that Maku was out to destroy the PDP in Nassarawa State by his defection to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) after he lost out in the party gubernatorial primary election in the state.

‘Maku is a destroyer who wants to reduce the votes of the PDP in

Nasarawa State, he is biting the finger that fed him, pointing out that it was the PDP that has made him what he is today rising from Commissioner to Deputy Governor and lately a Minister,’ he stressed.

Ayitogu who was on a reconCONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Oba Akiolu: Ambode is next governor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

God Almighty, we will see more giant strides. You have seen all what the past governors have been able to do right from the time of Mobolaji Johnson who laid a very solid foundation for others to build on. And then Alhaji Jakande also tried a lot. Most of the land which the governments are developing now, were acquired during his own time, and he tried. Look at the Badagry road, Lekki- Epe road, it was Jakande who started them.

Though he had his faults like all human beings, as I have mine, but he tried a lot to open up some of the suburbs. Previously, if you are going to Ijebu Ode, you go through a long precarious road, but with Lekki, which Mudashiru came to improve upon.

We have seen what Bola Tinubu did and even this present governor, how everything is being made better now. We thank Almighty Allah, and it has just started, things will be better with hard work, dedication, love for all and prayer to God. It will be better, but you must pay your tax so that government will get more money to do more useful things.

President Goodluck Jonathan was here in your palace yesterday on a courtesy visit and you welcome him with open arms. Contrary to what happened during the Obasanjo years when he was against Lagos, are you working along the line that Lagos must be in the good books of the Federal Government so that there would be better development?

Look let me tell you, let us be frank with ourselves. I’m not a politician but at the same time I’m a politician. By the virtue of being in office as Oba of Lagos, I want things to be better for Lagos and for all Nigerians and that is one of my oaths of office. Jonathan is a human being; he met most of these problems.

Let me tell you something which

Obasanjo

I forgot yesterday, if Yar’Adua had been alive for six months before he died, Obasanjo would have been in the prison yard. Because, I Oba Akiolu, I had the opportunity to have seen some of the things on ground. But time has not come, after February, I will tell you people more and I’m serious. I tell you, anybody who is anti-Lagos for no just cause; he has benefitted from Lagos, materially, by marriage, by everything and he wants to damage Lagos, lai lai, it will never happen; he will never succeed and God Almighty will never allow him to succeed on it.

How do you want to ensure that peace reigns in Lagos between the two major contenders as there have been fears of possible unrest during the polls?

Let me tell you, Lagos people have opened their eyes and they have seen that it is God Almighty who appoint leaders. Jonathan is a human being, he has his own shortcomings. Most of the problems he inherited from previous administration. As a human being, he has tried his best and I can assure you by the grace of Almighty Allah, it is what the government and people of Lagos deserve that God will grant, that’s why all praises and thanks go to Almighty Allah. All powers and authority belong to him. I can assure that the next governor by the grace of Almighty Allah is going to be Akinwumi Ambode. Jimmy Agbaje is my blood relation, the mother of his late father is from our family and he is a very good man. Jimmy too is my personal pharmacist and a very good person but I’ve made it abundantly clear to him that I’m not going back. When he was in the other party, the ACN, I spoke with him, he had his own reason for doing what he did and I’ve told him, he’s free to enter this palace anytime any day because he is a very, very good person. Ditto with Akin Ambode. In 2007, former President Obasanjo

“He is a pretender of the highest order.

Obasanjo is a pretender and an anti-Lagos”

Yar’adua

“The person who feels that Jonathan is a rubber stand that he would assist him to be there so that he can control him and God has now shown it to him that if a man keeps quiet that does not mean he is a fool”

was unnecessarily harassing Lagos for no just cause but Ambode stood firm with dedication and absolute loyalty and that is why I pitched my tent with him and he is a very, very intelligent and hardworking person. And he is a financial guru and organiser of the highest order. I’m not hiding it, I make bold to support him.

He is the next God-chosen governor and that is it by the grace of God Almighty.

Jimmy Agbaje was quoted to have said in the diaspora that if Jonathan did not win the February election, Niger Delta Militants will destroy all our oil installations?

He would not want destruction in the country. Did you hear him saying that? Because human beings, for what they want, they can say anything. Jimmy is a peaceful individual. That’s the rumour they are carrying, God

“Jimmy too is my personal pharmacist and a very good person but I’ve made it abundantly clear to him that I’m not going back”

will not make it happen. Jonathan said it times without number that his re-election does not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

Nigeria belongs to all and we will live happily and peacefully. It was a Yorubaman, maybe about 20, 30 years ago who carried the cross of the Niger Delta people, that was the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who had been soliciting for the Calabar, Ogoja Rivers (COR) states. And it is God Almighty who wanted to assist them that put Jonathan there.

Most of the money we spend in this country is from that area.

They are also entitled to lead this country. The person who feels that Jonathan is a rubber stand that he would assist him to be there so that he can control him and God has now shown it to him that if a man keeps quiet that does not mean he is a fool.

But Jonathan can still improve and do better than what he inherited. I know what I’m saying, if the late President Yar’Adua had lived for another six months or one year, Obasanjo would have been in prison yard. Quote me, I, Oba Akiolu, I said it and I mean it. And I still maintain it. There are many things still hidden and I will expose it. He is a pretender of the highest order. Obasanjo is a pretender and an anti-Lagos.

With his mouth at Island Club on 24th April 2003, he said you either love Lagos or leave Lagos.

He didn’t love Lagos and didn’t leave Lagos. And all the financial gains he made is from Lagos here. What he acquired genuinely and what he did not acquire genuinely, but everything is in the hands of God. You will see what will happen.

On Jonathan, many people felt he has not performed to expectations. He came in on the crest of general acceptance of the people that this man who never had any shoe was one of them. But he has disappointed a lot of people as he failed to deliver on his CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos,

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

his group that are all out to pursue their economic interests. And, of course, the PDP is a combination of different interests. However, because the opposition is largely strengthened in number this time around, definitely there is going to be a more robust campaign.

Talking in terms of Christian/ Muslim tickets, for me, the major issue is not just a matter of picking either a Muslim or a Christian as Presidential candidate or running mate. But one can see the APC trying to launder the image of someone who has consistently ally himself to religious fundamentalism. Over the years, there has been a consistent issue of Buhari talking seriously on religious matters. A case in point is his utterances in the run up to the 2011 general elections where he categorically said that Muslims should not vote for Christians and that Northerners should not vote for Southerner. That, for me, is a very serious issue. So, the fact that Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who is a pastor in the RCCG, was picked as his running mate does not take care of that issue. Rather, it makes one to believe that picking Osinbajo is a deliberate attempt to launder Buhari’s image.

Then, to what extent do you think the choice of Osinbajo is likely to influence the voting pattern in this election, given the speculation that the General Overseer of the Church might have given his tacit approval to the ticket?

That is the figment of imagination of APC and its propaganda machinery. Of course, because of who he is and his strength of character, I think the choice of Osinbajo will definitely have some impacts on the election. Some people will vote for APC because of his person. But the truth is that APC is only trying to pull a wool over the eyes of Nigerian electorate.

No doubt, Osinbajo is strong in character, but his principal even though he is strong-willed also, he is weak in character. Again, Osinbajo is not the presidential candidate; he is just a running mate. So, I won’t vote for the presidential candidate because he is chosen

‘Picking Osinbajo aimed at laundering Buhari’s image’

Buahri

Adeboye

Osinbajo

as a running mate. At the end of the day, what happened when Buhari tried to launder his image with Tunde Bakare will still happen. If I am voting for Buhari, I will vote for him for who he is.

And I think that is what most Nigerians will do.

The propaganda machinery of APC is only trying to create the impression that the G.O. of the RCCG and the Church have backed Buhari because he picked Osinbajo as his running mate.

There is nothing that is further from the truth. The G.O. has made it very clear over time that he would want members to be involved in politics. He has encouraged the members of his congregation to go for elective offices.

And recently, he declared that we should all go out to collect our voters’ cards so that we can vote and determine who becomes the President or other elective offices in our respective domains. That was even before Osinbajo was picked as Vice Presidential candidate.

The G.O. has made it clear that he is father of everybody because he has children as it were in PDP, APC. So, he cannot come out to ask the church to vote for a particular candidate. He has not done so and I believe he will never do so.

I tell you, as a pastor in the RCCG, I will not vote for Buhari simply because he has picked Osinbajo as his running mate. If Osinbajo is contesting for Presidential candidate, I, definitely will vote for him. But under the Presidential system that we run, a vice president is like a spare tyre.

It is the president that is a major character. Buhari is a weak char-

acter. And I am saying this with all sense of responsibility. Over time, Buhari has demonstrated that he is weak in character. As a Minister of Petroleum, when the issue of missing 2.8 billion dollars came up, he didn’t know anything. As Head of State, when the issue of 53 brief cases came up, despite the direct link to him through his ADC, he didn’t know anything. When he made careless statement that led to the orgy of violence in 2011 and innocent people were killed in the North, he didn’t know anything. All these show that he is very weak in character. If he is serious about what he is preaching, he should distance himself from Amaechi.

He should condemn what is happening in Rivers State. He should condemn what Fashola is doing in Lagos State.

How do you see the statement credited to Prof Ango Abdulahi saying that President Goodluck Jonathan should not be allowed to campaign in the Northeast and the counter reaction from the Ijaw National Congress (INC) warning Bu-

hari from coming to the South South to campaign?

Let me make it clear, I don’t belong to any political party. I am not interested in the parties, but I am interested in Nigeria. And I am very worried about the political class. Campaigns are supposed to be directed at the voters. So, everybody should be given opportunity to campaign. In a democracy, it is believed that the voters are matured enough to decide who to support and not support. So, it is very wrong because everybody should be given the opportunity to campaign in any part of the country.

Prof Ango Abdulahi is somebody I respect very well because he was my former Vice Chancellor at the Ahmadu Bello University. The statement he made that President Jonathan should not be allowed to campaign in certain parts of the North was very inciting.

As an Ijaw man, I will hold him responsible, if for any reason anything happens to the President.

Even if he has an accident on the way while going to campaign in the North, I will hold people like Ango responsible because they have threatened and incited the people to prevent him from campaigning. When those statements were made, there were no condemnations from the so-called civil society groups, the so-called men of goodwill in this country. Even the APC propaganda machinery led

by Lai Muhammed went as far as supporting the claim of Ango Abdulahi. But when the President of the Ijaw National Congress Council (INC) came out to say that APC and Buhari should not come to the South South, the so-called civil society groups and the so-called men of goodwill started condemning IYC. What this suggests is that the civil society groups and the so-called men of goodwill have become partisan parties in the political system.

‘People who served under President Jonathan are the ones betraying him, they should be called to order. Labaran Maku cannot win any election in Nassarawa State, he will be shown this in the February election”, he said.

Ayitogu said those flying the party’s flag in all elections in the country should remember that

they have an agreement with the PDP which they must keep, no matter what.

Also speaking in a similar vein, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu who received the Ayitogu-led delegation at Government House described those that defected from the PDP as driven ‘by inordinate ambition and greed’.

‘I believe that majority of those

that defected from the PDP did so out of inordinate ambition, it is an issue of greed’.

Governor Aliyu also blamed the crisis that followed the outcome of the party primaries on the automatic waiver given to new members of the party advising that in the future, the party should conduct the issue of automatic waiver carefully.

“I tell you, as a pastor in the RCCG, I will not vote for Buhari simply because he has picked Osinbajo as his running mate”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Maku, an ingrate -PDP

19 Politics

ciliation visit to PDP members who lost out in the primary elections in the state explained that it is unfortunate that he ( Maku) has defected to APGA which is nowhere in Nasarawa State, adding that APGA has office only in Keffi without any in all the local government areas and wards in the state.

Politics 20 Amid the horrors of last week, François Hollande is believed to have kept his calm, acted decisively and spoken the words of condemnation, defiance and unity expected of a French president, who by tradition is called on to embody the nation.

In the days after a series of terror attacks, Mr. Hollande, long seen by much of his electorate as weak and indecisive, has had a great boost politically. As he gathered around him dozens of world leaders for Sunday’s vast rally in support of liberty, solidarity and tolerance, he seemed for the moment to rise to their stature.

But no one expects this mood of solidarity to last very long; indeed, the attacks have already sharpened his clash with the farright leader Marine Le Pen. Mr. Hollande remains the most unpopular French president since World War II. He is troubled by a weak economy, high unemployment and an underlying atmosphere of anxiety and even fear, among both Muslims and Jews, about the impact of homegrown Islamic radicalism.

In coming weeks, he and his government are certain to confront painful questions about intelligence and security lapses and whether the carnage of last week could have been averted.

“Hollande has been extremely good in this crisis, showing calm and self-control, and using all the right words,” said Alain Frachon, an editorial writer for Le Monde.

“If we do a cold, cynical political analysis, he did rather well. Afterwards, of course, all these questions will be raised about security failures and the future.”

If Mr. Hollande has gotten a small boost from these terrible few days, however, so have Ms. Le Pen and the far-right National Front, which has made the challenge of radical Islam to France the center of their politics. Even before the attacks, her brand of nationalistic French populism had helped make her a credible contender to succeed Mr. Hollande in the 2017 election.

‘Obasanjo would have been jailed had Yar’Adua not died’

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

France terror attack: Hollande’s gains

Hollande

“Hollande has been extremely good in this crisis, showing calm and self-control, and using all the right words” The homegrown terrorism here, with its apparent links to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, will also be used by other far-right, nationalist and anti-immigration movements in Europe, from the United Kingdom Independence Party to the Sweden Democrats and Germany’s Pegida — Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West. That is another reason so many European leaders from the mainstream parties of the center right and center left, from Angela Merkel of Germany to David Cameron of Britain and Mariano Rajoy of Spain, came to show their own solidarity

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

promise?

Let me tell you, Nigeria is a very difficult place to govern; I’m not his mouthpiece, and I have no cause to be his mouthpiece. But he has his own weakness as a human being but I know that God has a way of doing his things and you will see what will happen. Anybody who does not love Lagos, who does not love any Yorubaman cannot make any progress in this country, no doubt about that and I’m

with France and Mr. Hollande.

Invitees also included the leaders of all the main French political parties, including former prime ministers and presidents, like Nicolas Sarkozy and his rivals on the center right in the Union for a Popular Movement, Alain Juppé and François Fillon, who themselves are divided but also battling for voters attracted to National Front.

Ms. Le Pen was excluded from the Paris rally, however, in what many consider a political mistake

by Mr. Hollande’s Socialist Party, which organized the event.

Ms. Le Pen, whose support in

very serious about it and I have my reasons for saying it.

On corruption, you said yesterday that Obasanjo started it, how can it be tacked?

With God, hardwork and determination, it will be well with this country. Nigeria is a blessed country. If you see young people now, 99 percent of our people want to go into politics because it is a way of getting cheap money. Let me tell you, when unjustly, because

various opinion polls for the 2017 presidential election comes close to 30 percent, loudly cried foul.

Her exclusion made a mockery of the concept of national unity, she said, and was itself a violation of “freedom of expression,” which the rally was meant to uphold.

She accused the political elite of “astounding cowardice” to isolate “the only political movement that has no responsibility in the current situation, nor do its millions of voters.

She said her supporters would see her exclusion as a “tribute” to their power, saying, “They will have the opportunity if they wish to express their opinion at the ballot box.” Alain Barluet, a journalist with the daily Le Figaro, said Mr. Hollande had handled the situation well except for his exclusion of Ms. Le Pen. Mr. Hollande will benefit for a time from national mourning and solidarity, Mr. Barluet said. “We’ll

it was this very Obasanjo, with Atiku and others, when they felt that they were putting my name in retirement unjustly with others like Daura and Okeke who was Chairman of the Police Service Commission, myself and others, they did their own but God did his own. A year and two days that I left the services of the Nigeria Police Force, God brought me into this palace by the support of my people, the plan of God and the able leadership of Bola Tinubu, I became

have to see how long this very fragile unity will last,” he added.

“You’ll see, next week things will again begin to crumble.”

Faced with a challenge from Mr. Sarkozy and the center right, Mr. Hollande is trying to establish himself as the only viable alternative to Ms. Le Pen, he said.

“If Hollande can do that, it will be good for him,” Mr. Rousselin said. “This is cynical politics, and there’s a lot of this going on beneath the spirit and the beautiful slogan that ‘we are all Charlie.’ ” The problem, Mr. Rousselin said, is that “the National Front is the only party that is saying out loud things that many people feel, and the current moment is playing into this discourse.” He added, “If you had national unity with the National Front present, you could say that we are united and the terrorists are isolated, but the problem is the infighting that starts the day after.”

the Oba of Lagos and since that time, my chiefs, Imams, Bishops, friends, everybody contributed to making Lagos a success story and we are still going to do more. And I made it abundantly clear to many people to mind what they say about Bola Tinubu. He is a human being but he is the first Yorubaman, first Lagosian to put Lagos on a sound footing. Even he himself, he came through the system of the Afenifere- Ijebu Igbo/ Ikenne caucus.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Features Enani Benson

I killed my husband by accident, says wife

A TWENTY-seven-year-old woman, Folashade Shodiya, who is presently under interogation by operatives of the Lagos State Police Criminal investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, has explained that she was forced to stab her husband to death because he habitually maltreated her at home.

Investigation by Daily Times

21

s revealed that Shodiya, who is a clothes seller, was living with her husband, 39-year-old Jude Igbedion, at Balogun Street, Owutu in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Shodiya, an indigene of Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested for allegedly stabbing her husband to death. The case was reported at the Owutu Police Division.

Daily Times learnt that what resulted in murder started as a quarrel between the couple over

issues bordering mainly on finance.

In her statement to the Police, Shodiya explained that when the beatings she suffered from her husband reached a level, she thought of poisoning herself.

She added that on November 13 when the murder incident occurred, she had taken their kitchen knife to defend herself, only for her husband’s chest to hit the object.

She said: “About 9am, there

was another quarrel, during which he beat me. I ran outside to our kitchen and then picked a knife trying to scare him. I stood at the door with the knife. As he opened the door, his chest met the object; he fell and started to bleed.

“I did not deliberately kill my husband. That was why I did not run away. Instead, I called my neighbours for help, and we CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Tompolo: Evolution of an ex Niger Delta Warlord Emmanuel Addeh

Tompolo

Reclusive. Covert. Self-effacing. These words aptly describe ex-Niger Delta warlord, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, who has of recent evolved into one of the most influential kingmakers in Delta State and indeed in the Niger Delta.

He’s seldom seen, rarely heard, yet the Ijaw traditional title holder’s hold on the happenings in the Niger Delta waterways and lately his image of a political heavy weight, pulling the strings in many puzzling instances compels an analysis.

Born in 1969, Tompolo was just another regular Niger Delta youth and little was known of him until a few years ago when he emerged one of the fiery commanders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, a militant group which said it was fighting the injustices visited on the region.

However, those who have followed his evolution also say that in 1993 Ekpemupolo dropped out of college and joined a resistance group in the Niger Delta and later the Ijaw Youth Council, which was then still very new.

Spurred on by the exploits of their compatriots, including Mr Adaka Boro and the popular playwright, Ken Saro Wiwa,

who both paid the supreme price in their attempt to ‘liberate’ the Niger Delta, the youths who took up arms against the federal government were bent on proving a point that it wasn’t going to be business as usual.

Having substantially empowered himself and his lieutenants, Ekpemupolo, perceived to be one of the most financially buoyant ex-militants in the region, took on the authorities in what would later prove to be a watershed in the history of Nigeria.

When it became apparent that Tompolo and his ilk would not budge in their confrontation against the Nigerian military and their attempt to cripple the economy largely dependent on crude oil from the Niger Delta, the Federal Government came up with a quick fix–the amnesty programme.

Counted as one of the most visible achievements of the late President Umar Yar’adua’s government, the ex-militants were, by the agreement, required to submit their arms to the authorities while the Federal Government would in turn rehabilitate and empower them.

Though critics argue that a substantial portion of his riches came as a result of his involvement in illegal oil bunkering, which he has denied, and of course from his recent closeness

to the government at the centre, those who are close to him see him as a staunch businessman with the magic wand.

“My name became associated with oil business when I was in Camp 5. When people were doing illegal business in my area (front of Camp 5), I had people with me and would ask them to go and ask these people to give them some money so that we could feed with it. But I would never do it myself,” he said.

“Everybody knows that I am not a bunkerer and that is the more reason why I am surviving up till date”, he once said.

He secured a multi-billion naira deal to secure the waterways after reluctantly accepting the amnesty on June 27, 2009, thereby publicly renouncing armed militancy.

Ekpemupolo does not necessarily court controversies, but controversies have become a part of his relatively short life, despite his attempt to draw attention to his human side by floating a foundation which caters for the needs of the less privileged. He has renovated dilapidated schools and put brilliant kids on scholarship.

Less than two months ago, a widely published statement by the taciturn ex-militant stopped the federal government CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Features 22

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

‘I never meant to kill my husband’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

tried to rush him to a hospital.

Unfortunately, he gave up on the way. That was when they reported to the police. When the officers came, they still met me and my baby at home.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State CID Panti, Gbenga Adeyoju, confirmed the incident, adding that the case was being investigated by the State Criminal Investigations Department.

A police source who spoke with our correspondent, explained that the suspect, Shodiya would soon be charged to court. when the SCID concludes its ongoing investigations.

Tompolo (middle) with the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan

Metamorphosis of a warlord CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

from inaugurating the $16bn gas project in Delta state. The Ijaw people currently have a disagreement with the Itsekiri over the ownership of the land on which the project is located and its naming.

Just before the dust raised by that action had settled, the issue of some journalists who were allegedly held by some boys loyal to the ex-warlord surfaced and then later the accusation that he had imported some gunboats which the navy later said belonged to the military.

With a frail figure which he tends to balance with unrivalled courage, Tompolo, born to a royal house in Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government, Delta State has the uncanny ability to read his environment calculatingly and take full advantage of the opportunities.

Even before his recent cryptic foray into politics, there were insinuations that Tompolo’s influence sustained his kinsman, Chief Wellington Okrika who was then the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development

Commission, DESOPADEC, for the period he (Okrika)headed the commission.

He was said to have also influenced the enthronement of the late Godwin Bebenimibo, a retired Superintendent of Police, as Gbaran III Agadagba, the traditional ruler of the Gbaramatu kingdom, where he (Tompolo) hails from.

However, away from the armed struggle, Tompolo who says he practices Christianity, Islam and African Traditional religion, has found a new pastime- that of a political kingmaker.

In the build-up to the 2015 elections, three incidents of his fresh journey in politics readily come to mind. The overnight standing down of an Itsekiri candidate by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor of Delta State, in last November’s local government elections in the state after serious pressure from Tompolo.

Festus Keyamo, a well-known lawyer of Delta State origin, who took up the case, accused Governor Uduaghan of playing politics in Warri South-West Local Government Area, the affected council, which he said was capable of igniting a seri-

Tompolo

ous crisis in the State.

Mr. Weyinmi Omadeli, the candidate who was displaced less than 48 hours to the election, had emerged the PDP chairmanship candidate of the L.G.A after the primaries were conducted, but was suddenly asked to withdraw for Tompolo’s brother, George Ekpemupolo.

Riled by the alleged injustice, Keyamo wrote, “However, in a strange twist of fate, you (Uduaghan) summoned Mr. Omadeli to your private residence in Warri on Thursday, October 23, 2014 (barely 48 hours to the election) and informed him that you had given orders to DSIEC to replace his name with that of Mr. George Ekpemupolo who is the younger brother to Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo). For the records also, Mr. George Ekpemupolo is an Ijaw by tribe.”

“The decision was taken whimsically and it is unjust, unfair, illegal and ungodly,” he declared in the letter. “Consequently, it is unacceptable and will be challenged legally and politically”, he added. The decision was not reversed.

Tompolo was also responsible

for forcing Uduaghan to step down for Senator James Manager during December’s National Assembly primaries in the contest for Delta South senatorial seat. Both Tompolo and Senator Manager are of the Delta Ijaw stock.

In his speech announcing his withdrawal from the poll, Uduaghan said the decision was to ‘give peace a chance’ and not to jeopardise the fragile calm in the state.

The former warlord also single-handedly ensured the emergence of his longtime ally who is said to be his cousin, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, as the Deputy Governor nominee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State. Otuaro is currently a commissioner at the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

The deputy governor nominee, an Ijaw man himself, emerged despite opposition from the Isoko people, another major ethnic group in Delta South, who relied on a seemingly unwritten zoning arrangement of the ruling PDP in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Enani Benson A suspected armed robber, arrested by the police in Lagos, has claimed that his family members were responsible for his inability to stop the crime.

Daily Times learnt that 28-year-old Emehelu Ndubuisi was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday, December 23 in the Oshodi area of Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that Ndubuisi, who hails from Enugu State, was arrested alongside one Uche Chukwu, another 21-year-old suspect from Ikwere, Rivers State.

The police accused the duo of belonging to an armed robbery syndicate which allegedly snatched cars and terrorized motorists in the Lagos metropolis.

Ndubuisi, who is married with a child, said he was still standing trial for a robbery case at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court when he was re-arrested for another robbery.

He added that after securing the bail granted to him, he went to his village in Enugu State for his grandmother’s burial, where he suspected that his family members placed a robbery spell on him.

He said, “I am standing trial in court for a robbery case. I used to sell motor spare parts at the Ladipo Market, Oshodi. I was initially arrested by the police in February this year, and was charged to the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court.

“I was remanded in the Kirikiri Medium Prison for some weeks during which I met one convict, Ogaga. He had spent three years in the prison. He told me some men wanted to sell a stolen vehicle, but I did not listen to him.

“After I secured my bail, I went to my village to attend

Tompolo: From genesis to revelation... my grandmother’s burial and I noticed some family members were not happy to see me. When I returned from the trip, I did not know how I listened to Ogaga’s advice.

“I had sworn never to rob again, but my village people are very evil. They must have charmed me with robbery. It was at the point of collecting the stolen vehicle in Lagos that the police re-arrested me.”

The second suspect, Uche, said his father had died as a retired civil servant in Jos, and he came to Lagos to fend for himself.

He said, “My mother still stays in Jos and works as a teacher in a private secondary school.

“I was working as a security man in Yaba.

“But I was sacked some months back and I was squatting with a friend in Oshodi where I met the gang.

“I have gone with them on two operations. I was given N15,000 the first time. I was caught after the second.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, while confirming the arrest, said investigations were ongoing to get other gang members.

He said, “Yes, they are in custody, and investigations are ongoing on the matter.”

ported Otuaro, who eventually emerged as the officially recognized nominee.

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the governorship candidate of the PDP also emerged as a result of Mr. Ekpemupolo’s ‘’long legs’’ and rising influence in the politics of the state.

He changed the political arithmetic of the state by teaming up with Delta north to ensure the emergence of Okowa against Uduaghan’s initial candidate, Mr Tony Obuh and later Mr David Edevbie, who was a last minute choice of the establishment.

Yet, despite the political rig-

marole, Okowa won, thereby paving the way for an Ijaw deputy governor nominee who was appointed by Mr Tompolo.

Already, he has been crisscrossing the state, holding secret meetings with traditional rulers, drumming support for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP standard bearer, Senator Okowa over next February’s general election.

However, there are critics who feel that given his antecedents in armed militancy, it would be a misfit for a former militant

The Suspects

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

From militant to political godfather

23 Features

state.

The battle for who should become the deputy governor of the state had squared the trio of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, an ex-chair of Burutu local government, who reportedly preferred former Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Braduce Amakazi Angozi.

Senator Manager was said to have supported one Mr J.T. Government, a former chairman of SUBEB in the state under the administration of Chief James Ibori, while Tompolo sup-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

DC Panti urges Nigerians to stay vigilant, join hands with security agencies Enani Benson The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba Lagos.

Gbenga Adeyoju, has urged all the citizens to stay vigilant and join hands with the security agencies in making Nigeria a safe place during the forthcoming General election. He said that the State CID Commander wishes to acquaint the General Public with the following security tips which the police believe will help in strengthening both personal and communal sense of safety. He said that you must strive to know not only the person living in your house but in your surrounding environment. Find out their means of livelihood as every strange face must be probed.

Observe what your neighbor normally brings home at night or what he normally moves away in the early morning hours as this may be dangerous to the safety of all.

Landlords should conduct background checks on all their prospective tenants.

They should equally create avenues for meeting with their tenants from time to time.

“Community leaders, working in conjunction with the local police, are encouraged to form neighbourhood associations and periodically meet to appraise security situation in their areas.

“Do not keep any object that will aid criminals to have easy access to your premises, e.g. ladder beside the wall.

“Owners of uncompleted buildings must clear them of undesirable persons or request the assistance of Security agencies to do so where necessary.

“Park owners, garage operators and operators of shopping malls must ensure that they thoroughly scan, search and take stock of all vehicle parked with and around the premises of such public places.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Features 24 Tompolo: evolution of an ex Niger Delta Warlord

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

to decide who governs and who gets what, when and how in the state.

Mr Robinson Ariyo, a development expert and lawyer believes when there are persons of impeccable character in the society, such humongous responsibilities should not be handed over to people who have a ‘questionable’ past.

Ariyo urged the government

to desist from rewarding bad behaviour by awarding contracts to the armed gangs, urging them to clamp down on those who wield sophisticated arms to intimidate their neighbours. ‘’ These youths have weapons the least of which is the AK47’’ the rights activist said. He demanded the disarming of the armed youths, describing their alleged continuous protection by the Nigerian state as a ‘disgrace’.

But, depending on which side

of the divide both critics and loyalists belong, there is the general consensus that the exmilitant has evolved from being a warlord in the creeks to being a kingmaker whose opinion is sought when issues of leadership in Delta and indeed the region are concerned.

However, whether he will still be relevant politically as he currently is, when President Goodluck Jonathan, also an Ijaw man, serves out his tenure(s) in Aso Rock, remains to be seen.

Police give tips on antiterrorist vigilance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Hotels and Hospitality industries should always screen their guests and lodgers properly and ensure that they obtain accurate details of all guests.

“Corporate citizens, high-end commercial and residential Establishments, institutions, mega Church/mosques and individuals with valuable assets, including hotel and park owner are encourage to install closed circuit Television (CCTV) and other surveillance systems strategically on their premises to help in monitoring and capturing criminal activities.

“Draw the attention of the police or other security agencies to vehicles parked or abandoned by unknown persons.

“Empty containers, gas cylinders, dustbins and other receptacles not in use must be properly disposed of or kept away from the reach of unauthorized persons.

“Do not allow unknown persons to drop or abandon bags, boxes, fruit barrows or trolleys, articles of trade, cartons or any wrapped or sealed containers around your premises” DCP Adeyoju concluded.

Tompolo with Gov. Uduaghan

Salesgirl foils robbery attempt in Lagos Enani Benson A salesgirl (names withheld) has emerged a heroine for her role in foiling a robbery operation recently in Lagos.

Daily Times gathered that the girl walked innocently into the shop of her boss where she met a gang of robbers dispossessing the boss of the proceeds of the day. ’’The young girl did what the average man could not do under the circumstance. She took the

risk, and it paid off,’’ a source said.

The girl, it was learnt, defied the order of the robbers and jumped out of the shop. The threat of shooting her could not stop her as she kept running and shouting ‘armed robbers’.

The unusual shout alerted neighbours and helped came her way. The suspects were left with no option but to flee the scene.

The suspect on the motorcycle outside the shop, identified as Nurudeen Adeyoju, was lucky.

His partner, Sunday Adewole was however, not. He could not match the speed of Adeyoju and fell into the hands of an angry mob.

Still, luck smiled on him as a team of policemen arrived at the scene before he was roasted.

Currently detained at the special Anti-Robbery squad (SARS), Ikeja, the suspect confessed that their Modus Operandi was to mount surveillance on women who sell cement at Ijaye-Ijokoro axis with a view to monitoring their sales and

where they keep their money.

They also said that they occasionally rob drivers of truck faced with mechanical problem.

Adewole in particular confessed his previous escapades, describing himself as a successful armed robber, who enjoyed himself with his loot.

He said his life as a robber was dictated by his addiction to luxury items, including sleeping with different women. ‘’I was confident that I would always get good money, so I was ready to spend money on any

woman that attracted my attention. There is no amount I could not spend once the woman appeals to me. I have slept with so many of them because I know that all they need is money,’’ Adewole said.

A police source at SARS described the suspect as big fish owing to their profile and reckless life.

The source added that they lived big as they patronized big hotels where they keep women and wine with reckless abandon.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Money

s

NSE canvasses diaspora stimulus for local investments Adesola Akindele The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has concluded plans to organise its first investor forum for Nigerian Diaspora expected to take place on Monday, January 19, 2015 at Hilton Zurich Airport Hotel, Switzerland, for Nigerian Diaspora in

25

Switzerland and across Europe.

The Chief Executive Officer of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, explained that the Exchange recognises Nigerian Diaspora as a rich resource with unlimited investment potential. “Diasporas present wonderful opportunity to help the development of the Nigerian economy by investing

through The Nigerian Stock Exchange, as they can help attract sufficient and stable access to international investment.

Onyema added that the forum will impress upon the Diaspora that there are attractive opportunities available in the Nigerian stock market for them to make investments.

Short news Brokers demand insurance cover for markets, public buildings Oscar

Adesola Akindele Following Monday’s unfortunate fire incident that ravaged part of the popular Balogun market in Lagos, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), has said that the loss of goods to fire could be better prevented and mitigated if the victims had taken insurance cover.

The President of NCRIB, Mr Ayodapo Shoderu, made the statement in Lagos following the early morning fire that gutted goods worth several millions of naira at the Balogun Market on the Lagos Island.

Shoderu L-R: Plant Manager, Matt Pcion, Plant Manager, Kofo Akinkugbe, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and Chairman, Secure ID, Adedotun Sulaiman inspecting Smartcards production line at the Secure ID, Lagos recently.

Smart card manufacturing, need for tarrif reduction Emmanuel Ogbonnaya The evolution of smart card technologies have helped to transform the way businesses are being transacted in the world today and have made the smart card manufacturing sector a highly profitable sector plus a high earner of foreign exchange.

The manufacturing firms boast mainly overseas customers based in emerging economies, mostly in Africa, where the adoption of technology has fast caught on with the youthful population.

Africa has about 1.1 billion people and accounts for about 15

per cent of the world’s human population- being the world’s second-largest and second-mostpopulous continent. Africa’s population is also the youngest among all the continents; 50 per cent of Africans are 19 years old or younger.

A recent study aiming to measure the size of Africa’s middle class, defined as those earning at least $450 per month, stated that this group in the continent’s 11 biggest economies has tripled, from fewer than five million in 2000 to 15million today. In the next 15 years its numbers may swell by another 25million.

Recently Africa’s most populous nation- Nigeria also be-

came the continent’s largest economy and has continued to attract foreign investors because of the sheer size of her population which stands at about 170,000,000 mostly youths.

With only six countries in Africa, namely Egypt, Namibia, South Africa, Morocco, Tanzania and Nigeria presently manufacturing smart cards, it is apparent that the continent depends on imports to service the demands of electronic smart cards which are commonly used in banking, telecoms, voting and car licensing.

Foremost in the country, is the SecureID Ltd in Lagos which is the most modern card manufac-

turing plant with state-of-theart facilities in West and Central Africa, it is a company that has set out to replicate what the Dangote Group has done in the cement sector.

SecureID has invested billions of naira in setting up a company that has turned Nigeria into a continental hub for smart cards.

However, it faces stiff competition against importers of smart cards from Asia and the only way to overcome that is for the federal government to consider formulating a policy that would ensure that the production of smart cards in Nigeria

Continued on page 26

Quote

On the 10 elements of a bankable power purchase agreement “Sometimes simple is better and less is more. This framework outlines, on one page, the key elements for attracting financing to energy projects. An agreed-upon list like this benefits government, producer, and consumer. Developers, lenders, and local governments can devote time and resources towards projects with shared expectations and clear paths for progress.” – Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC President.

Littlefield

Money 26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Digitalised N100 note, a historic first in currency production – Odozi Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Professor Thomas Odozi, the Special Adviser to the CBN Governor on Security Printing and Minting, has said that the new commemorative N100 note besides a commemorative symbol of Nigeria’s 100 years of existence, has made technological history itself.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Times, Odozi who chaired the committee on the design of the commemorative note, commended the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, for agreeing to go

Odozi

Seplat mulls merger with Afren Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc has confirmed that it has made a highly preliminary approach regarding a possible combination with Afren. The company however noted that there can be no certainty that an offer will be made or as to the terms of any offer.

Seplat acknowledged that in accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”), by no later than 5.00 pm on January 19, 2015, it must either announce a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code or

announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.

Seplat noted that this deadline can be extended with the consent of the UK Takeover Panel (the “Panel”) in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code. The company stated that further details cannot be provided at this stage due to the highly preliminary status of events but assured that further announcements will be made as soon as the need arises.

ahead with the project, noting that his support made the project a huge success.

Odozi also disclosed that the new N100 note will subsume the old one and set the standard for the design of other denominations in terms of its security and interactive properties.

The new note, he said, combines smart components, connectivity components and physical components, resulting in a truly digitalised banknote with the added benefits of greater security, visual and interactive appeal.

Daily Times discovered that

many Nigerians are not aware of the features of the commemorative 100 naira note due to its scarcity and low awareness campaigns by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Even though the note have been released into circulation, in some places notably in the rural areas, they are being rejected by people who would rather transact business with the old familiar N100 note.

According to Prof. Odozi, the new note also has advanced security features that would make counterfeiting difficult. It also has the SPARK feature which will help the public to better and easily identify a genuine currency note.

He also explained that inside the SPARK feature is contained the manila symbol which was the first known money that was used in Nigeria by Portuguese merchants, adding that currency symbols of the past were all incorporated in the design to depict Nigeria’s currency history.

The new note also has a feature known as motion thread, which is absent in the old note and when tilted reveals the national flag and N100 for easy authentication of the note.

The most unique feature of the new N100 note is its QRC digital feature which when viewed

with a QRC reader (an android app) links to a website with comprehensive essays and pictures detailing Nigeria’s robust history over 100 years.

Interestingly, Odozi disclosed that the N100 note has made history with the QRC feature by becoming the first digital banknote in the world. He disclosed that in coming out with the new N100 note, the committee was challenged to produce something unique that will place the country at the top.

He explained that three design themes were chosen- the evolution of payments in Nigeria; the importance of agricultural cash crops to the economy and cultural dancers from different regions of Nigeria.

He advised Nigerians to handle the note better, acknowledging that Nigeria is a cash-driven economy and like every cashdriven economy there is high handling of cash.

He called for the exposure of youths to technology and also for researchers to be given the necessary support for economically viable researches that cannot be allowed to remain in the laboratories for10-15 years, adding that it is what gets to the market first that makes all the difference.

‘ Local smart card manufacturers desire tarrif reduction’ Continued from page 26 is at the least possible cost to the manufacturers.

This will no doubt boost the competitiveness of the sector as well as make it attractive to foreign direct investors who no doubt will be lured by the subregion’s lucrative market viabilities and in turn boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings, while also creating the much needed jobs in the technology sector.

Recently on a tour of SecureID facility, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, promised that the government will contin-

ue to provide sectorial support to industries in the country and also reduce the costs of production.

Aganga commended the management of Secure ID, saying “what you are doing is what every Nigerian should be thinking of- moving the country away from import dependence.” He assured the company of government’s support: “we will work with you over time to reduce your cost of production.”

Already the federal government has proposed a 10 per cent tariff for the sector’s imported raw materials but the managing director of Secure ID, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe pointed out that a

further reduction to five per cent will make the sector more competitive.

Giving an insight into the company’s genesis, she revealed that: “We saw that there was a gap in the market. There wasn’t a card manufacturing company in the country and all the cards were being imported and we felt that with the kind of population we have, Nigeria has the market for the state of the art card manufacturing plant like this. “ The new tariff which the ministry is proposing is still at 10 per cent but even with that, really, we can survive at 10 per

cent but for us to be competitive, like Oliver Twist, we are asking for a reduction to five percent. Five percent will make us a lot more competitive,” said Akinkugbe.

She was optimistic that the company’s plant will be able to compete with card manufacturers in South Africa, Thailand, UAE and Europe, if the duty on raw materials was adjusted, stressing that it was important that the duty be adjusted.

The plant, she further disclosed, was not built to serve only Nigeria’s market, as it has also been servicing nations outside Nigeria. ”Today we have clients in fifteen countries

across Africa and we intend to expand. That’s the gap we saw and we took a bold step to build the plant you have seen. We are currently responsible for the supply of 13 million high-end, residents’ identity cards from the Lagos State Government.

Currently we have 215 staff but going to 350 by December 2015.”

The optimism of the private sector needs to be sustained by the government, as it will no doubt guarantee in a win-win situation for all stakeholders in the drive towards an industrialised and resource diversified economy, especially with the dwindling price of oil.

It i all fav timise tivene

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

NCRIB sympathises with Lagos, Ibadan market fire victims ÏÏÏ Ɨƒ ƅ ƐƆ ƈ ƑƏ ƅƆ ƅ ƒƆƏ Stories by Kayode Adelowokan The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has commiserated with victims of recent fire disasters in Iron Rod Market, Agodi in Ibadan and Balogun markets in Lagos.

The President of the Council, Ayodapo Shoderu, lamented the continuous loses of merchandise and properties in many commodity markets in the country to fire disasters, noting that such loses could be better prevented and mitigated if the victims had embraced insurance.

Shoderu, also lamented that market fires had deprived means of livelihood and survival to several market men and women who expectedly were breadwinners of their families.

The NCRIB boss opined that fire disasters has depleted the national wealth as most of the victims constitute a significant chunk of entrepreneurial class who are supposedly great contributors to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said: “The NCRIB is pained by the loss and we seize this opportunity to underscore the need for adequate preventive measures against fire disasters”.

“This is why the economy is not growing. Insurance is the last hope of any human kind. If a loss occurs and insurance has been purchased, it puts the in-

dividual in better stead as if no loss was occurred. But where no insurance has been purchased, it causes a reduction in wealth by the amount of value of those insurable assets.’’

Ayodapo Shoderu however called on government to embark on aggressive asset protection through public enlightenment about risk prevention and control in major market in Nigeria.

27 Insurance

FBN concludes takeover of Oasis FBN Insurance Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc has concluded the takeover of Oasis Insurance Plc having acquired 71.2 per cent equity interest through a block divestment in February 2014.

In accordance with Rules of the Securities & Exchange Commission, FBN Insurance Limited made a mandatory takeover bid for the remaining 28.8 per cent equity interest in Oasis Insurance Plc. By the close of the takeover bid on 31 July 2014, FBN Insurance Limited received a total of 1,289,493,953 ordinary shares bringing its shareholding in Oasis Insurance Plc to approximately 91.1 per cent. FBN Insurance Limited elected to exercise its rights under Section 146(2) of the Investments and Securities Act to compulsorily acquire shares belonging to the minority shareholders having crossed the 90 per cent threshold.

At the end of the 20-day statutory notice period FBN Insurance Limited increased its holdings by an additional 22,603,617 shares bringing its holdings in Oasis Insurance Plc to approximately 91.4 per cent.

FBN Insurance Limited thereafter transferred the sum of N310,649,730 to FBN Registrars (as consideration for the outstanding 560,808,895 shares or 8.6 per cent) to keep in trust for shareholders who are yet to tender their share certificates.

By this action, FBN Insurance Limited hold 100 per cent equity interest in Oasis Insurance Plc. The acquisition would enable the FBN Holdings to deepen its

Maccido insurance business as FBN Life seeks to harness Oasis Insurance’s relative strengths, thereby creating synergies for the development of the insurance business.

Also, Oasis Insurance is expected to leverage FBN Holdings’ wide network, including the international spread of its flags.

Speaking on the acquisition, the Group Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings, Mallam Bello Maccido, had the group would leverage on its acquisitions to consolidate its performance.

He said the group has increased investments across its business lines with a view to strengthening its leadership positions pointing out that the recent acquisitions of ICB banks across four West African countries, the acquisition of Oasis Insurance and on-going efforts to strengthen the investment banking and asset management would help to enhance benefits to all stakeholders, especially the shareholders.

Shoderu, President NCRIB

dƐ Ɨ ƏƗ ƋƋƈ ƅƆë 9ƌ Ɗ ƈ ƏƆ ƈ L#è Ɗƈ Ƅ ƕƆ Ɛ ƊƆ ƒƆƏ Standard Alliance Insurance Plc has announced the resignation of Mr. Tom Imokhai as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

The company disclosed this through a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that Mr. Bode Akinboye has been appointed as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Akinboye is a Private Equity Entrepreneur with invest-

ments in Telecommunications, Banking, and Real Estate, and is currently involved through First Independent Global Limited as Investor/Turnaround Manager in Cellstop Trackers Limited and Crossover Savings and Loans Limited. He has an exemplary career spanning over twenty four years in the Financial Service Sector.

Bode Akinboye was Vice Chairman of First Independent Global Limited. Prior to this, he

had previously served as Group Managing Director of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, a financial services group comprising of SA Insurance Plc, SA Life Assurance Ltd., SA Pension Managers, SA Mortgage, SA Properties and SA Capital & Asset Management.

During his first tenure as the Managing Director of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, he led the team to achieve Asset Base

of over N20 billion and facilitated foreign direct investment of about USD20 million in the company.

Indeed, Standard Alliance brand became a more respectable brand and the Company featured amongst selected public quoted companies in Africa that were listed for Investors presentation by world renowned Asset management companies which included Renaissance Capital and Merrill Lynch.

Akinboye

Labour 28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

PENGASSAN urges FG to halve refined products import Stories by Joy Ekeke Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has tasked the Federal Government to end the crises rocking the oil and gas sector and demonstrate commitment to stimulating local refining of crude oil this year.

PENGASSAN General Secretary, Comrade Bayo Olowoshile, disclosed this in Lagos adding that the key focus of the government in 2015 should be to stimulate local refining of petroleum and petrochemical products.

Olowoshile, maintained that domestic gas production for energy, industry, agricultural and automotive purposes should be given ultimate attention this year.

The PENGASSAN scribe said the government should cut the rate of importation of products by 50 per cent.

“Job creation and manpower utilisation should also be a priority of the government at such time like this when crime rate

has increased. Many of our present challenges are tied to unemployment and government’s inability to channel the youthful strength of our young people into productive activities,’’ he said.

The PENSSAN General Secretary also said a slice in importation of products would not only stabilise the economy, but also create millions of jobs for unemployed youths in the country.

He said importation of finished products into the country was a ‘canker worm’ that had left many Nigerians jobless.

According to him, government should boost local capacity development and curb idleness in the country. Olowoshile urged government to halt capital flight in the New Year to save enough money for infrastructure and socio-economic development of the nation.

The oil workers’ scribe urged the government to do everything possible to ensure the restoration of national peace and tranquility.

TUC-boss

TUC condemns transfer of Ekiti Mopol commander

Olowoshile

Feb polls: Food workers task politicians on ‘people focused’ programmes As the stage look set for the February 14 general elections, workers in the food sector of the Nigeria economy have called on politicians aspiring to lead the country to be people focused in their programmes.

Speaking at the Delegate conference of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Lagos, National President of National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), Comrade Lateef Oyelekan, said workers would only cast their votes for candidates who would make life better for them.

“I want to say here that we are not partisan and have no allegiance to any political party, but we would only support any party that distinguishes itself as government of workers and anyone who will support workers to have food on their table,” he said.

Oyelekan, who noted that the union with its business ventures in hotel, water factory, event centre and others, has supported the government in its employment generation by

providing work for almost 100 Nigerians, lamented that government however, has not been supportive.

He stated the union with its lean resources spends between N3million and N4millon every month to keep its businesses running.

He said: “It is government that should solve the electricity problem; we have played our part and if we in our small capacity can be spending so much, I wonder how much the bigger players are spending.”

He said there is no doubt that electricity holds the key to economic advancement of many Nigerians and the country as an entity. According to him, many who learned one trade or the other that relies on electricity and who should be doing well as entrepreneurs have all turned to motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada.

He advised those in government to pursue either one or two agenda and ensure success in them rather than proliferation of projects without any success.

He lamented that the present economic state of the country has further worsened the economic condition of workers whom he stated has become more impoverished and have always been at the receiving end.

While calling on the manage-

Oyelekan

ment of NBC to reciprocate the good gesture of the union, having ensured that there was industrial harmony in the company, Oyelekan said it was expedient upon the management to help beef up the workers’ pay in the New Year.

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has condemned the transfer of Mobile Police (MOPOL) Commander, Gabriel Selenkere, over his refusal to allow mobile policemen in his command to queue in the public to collect Christmas largesse from the state government.

According to report, the Superintendent of Police, Selenkere prior to the incident had not been in the good book of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu ‘probably’ due to his professionalism and dogged belief in the ethics of the police force.

The Congress in a statement signed by the TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the TUC Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, said that it is not averse to giving and collection of gifts from whomever, rather it expressed worry on why the commissioner, Mr. Lakanu, should encourage his men to queue to collect rice in “full public glare”.

TUC in the statement said: “What one could deduce here is that the police authority in the state is at the beck and call of the state government, compromising its neutrality and loyalty to the entire public. Probably Mr. Lakanu and his group have forgotten that they are paid with taxpayers’ money.

“What the commissioner has done calls for worry especially as elections are fast approaching.

Could the same commissioner and his so-called conventional policemen be trusted? Could he be entrusted with elections in the state, even when politicians will stop at nothing to outwit their opponents in any way possible? Does the police authority think the commissioner in this era of do-or-die politics will not be accused of being biased?

These are questions bugging the congress!”

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

29 Global business Citigroup scales down on consumer banking Citigroup Inc has been quietly scaling back its consumer banking presence in some of the world’s major cities, pulling out from markets where it does not have enough branches to be competitive.

In 2014 Citi retail executives went from targeting 120 of “the world’s top 150 cities” to homing in on 100 cities where the company has the greatest scale and potential. As a result, it is withdrawing from Tokyo, Lima, Panama City, and Houston, for example. In the United States, it is now focused on six cities, down from 14.

And while the bank has no specific plans to cut more branches in the near term, it will continue to re-evaluate its holdings, Jonathan Larsen, who oversees Citigroup’s overseas retail branch business, told Reuters in an interview.

European stock market

European stocks advance on retail gains European stocks advanced for a second day, as gains in retailers outweighed declines in oil and gas companies, while investors considered the implications of lower oil prices and probable new stimulus measures from the European Central Bank.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.8 per cent to 342.41 at 9:56 a.m. in London. Stocks rose

Monday, with Greek equities posting the biggest gain of 18 western-European markets after hitting an oversold level.

“You have to play Europe for monetary expectations and the effect of the falling price of oil on European growth,” said John Plassard, vice president at Mirabaud Securities LLP in Geneva.

“Lower oil prices should help boost growth worldwide in 2015 and 2016, but they will also have

a huge impact on deflation. So you have to be aware that volatility is going to impact 2015.”

The broad European benchmark gauge fell one per cent last week for a second weekly drop, posting its worst start to a year since 2008. It fell 3.7 percent from an almost seven-year high reached Dec. 5 through Jan. 9 amid a plunge in oil prices and Greek equities before the nation holds an election on Jan. 25.

Alcoa projects 7% gain in aluminum use on autos, aerospace Alcoa Inc. the largest U.S. aluminum producer, sees world demand growing 7 percent this year as automakers use more of the lightweight metal and orders from the aerospace industry accelerate.

Demand for commercial and regional jets will help boost aerospace sales as much as 10 percent, Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld said today on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Sales to the U.S. auto customers like Ford Motor Co., which introduced its

all-aluminum F-150 pickup in November, are forecast to rise 5.8 percent.

Consumption exceeds output in Europe and the Americas, helping support prices despite a projected surplus in China, said Brian Yu, a San Francisco-based analyst at Citigroup Inc. “You’ve got healthy demand trends,” Yu said in an interview.

Alcoa, the first company in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to publish fourth-quarter earnings, reported better-thanexpected profit and sales.

An Alcoa aluminum factory in Hungary

Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.5 percent today, after the underlying index slid 0.8 per cent yesterday.

William Morrison Supermarkets Plc and Metro AG pushed an index of retailers to the biggest gain out of 19 groups in the Stoxx 600.

Morrison advanced five per cent after saying it will start a search for a new chief executive officer to replace Dalton Philips, who will step down at the end of

the year. It also reported sales at stores open at least a year fell 3.1 per cent, excluding fuel, in the six weeks ended Jan. 4. That beat the median estimate of analysts for a four per cent drop.

Metro added 3.9 per cent. The operator of Germany’s Kaufhof department stores reported an increase in first-quarter adjusted revenue as all divisions had better same-store sales in December.

China records highest iron ore imports as price collapses Iron ore imports by China rebounded to an all-time high last month, capping record annual purchases, as slumping prices boosted demand for overseas supplies in the biggest user and some local mines were shuttered over winter.

Shipments climbed 29 per cent to 86.85 million metric tons from 67.4 million tons in November and 73.4 million tons a year earlier, according to customs data today. Imports last month were the highest level on record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg dating back to 1990.

Over 2014, they totaled 932.5 mil-

lion tons from 820.3 million tons in 2013, the data showed.

The steel-making ingredient collapsed 47 per cent in 2014 as BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), Rio Tinto Group and Vale SA (VALE5) raised low-cost production, spurring a global surplus just as growth in China slowed.

Prices may climb this half on seasonal trade and moderating global supply growth, according to Morgan Stanley. Some mines in China are closed over the winter months, boosting mills’ reliance on stockpiles and imports, and separate data on Tuesday showed a further drop in reserves held at ports.

30

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January14, 2015

Today in History

s

1915 South African troops occupy Swakopmund in German Southwest Africa Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola 1915 South African troops occupy Swakopmund in German Southwest Africa As part of an attempt to display its loyalty to the British Empire and, perhaps more importantly, enlarge its own sphere of influence on the African continent, South Africa sent troops to occupy Swakopmund, a seaside town in German-occupied Southwest Africa (modernday Namibia).

When war broke out in 1914, South African Prime Minister Louis Botha immediately pledged full support for Britain, antagonizing a portion of South Africa’s ruling Afrikaner (or Boer) population, who were still resentful of their defeat, at the hands of the British, in the Boer War of 1899-1902.

That conflict had pitted the Boers, descendants of South Africa’s Dutch settlers who controlled two republics—the goldrich Transvaal and the Orange Free State—against the colonial armies of Great Britain. A stiff Boer resistance, including an extensive campaign of guerrilla warfare, had ultimately been repressed by brutal methods—including concentration camps—introduced by the British commander in chief, Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener (who

1980

1980 United Nations vote “deplores” Soviet intervention in Afghanistan In a crushing diplomatic rebuke to the Soviet Union, the U.N. General Assembly voted 104 to 18 to “deplore” the Russian intervention in Afghanistan.

The resolution also requested the “immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan.”

The immense margin of vic-

later became Britain’s minister of war). Under the terms of the Treaty of Vereeniging, which ended the Boer War in 1902, the Boer republics were granted eventual self-government as colonies of the British empire.

They received their own constitutions in 1907 and in 1910 the

United Nations vote “deplores” Soviet intervention in Afghanistan tory for the resolution indicated the worldwide disapproval for the December 1979 Soviet invasion and installation of a procommunist puppet regime in Afghanistan.

The General Assembly’s resolution had no direct impact on the Soviet Union’s actions. Russia had earlier vetoed a similar resolution introduced in the Security Council. However, the size of the General Assembly

British Parliament’s South Africa Act established the Union of South Africa as a united selfgoverning dominion of the British empire. Botha, the leader of the South African Party, became its first head of government.

1982 Spotter planes located

vote and the nations that voted for the resolution indicated that Cold War world politics might be changing. Non-aligned nations (nations in the United Nations that claimed “non-alignment” with either the West or the communist bloc) and other Third World nations voted 78 to 9 in favor of the resolution (28 others abstained or were absent).

Even the fiery rhetoric of the Cuban delegate (Cuba presided over the non-aligned nations) failed to sway many voters to defeat the proposal. “We know,” he declared, “the historic role of the Soviet Union and of United States imperialism.”

Mark Thatcher, missing for two days whilst taking part in the Paris-Dakar rally 1986, Britain and US are asked for help by Lesotho in breaking South Africa’s border blockade.

1991 The deputy leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisa-

1969

Explosion rocks USS Enterprise 1969 Explosion rocks USS Enterprise An explosion aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise killed 27 people in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, on this day in 1969.

A rocket accidentally detonated, destroying 15 planes and injur-

tion, Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) was assassinated in Tunis by a bodyguard (possibly on the instructions of Abu Nidal).

1993 Five women were stoned to death in Somalia for adultery 1920 Dodge co-founder dies John Dodge, who with his brother Horace co-founded the Dodge Brothers Company, which was once America’s third-largest automaker and later became part of Chrysler, died at the age of 55.

John Francis Dodge was born on October 25, 1864, while his brother Horace Elgin Dodge arrived four years later, on May 17, 1868. The brothers grew up in Michigan and began their careers as machinists. In 1897, they co-founded a bicycle company; however, by 1900, they had sold the business and opened a machine shop in Detroit to make parts for the fledgling auto industry. In 1901, Ransom Olds hired the Dodges to produce engines for his new curveddash Oldsmobile vehicles. Next, Henry Ford contracted with the brothers to build engines, transmissions and axles. Ford was unable to pay the Dodges fully in cash, so he gave them stock in his company. (In 1919, the brothers sold their Ford Motor Company stock back to Henry Ford for $25 million.)

After supplying parts to Ford for a decade, the Dodge brothers decided to start their own company.

ing more than 300 people.

The Enterprise was the firstever nuclear-powered aircraft carrier when it was launched in 1960. It has eight nuclear reactors, six more than all subsequent nuclear carriers. The massive ship is over 1,100 feet long and carries 4,600 crew members.

At 8:19 a.m. on January 14, a MK-32 Zuni rocket that was loaded on an F-4 Phantom jet overheated due to the exhaust from another vehicle. The rocket blew up, setting off a chain reaction of explosions.

Fire deck o fuel fl terior,

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday January 14, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FoUndation FoR advancement oF Good citiZenshiP.

PhYsicallY challenGed Women FoUndation.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

TrusTees.

1. adeyemi amos ayodeji.

- chairman.

2. somoye ayanfeoluWa oluWakami.

3. Thomas. ayodele bamidele.

4. bamidele. olusoji emmanuel.

5. akinTunde adeola deborah.

6. adeyemi inioluWa john,

TrusTees.

1. aTe ÑWòkeke.

2. riTa chinWendu nWokeke..

3. kenneTh nWokeke.

Aim And objecTives.

1.

To Perform civic and ciTiZenshiP orienTaTion.

2. To research and make PublicaTion on democracy.

Aims And. objecTive.

To Give care and suPPorT To Physically challenGed Persons.

Women in cleantech and ecoinnovations initiative.

.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named iniTiaTive has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

TrusTees.

1. mrs Grace edison oGolo .PresidenT /founder 2. ms. ann anieTie oGolo. .secreTary.

Aim And objecTive.

1. To encouraGe The ParTiciPaTion of Women The Green economy TransformaTion and develoPmenT. any objecTion To forWarded To The affairs commission, aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, WiThin TWenTy-eiGhT PublicaTion.

The reGisTraTion should be reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe PloT 420, TiGris crescenT, off maiTama, P.m.b. 198, Garki, abuja (28) days from The daTe of This

any objecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, P.m.b 198, Garki abuja WiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion. signed. secreTAry.

signed bArr oby

any objecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, P.m.b 198, Garki abuja WiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion. signed ; secreTAry

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

shield the childRen inteRnational FoUndation

taZkiYah ReseaRch develoPment FoUndation.

RoYal Women oF valUe association oF niGeRia.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named foundaTion has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named associaTion has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

TrusTee Are; 1. muhammad Tahir Zubair.

2. dr isa muhammed jiddah.

3. abdulWasiu Gafar.

4. idris sarauTa nahuTa. 5. aisha Zubair.

6. hajara hussaini Tahir.

TrusTees: 1.) lolo nkechi ononiWu. 2.) chief GeorGe e. ononiWu. 3.) enGr. vivian ononiWu. 4). h.r.h eZe dr. johnbull udemba 5. mrs chikodi alamieyeseiGha.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named body has aPPlied To corPoraTe affairs commission, abuja for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, no. 1 of 1990.

THe TrusTees Are: 1. oluWabunmi oladaPo (mrs) 2. deborah oluWakemi oluWaseye (mrs) 3. dr. adebayo oladaPo 4. PasTor emmanuel olayinka oluWaseye Aims And objecTives 1. To suPPorT children in Their Personal develoPmenT To reach Their full PoTenTial.

2. To Provide Physical, emoTional and sPiriTual suPPorT To children and younG PeoPle. any objecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar General, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, P.m.b 198, Garki abuja WiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion. signed AKinWALe AKinLAWon esQ.

Aim And objecTives.

1. To encouraGe research and develoPmenT amonG members. any objecTion To The reGisTraTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420, TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, P.m.b. 198, Garki, abuja WiThin TWenTy-eiGhT (28) days from The daTe of This PublicaTion. .

signed ; secreTAry.

..

Aims/objecTives.

1. To caTer for The Welfare of The associaTion.

2. To PromoTe jusTice, Peace and develoPmenT of The communiTy. 3. To relieve, encouraGe and emPoWer The needy or disemPoWered. any objecTion To forWarded To The affairs commission, aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, WiThin TWenTy-eiGhT PublicaTion.

The reGisTraTion should be reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe PloT 420, TiGris crescenT, off maiTama, P.m.b. 198, Garki, abuja (28) days from The daTe of This

siGned: barr. GodsTime onyeakosi.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

edUcational tRUst FoR sUstainable develoPment.

tRinitY acts oF the aPostles evanGelica mission int’l

conveRted chRistian ministRY.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above menTioned mission has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion in accordance WiTh ParT c of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT lfn (caP 20)

TrusTees1. oZioma anieTo. 2. Prisca oZoilesike.

3. okey uZoechina.

4. doroThy Gham.

5. lloyd duru.

members oF THe boArd oF TrusTees 1 aPosTle emmanuel oladiPuPo - chairman 2 kasimeem daniel Gbolahan - secreTary 3 olorunfemi funmilayo - Treasurer 4 aWoloWo deborah 5 PasTor (mrs.) rachael oladiPuPo 6 surPise oladiPuPo 7 omojirhaye emmanuel ochuko 8 aaron aniefisk 9 favour oladiPuPo

Aim And objecTive.

1. To aid youTh develoPmenT. any objecTion To forWarded To The affairs commission, aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, WiThin TWenTy-eiGhT PublicaTion.

.

31

The reGisTraTion should be reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe PloT 420, TiGris crescenT, off maiTama, P.m.b. 198, Garki, abuja (28) days from The daTe of This

signed. priscs ozoiLesiKe.

..

REGULARIZATION OF NAME

i, ArogundAde dAmoLA ALeX is the same person as ArogundAde isuA. all documents remain valid. General public and concern authority to take note.

Aim And objecTive 1 To WorshiP God in sPiriT (john 4:24) any objecTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrarGeneral, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, abuja WiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion. signed by : generAL overseer

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above menTioned minisTry has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion in accordance WiTh ParT c of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT lfn (caP 20) THe TrusTees Are : 1-PasTor orijah oluWabori aderibiGbe 2-mr davidson folarin Thomas 3- mrs adeyinka adeseye aderibiGbe 4- mrs adebisi oluWaToyin Thomas 5- mrs adeola adebisi oluokun 6- mr chiWendu PhiliP nWosu

- chairman.

- secreTary - Treasurer.

- member.

- member.

- member.

Aim And objecTive : To Preach The GosPel of jesus chrisT any objecTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrarGeneral, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, abuja WiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion. signed: secreTAry

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

association oF babY caRe PRodUcts selleRs oF ibadan

the covenant Women inteRnational ministRY

.

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above menTioned associaTion has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion in accordance WiTh ParT c of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT lfn (caP 20) members oF THe boArd oF TrusTees 1 mrs. arise felicia oWolabi - PresidenT 2 mrs. rafiu sidikaT omobonike - - v.P 3 mrs. oluGbode kadijaT omoWumi - secreTary 4 mrs. oGunbusola janeT olabisi - Treasurer Aims And objecTives Are: 1 To care for members Welfare 2 To PromoTe uniTy amonG members any objecTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, abuja WiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion. signed by : TrusTees

The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named minisTry has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion in accordance WiTh ParT c of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT lfn (caP 20) THe TrusTees Are : 1- rev. dr mrs ebun ojo - General overseer 2- rev. dr. adeWale babaTunde ojo 3- deaconess adeyemi mary moduPe Aim And objecTive : To ProPaGaTe The GosPel of our lord jesus chrisT any objecTion should be forWarded To The reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, abuja WiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion. signed: secreTAry

32

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Educational trust For sustainablE dEvElopmEnt. The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” Of The Companies And Allied Matters Act, 2004. trustEEs1. Ozioma Anieto.

2. Prisca Ozoilesike.

3. Okey Uzoechina.

4. Dorothy Gham.

5. Lloyd Duru. aims and objEctivEs. 1. To aid youth Development.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi ironsi street, Maitama, P.m.b. 198, Garki, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days from the date of this publication. signed: Priscs Ozoilesike.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

royal WomEn oF valuE association oF nigEria.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004. trustEEs: 1. LoLo Nkechi Ononiwu.

2. Chief George E. Ononiwu.

3. Engr. Vivian Ononiwu.

4. H.R.H Eze Dr. Johnbull Udemba 5. Mrs Chikodi Alamieyeseigha.

trustEE arE; 1. MUHAMMAD TAHIR ZUBAIR. 2. Dr Isa Muhammed Jiddah.

3. Abdulwasiu Gafar.

4. Idris sarauta Nahuta.

5. Aisha Zubair.

6. Hajara Hussaini Tahir.

aims/objEctivEs. 1. To cater for the welfare of the Association.

2. To promote justice, peace and development of the community.

3. To relieve, encourage and empower the needy or disempowered.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within TwentyEight (28) days from the date of this publication.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “c” of the companies and allied matters act 1990 tHE trustEEs arE 1. His Royal highness, Eze Oliver Nlemndu Nwaozuzu 2. His grace, most Rev. Dr. Adewale Alfred Martins 3. Miss Olachi Nwaozuzu 4. Ms Joyce Iroka aims and objEctivEs arE: 1. To empower his grace, most Rev. Dr. Adewale Alfred Martins’ priestly vocation 2. To empower youths on agriculture 3. To empower education in employment 4. To work with society of Jesus ‘Jesuit’ Cusimano family as well as American government and people 5. To eradicate miserable living. any objection to this registration should be forwarded to registrar-general, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B. 198, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. signed: Trustees

PUBLIC NOTICE

tHE trustEEs arE: 1. Prof. Gabriel Oluwabunmi Alegbeleye 2. Mrs. Ibiyemi Olamide Onasanya 3. Amb. Dr. Ayodeji Oyewole Oyedokun, FIIM, ERMS, RMEM 4. Mrs. Yemisi Grace Oyebo 5. Rt. Rev. Prof. Dapo Folorunsho Asaju 6. Mr. Damion Olanrewaju Adesuyi 7. Dr. (Mrs.) Yetunde Abosede Zaid

tHE main aims and objEctivEs For WHicH tHE Foundation/ cHarity is bEing FormEd arE as FolloWs: a. To help relieve or prevent poverty and or financial hardship among people living in Nigeria by providing basic human needs such as clothes, food, water, shelter etc. b. To promote and support education as well as award scholarship(s) to deserving people especially children and young persons’. c. To provide medical assistance to Nigerians in need of it. d. To nurture and develop the moral, physical and intellectual attributes of children and youths through provision of leisure activities. e. To assist elderly people especially in providing financial assistance towards their health and regular medication required for good health. f. To promote tribal harmony in Nigeria by educating people and raising awareness about different tribal groups and the need to respect them. f. To promote religious harmony amongst Nigerians by educating the public on their distinctive features to enhance mutual understanding. g. The Refuge Alleviation Centre will provide assistance and support to all Nigerians irrespective of religion, tribe, political affiliation, belief, sex or race.

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

inFormation systEms audit & control proFEssionals association nigEria This is to inform the general public that the above mamed has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990

aims and objEctivEs To promote a pace-setting global organisation that focuses on It governance, Control, Security, Audit and risk management any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja Within 28th days from the date of publication. signed: Secretary

signed: THOMPSON ASHOJO ESQ.

Zainab HasHimiu islamic Foundation This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act No. 1 Of 1990 trustEEs: 1. Alh. Chief Rabiu Olatunji 2. Alh. Chief Folorunsho Saliu Edunjobi 3. Alh. Chief Jabar Haruna 4. Alh. Chief Abdul Bari Yoosuph Afinni 5. Mallam Toheeb Idris 6. Alh. Sadu Adamson 7. Alh. Lawal Bakare 8. Alh. Ganiu Olamina 9. Mr. Mureni Adeniyi Edunjobi aims and objEctivEs 1. To Off Moral Assistance To Young And Old Muslims, Widows And Widowers.

2. To Organize A Forum For The Purpose Of Carrying Out Islamic Teachings Learning And Research.

Any Objection To This Registration Should Be Forwarded To The Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street. Pmb 198, Matiama, Abuja Within 28Th Days From The Date Of Publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE

aHalu sHakiriyya association oF nigEria This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies And Allied Matters Act No. 1 Of 1990

tHE trustEEs arE: 1. Pastor uloma dan - abia - president 2. Barrister gloria agala - secretary 3. Roselyn obulum -

trustEEs: 1. Habeeb Imam Shekarau.

2. Alh Ahmadu Zarif Musa.

3. Musa Abubakar.

4. Barrister Garba Bako Wushishi.

aims and objEctivEs 1. To groom and help the non-privileged indigent teen girl, to direct Their passion and interest to the things of god.

2. To organize free legal services for abused and rape teens, teens Who suffer sexual assault and molestation, whose rights are violated.

3. To rehabilitate teenage drug addicts, rape teens, teenage mothers, Pregnant teens and teenagers rescued from human trafficking.

Any objection to this registration should be addressed to the Registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

aims & objEctivEs: To promote social wellbeing of the society.

To promote peace unity & development.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street. Pmb 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days fromv the date of publication.

signed: President

aims and objEctivEs: 1.To embark on youth, social development and empowerment 2.To organize public lectures on youth development and selfempowerment Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

signed: Barr Mohammed Noah 08033712653

PUBLIC NOTICE

uloma dan abia Foundation The general public is hereby notified that the above named non-governmental organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration as an incorporated trustee under Part c of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C-20, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

tHE trustEEs arE: 1.Akindola Yekini – Chairman 2.Ashojo Thompson Tunbosun – Secretary 3.Adeyeye kayode Desmond 4.Babatunde Tope kemi 5.Ayodele Aderonke 6.Akintan Bayo Emmanuel 7.Adefiyiju Ilemobayo Clement 8.Falemara Gilbert Ayobami

PUBLIC NOTICE

signed: FIRSTROSE SOLICITORS

PUBLIC NOTICE

toluWalayE social dEvElopmEnt club oF nigEria The general public is hereby notified that the above named social club of Nigeria has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

signed: Aderonke Adeleye Miss.

APOGEE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS.(Legal Consultants and Practitioners) No. 36, Agboyi Road,Ogudu, Lagos, Nigeria.

trustEEs; 1. Oni Ehinonmen Philomena 2. Gbadamosi Folakemi Toyin -Secretary 3. Aladenusi Temitope Samuel 4. Ineh Peter Emeka -President 5. Ikani Yunusa 6. Martins Agnes Olatokunbo

aims and objEctivEs 1. To propagate and improve the reading culture and habits of the youth 2. To propagate and encourage the use of resource materials.

3. To sensitive the public on the need to read books.

4. To lobby the ‘have’ to donate books to the ‘have not’.

5. To organise annual KBL National Quiz and Reading/Essay Writing Competition.

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

signed ; Secretary.

PUBLIC NOTICE

tHE rEFugE allEviation cEntrE Notice is hereby given to the General Public that the following persons, namely; 1. Chief Adebowale Adeleye.

2. Chief Mrs. Mosunmola Adeleye.

3. Mr. Olagoke Jobi.

4. Miss Aderonke Adeleye.

5. Dr. Mrs Omotola Ajayi.

6. Miss Oyinlade Adeleye.

7. Miss Ibilola Adeleye.

8. Mr Adebowale Bankole Adeleye (Jnr).

Have applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 to be registered as THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE REFUGE ALLEVIATIONCENTRE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

lEadErs knoWlEdgE basE library rEsourcE cEntrE This is to inform the General Public that the above named CENTRE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

aim and objEctivEs. 1. To encourage research and development among members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

signed: Barr. Godstime Onyeakosi.

PUBLIC NOTICE

vocation rEalisE on agric EmpoWErmEnt Foundation

taZkiyaH rEsEarcH dEvElopmEnt Foundation.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

signed: Secretary

tHE logos dEvElopmEnt cEntrE tHE trustEEs arE 1 .Ven. Olufunso Awe 2. Ibukun Olubunmi Ajomo Esq 3. Ven. Olubanke Obafemi Fasina 4. Ibidunni Ifeoluwa Awe AIMS & OBJECTIVES To establish a centre which will pursue the study, practice and development of effective bible study for Christians. signed: Mrs Ufuoma Ani (Akinlawon & Ajomo)

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Jonathan moves to regain S’West for PDP

L-R: Member, Nigeria for Sustainable Growth Development (NSGD), Mr. Victor Etukudoh; Chairman, NSGD, Cdr. Monde Umo (rtd); Assistant Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalist, Lagos State Council, Mr. Odifa Alfred and Member, Mrs. Vivian Duke at a press conference on national issues in Lagos on Tuesday. Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Julius Alabi, Osogbo

ÏÏÏTo regain the control of the South West for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP presidential flag bearer, has assured the zone of more dividends of democracy if elected in the February 14 general elections.

According to him, the forthcoming presidential election would be between light, which he represents, and darkness, which his opponent represents, warning that it would be retrogresive for Nigerians to leave the destiny of the country in the hands

of a man without adequate and sound education.

Jonathan, while speaking in Osogbo, Osun State capital yesterday, in continuation of his campaign, noted that since assumption of office four years ago, every sector of the country had been touched, especially, the rail transport system.

“We have done reasonably well since assumption of office despite the challenges. We have put in place cottage and small scale industries to make our youths self-reliant. The neglected trains are now working and this, in a few years, will galvanise the mass transit system in the country. The resuscitated

train system in Osun State is done by a PDP government and today our people are happy.

“In the education sector, more almajiri schools have been established across the country, while universities in the South West have benefited more from TETFund since my resumption in office”, noting that his administration would do more if given the opportunity next month.

Jonathan further explained that his government was set to create additional two million jobs for the teeming youths in the country, disclosing that industries created by his administration would start exporting goods out of the country in the

next five years.

His words: “Assess us with what we have done since and you should ask our opponent what they have done while in office. Do you vote for a tyrannical government and a man who does not believe in the ethos of democracy?

“Do you want to vote for a man who wants to scrap the office of the First Lady and relegate womanhood to the background? In PDP, we have demonstrated that women can be used, optimally, and our administration has done that by appointing women into positions of trust in Nigeria.

“The coming election is a vote for free citizens which we represent and imprison citizens which they represent. We are determined to reposition the country in the next four years. We are going to create opportunities for Nigerians as we have been doing”, he noted.

Jonathan, therefore, called on the people of Osun State to vote en-masse for him and his party in the coming elections, promising to do more for Nigerians.

Also speaking on the occasion, the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adam M’uazu berated the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for not paying workers’ salary for several months, stressing that the Federal Government released money to states as and when due.

M’uazu added that PDP had done much for the country, calling on the people of the state to cast their votes for the party next month.

ÏÏÏInspector General of Police,

Suleiman Abba, has said that his men will secure the polling units without firearms with a warning that any violence after the announcement of election results will be severely dealt with.

Speaking on Tuesday at the commissioning of a 500-seater multi-purpose hall for the training of policemen at the Akwa Ibom State headquarters, Uyo,

he said the force would investigate those who prophesied violence after the announcement of the results.

“I want to let you know that we will protect the voters, materials and INEC officials and results. Any violence after the announcement of the election results will be severely dealt with”, he said.

According to him, the State Commissioner of Police, Gabriel Achong had built an edifice for which he would be remembered adding that he had set a

challenge for other officers adding that the achievement was a clear indication that the CP was a service-oriented officer instead of enriching his pockets.

“This is a challenge to all officers. We see this happening in other organisations where when you are made an officer, you must leave something behind, not only for you to be remembered, but for you to be assessed as a leader.

“This is the pace Achong is setting in the Nigeria Police. I am not saying that he is the first

NCP vows to revive energy sector Chukason Nweze, Enugu

ÏÏÏNational

Conscience Party (NCP) has promised to revolutionalise power generation and distribution in Nigeria in less than three years with only about $9 billion if its presidential candidate, Engr. Martin Onovo, wins the election in February.

Speaking during the presidential and governorship flag off campaign of the party at People’s Club, Enugu, Onovo, who emerged as the presidential flag bearer of the party recently, said “currently, published reports indicate that Nigeria has the lowest public power per capita in Africa. Power generation has remained just over 3,000 MW since 1999 even after we have spent $ 51 billion on power, since then.

Ahmed tasks FG on road maintenance ÏÏÏKwara

State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on the Federal Government to live up to its electoral promises by repairing all federal roads in the state in order to protect lives of Nigerians.

Ahmed made the appeal in a condolence message on the death of three members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Ilorin depot and another woman in two separate automobile accidents along Ilorin-Old Jebba road in Ilorin.

FG trains 100 interns in Anambra Doris Nnabueyi, Awka.

ÏÏÏThe

IGP warns against post-election violence Eno-Obong Okon, Uyo

33 News

to do this, but I think in recent years, this is a record”, Abba added.

Suleiman Abba

Federal Government has commenced a self-reliance training of 100 persons under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program, (SURE-P) in the Anambra State Graduate Internship Scheme organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with some firms in the state.

Declaring the training open yesterday, the GIS Project Director, Mr. Peter Papka represented

by Dauda Madaki said the Federal Government came up with the SURE-P, to provide critical infrastructure and social safety nets, noting that it made a deliberate attempt to create a critical bridge that will enable the Nigerian graduate cross from graduation to the workplace with ease.

34

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday January 14, 2015

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

s

Nigerians as lovers of culture

A Cuban Ifa priest

Ifa priests’ predictions for Cuba in 2015 In the Yoruba traditional religion, divination gives the priests unreserved access to the teachings of Orunmila. Esu is seen as being in charge of justice, order and the transportation of sacrifices (Ebo). Esu is the one said to give authority (Ase) to the oracle when the need arises. Esu is also the one that holds the keys to a person’s blessings (Ire), thus acting as Oluwinni.

Thus, priests of the Yoruba Traditional Religion and Cultural Association of Cuba issued its 2015 predictions following the prophecies of the Ifa oracle.

According to the predictions, under the sign of Otura Sa, in 2015, Cubans must further respond to spiritual life, increase level of hygiene and follow customs and habits providing a healthier life.

It also urged Cubans to avoid social indiscipline, look after marital relations, prevent sexually transmitted diseases and encourage family, religious and social unity.

Front view of the National Theatre, Lagos Fifteen years of uninterrupted democracy and 54 years of nationhood may not have given many Nigerians any cause to smile or celebrate.

But for the arts and culture sector of the economy, there is something to cheer about.

Agozino Agozino has been following the trend of the nation’s art scene. His report.

Nigeria, long before the advent of colonialism had a rich, vibrant and artistic culture, expressed in archeological excavation of the Nok culture, the Igboukwu bronze and brass cast and other forms of creative expressions. The advent of colonialism resulted in the theft of a significant number of these masterpieces from the country.

Most of them are now found in museums in Europe, while some

Hubert Ogunde (July, 1916-April, 1990)

Soyinka

The late Achebe

museums in Britain have an elaborate Benin bronze head stolen from the ancient Benin kingdom, the seat of a rich metal work culture. The kingdom was brought to its knees by a British naval expedition in the 19th century.

However, despite policy flops and executive administrative somersault, the scenario in the nation’s art sector has not been all that bad as individuals, pri-

vate and non-governmental organisations seem to have taken the challenge and forced themselves to achieve some level of success, even beyond the shores of Nigeria. The last 54 years coincide with the leap forward of Nigerian artists, writers, filmmakers as well as the period of improvement in the global ranking of the country’s cultural festivals and tourism sites.

Although, the late Hubert Ogunde was not really unsung, (he once headed Nigeria’s National Troupe), his posture in the country’s art has not really been well stated. His magnificent, if surreal, theatre works come to mind. Though epic,

Ogunde, ingeniously, used his stage and, later cinematic presentations, to communicate to his audience (in Yoruba), criticise colonialism and, effectively, chart a social cause. His Yoruba Ronu is a typical example.

Among his hit stage presenta-

Some achievements recorded by Nigeria Although, no one knows why the name Alauiyu Odan Sidi, former Emir of Zaria is not popular in Nigeria’s art history today, history has it that he was a notable poet in his time. His gift, ironically, contributed to his removal from the throne. He was deposed and exiled during Lord Lugard’s British colonial administration of Nigeria because of his fiery anti-colonial poetry in the Northern part of the country.

Another star was the late author, Peter Nwana who captivated the Eastern parts of the country with his popular novel Omenuko.

Nwana’s novels, written in Igbo language pioneered a literary movement that set the platform for what was known, in the 1950s through the 1970s, as the Onitsha

Continued on page 35

tions are, Strike and Hunger, a composition that supported and propped the struggle of the Nigerian workers against the injustice of colonial administration. Ogunde also offered hits as Tiger Empire, Herbert Macaulay, and Tower Liberty among others.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday January 14, 2015

35

Our heritage

Sights of Anambra, South East’s commercial nerve centre Agozino Agozino A visit to Anambra State reveals why it is known and called the home of hospitality. Bounded by Imo and Abia State in the south, Benue and Kogi State in the north; Delta State in the west and Enugu State in the east, Anambra State could best be described as the home of entrepreneurs in Nigeria. In all sectors of life, the state had produced famous personalities including the first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Anambra people are widely known to be very inventive and hardworking. They are friendly and sociable, they show great respect for visitors.

The language spoken is Igbo but English is widely used and a visitor can make himself understood even in the humblest hamlet if he can speak Pidgin English.

Ogbunike Cave Some of the cultural legacy of the state include the Ogbunike Cave, which is located in Oyi Local Government Area. The cave is about two to three metres high and several metres wide, and it extends several metres long, it branches into several tunnels and contains a spectacular waterfall.

Nanka/Agulu erosion site Another notable tourist centre is the Nanka/Agulu erosion site which is a deep and extensive gully erosion site covering several square kilometres and about 100 metres deep. It is located in Aniocha Local Government Area. A trip across the state yields rewarding insight into the cultural life of the N’digbo. Agulu Lake, which is fairly large and natural, is situ-

Ijele masqurade from Anambra State ated in a deep river valley. It is located in Aniocha Local Government Area and has potentials for sports, fishing, and boat racing, picnics, although, presently, it is used for only fishing, and irrigation.

activities such as relaxation, trade fairs, Mmanwu festival, and other activities the communities may wish to host. Other historical attractions can be seen in the museums at Nri, Enugu Ukwu and Igbo-Ukwu.

Obudu Lake Other cultural and tourism potentials in the State include Obudu Lake located at Ndikeronwu in Orumba North Local Government Area. It is expected that the lake should be used for

Igbo Ukwu and Nri Museum The Igbo Ukwu and Nri Museum are the most significant, as an ancient town in Igbo land with abundant cultural artifacts. Also, the Odinani Museum which was formally run by

the University of Ibadan, as a research centre, attracts many foreign visitors to the state. Cultural attractions manifest in the form of Mmanwu festival, which is, usually, celebrated at the state level every November.

Other festivals include Ofala, Ahajioku or Iriji festival.

Iriji new yam festival In addition to the aforementioned tourist centres, there are many hotels in Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi to take care of visitors in the state.

...Nigerians are lovers of culture Continued from page 34 Market Literature, the forerunner of modern Nigerian literature.

Other less-mentioned outstanding figures were Ogali Ogali, Orlando Iguh and others. Ogali’s Veronica, My Daughter, was well known at home and beyond the shores of Nigeria. His provocative literary works, reportedly provided inspiration to a crop

of young anti-colonial activists who also evolved into remarkable writers, fiery journalists and political activists. Among the Ogali protégés were renowned men like Mokwugo Okoye, Osita Agwuna, Adegoke Adelabu and Mazi Mbonu Ojike.

The contributions of these writers to the development of Nigerian literature, through their books, essays, newspaper columns, among other interven-

tions, also appeared not to have been well noted by promoters of the country’s art.

Other writers that left indelible marks in the sand of literary time, included Daniel Olorunfunmi Fagunnwa (who signed as D.O. Fagunwa). His literary works inspired many of the post-independence writings in the country. Fagunwa, who reportedly got drowned while trying to cross the River Niger, in former Eastern

region, had, between 1939 and 1961, published about six novels in Yoruba. Drawing largely from Yoruba mythology, Fagunwa did not only set a pace, he succeeded in winning and, retaining a large readership till date. His popular play, Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmole, was translated into English

by Wole Soyinka, as the popular work, Forest of Thousand Demons. Although, purely mythological, Fagunwa’s books offer rich moral lessons.

Experiencing the dream life The Dream Maker is a motivational book with characters.

Described as a fable by the author, Sammy Sage Hassan, it is the story of a Sage (Baba) and his favourite student (Da), as the former imparts wisdom into the latter.

Set in the fictional Saga City, it brings to mind messages hidden in old and popular accounts, but, with an urgency that makes the reader want to heed the voice of the Sage and take immediate action.

The Dream Maker is a progressive writing from having dreams, to visualisation, learning, fantasy, reality, imagination etc.

On page 19, the reader learns or is reminded that visualisation is the active process of having a spiritual feeling/knowledge of dreams and ambitions.

Before you can visualise, you need to be in possession of a dream and or vision, then visualisation will have you possessed of that dream/vision…… visualisation is the active process of imprinting what you imagine on your mind. Pg. 20 The experience of reading the book can rightly be described as the feeling most students have of being in the classroom; when the lesson time is too long, the student loses focus. This might be due to the many lessons jumping out at the reader, who, indeed, must slow down or, sometimes, re-read a sentence or paragraph for better assimilation of the message, to avoid confusion.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Features Features City File I killed my Enani Benson

A TWENTY-seven-year-old woman, Folashade Shodiya, who is presently under interogation by operatives of the Lagos State Police Criminal investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, has explained that she was forced to stab her husband to death because he habitually maltreated her at home.

Investigation by Daily Times

BALOGUN Tompolo: husband by accident, MARKET Evolution of an exwife Niger Delta INFERNO: The says 5 P21 mourning is just Warlord City File s beginning P 5

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dailytimesng Photos of the fire scene at Balogun market, Broad street, Lagos.

Will Ross

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has concluded plans to organise its first investor forum for Nigerian Diaspora expected to take place on Monday, January 19, 2015 at Hilton Zurich Airport Hotel, Switzerland, for Nigerian Diaspora in

out the truth in Nigeria.

The Baga killings last week are a case in point, with politicians and government officials offering vastly different information - from 150 dead to 2,000.

News of another attack

by Islamist militants from Boko Haram often starts as a vague one-liner as was

News

revealed that Shodiya, who is a clothes seller, was living with her husband, 39-year-old Jude Igbedion, at Balogun Street, Owutu in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Shodiya, an indigene of Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested for allegedly stabbing her husband to death. The case was reported at the Owutu Police Division.

Daily Times learnt that what resulted in murder started as a quarrel between the couple over

issues bordering mainly on finance.

In her statement to the Police, Shodiya explained that when the beatings she suffered from her husband reached a level, she thought of poisoning herself.

She added that on November 13 when the murder incident occurred, she had taken their kitchen knife to defend herself, only for her husband’s chest to hit the object.

She said: “About 9am, there

Islamic State must be wiped out - French minister P13

s

Business

was another quarrel, during which he beat me. I ran outside to our kitchen and then picked a knife trying to scare him. I stood at the door with the knife. As he opened the door, his chest met the object; he fell and started to bleed.

“I did not deliberately kill my husband. That was why I did not run away. Instead, I called my neighbours for help, and we

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Tompolo: Evolution of an ex Niger Delta Warlord

Switzerland and across Europe. through The Nigerian Stock ExThe Chief Executive Officer change, as they can help attract of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, ex- sufficient and stable access to plained that the Exchange rec- international investment. ognises Nigerian Diaspora as a Onyema added that the forum rich resource with unlimited in- will impress upon the Diaspora who both paid the supreme to the government at the centre, Emmanuel Addeh vestment potential. “Diasporas that there are attractive opporprice in their attempt to ‘liber- those who are close to him see present wonderful opportunity tunities available the Delta, Nigeate’ in the Niger the youths him as a staunch businessman who took up arms against the with the magic wand.

Reclusive.

Covert.

Self-effacto help the development of the rian stock market for them to “My name became associated ing. These words aptly describe federal government were bent Nigerian economy by investing make investments. ex-Niger Delta warlord, Mr. Gov- on proving a point that it wasn’t Oscarwith oil business when I was in ernment Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, who has of recent evolved into one of the most influential kingmakers in Delta State and indeed in the Niger Delta.

He’s seldom seen, rarely heard, yet the Ijaw traditional title holder’s hold on the happenings in the Niger Delta waterways and lately his image of a political heavy weight, pulling the strings in many puzzling instances compels an analysis.

Born in 1969, Tompolo was just another regular Niger Delta youth and little was known of him until a few years ago when he emerged one of the fiery commanders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, a militant group which said it was fighting the injustices visited on the region.

However, those who have followed his evolution also say that in 1993 Ekpemupolo dropped out of college and joined a resistance group in the Niger Delta and later the Ijaw Youth Council, which was then still very new.

Spurred on by the exploits of their compatriots, including Mr Adaka Boro and the popular playwright, Ken Saro Wiwa,

The mourning is just beginning

the case on 3 January: “Attack on Baga. Loud gunfire heard.”

This first bit of information often comes via social media. The challenge now is to find out the details and there are plenty of obstacles in the way of getting to the truth.

First up there has been no mobile phone connection in Baga for many months after the jihadists attacked mobile phone masts in the north-east.

There are of course the officials whose job it is to tell the world what is going on.

But for the first few days of the Baga crisis both the military spokesmen and government officials were silent or not picking up calls.

Then, often with help from colleagues from the BBC’s Hausa service, the goal is to get through to people who have witnessed the violence.

On 4 January we spoke to a man who had walked for two days through the bush, eventually getting a lift to the relative safety of the biggest city in the area, Maiduguri, on a

lorry.

“There was shooting from every corner of the headquarters of the multinational task force,” he tells me, adding that the exchange of fire lasted hours.

Then there are more testimonies from witnesses who say the military base was overpowered and then the gunmen started killing civilians in Baga town.

But every witness we speak to is fleeing for their life. They are not hanging around Baga to check exactly what’s happening so it is hard to be sure we are getting facts.

Then a local politician from the area weighs in with more accounts of people being shot in Baga and others dying as they fled, their boats capsizing on Lake Chad.

“I don’t know how many people have been killed,” says Senator Maina Maaji Lawan, who represents Borno North.

“But at least 70% of the area I represent is in Boko Haram hands.”

Four days after the attack and there is still

There was pandemonium at dawn in Lagos on Tuesday, January 13, as Lagosians woke up to the news that the famous Balogun market on Lagos Island has gone up in flames.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Daily Times N

Wednesday, January 14 NSE canvasses diaspora stimulus for local P 25 investments

going to be business as usual.

Having substantially empowered himself and his lieutenants, Ekpemupolo, perceived to be one of the most financially buoyant ex-militants in the region, took on the authorities in what would later prove to be a watershed in the history of Nigeria.

When it became apparent that Tompolo and his ilk would not budge in their confrontation against the Nigerian military and their attempt to cripple the economy largely dependent on crude oil from the Niger Delta, the Federal Government came up with a quick fix–the amnesty programme.

Counted as one of the most visible achievements of the late President Umar Yar’adua’s government, the ex-militants were, by the agreement, required to submit their arms to the authorities while the Federal Government would in turn rehabilitate and empower them.

Though critics argue that a substantial portion of his riches came as a result of his involvement in illegal oil bunkering, which he has denied, and of course from his recent closeness

Camp 5. When people were doing illegal business in my area (front of Camp 5), I had people with me and would ask them to go and ask these people to give them some money so that we could feed with it. But I would never do it myself,” he said.

“Everybody knows that I am not a bunkerer and that is the more reason why I am surviving up till date”, he once said.

He secured a multi-billion naira deal to secure the waterways after reluctantly accepting the amnesty on June 27, 2009, thereby publicly renouncing armed militancy.

Ekpemupolo does not necessarily court controversies, but controversies have become a part of his relatively short life, despite his attempt to draw attention to his human side by floating a foundation which caters for the needs of the less privileged. He has renovated dilapidated schools and put brilliant kids on scholarship.

Less than two months ago, a widely published statement by the taciturn ex-militant stopped the federal government

Boko Haram crisis: Why it is hard to know the truth in Nigeria BALOGUN MARKET INFERNO

Tompolo

ÎÎÎIt is not easy to find

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NSE canvasses diaspora stimulus for local investments

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Short ne

Brokers de insurance for market buildings

Adesola Akinde

Following M tunate fire incid part of the po market in Lago Council of Re ance Brokers (N that the loss o could be better mitigated if the en insurance cov The President Ayodapo Shode statement in L the early morni ted goods worth of naira at the B on the Lagos Isla

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

silence from the governAnother local politician families. We are one with Shoderu ment and the military. says 2,000 are dead. But he France in mourning,” Quote L-R: Plant Manager, Matt Pcion, Plant Manager, Kofo Akinkugbe, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and Chairman, Secure Adedotun Sulaiman inspecting Smartcards line at theto Secure ID, Lagos recently.

Then ID,some journalists is production not there count them tweets Ngozi Okonjo- On the 10 manage to meet the chief - nobody is because it is Iweala with the hash tag of a banka of defence staff, Air Chief far too dangerous - so it is #JeSuisCharlie. purchase a Marshal Alex Badeh. hard to believe him.

Meanwhile local TV staIt is not an organised Meanwhile in Paris tions follow every twist “Sometime ter and less is m news conference but a news breaks of, initially at and turn of the presiden- work outlines, o per cent of the world’s human came the continent’s largest turing plant with state-of-theEmmanuel Ogbonnaya hurried exchange in a car populationleast,being 12 people being shot tial election campaign key elements fo the world’s economy and has continued art facilities in West and Cen- nancing to ener second-largest and second-mostforeign investors be- tral Africa,lengthy it is a companyprothat agreed-upon lis The evolution of smart card park. dead by gunmen.to attract Within - some are technologies have helped to populous continent. Africa’s cause of the sheer size of her has set out to replicate what the fits government Deve is also the youngest population He is asked about thebusiat- population minutes President Frangrammes by consumer. which stands at Dangotesponsored Group has done in the transform the way and local gover nesses are being transacted in among all the continents; 50 per about 170,000,000 mostly youths. cement sector. vote time and re tack on the the military base cois Hollande is speaking rival political parties.

With only six countries in AfSecureID has invested billions world today and have made cent of Africans are 19 years old rica, namely Egypt, Namibia, of naira in setting up a company projects with s smart card manufacturing or younger. in Baga.the to the world’s media offerNigerian politicians tions and clear A recent study aiming to mea- South Africa, Morocco, Tan- that has turned Nigeria into a sector a highly profitable sector plus a high earner of foreign ex- sure the size of Africa’s middle zania and Nigeria presently continental hub for smart cards. ress.” – Elizab “Of course there was an class, ing some clarity and lead- appear more focused on defined as those earning manufacturing smart cards, it However, it faces stiff com- OPIC President. change. least $450 per month, stated is apparent that the their continent election petition against importers of Theshoots manufacturing attack,” he back.firms at ership. campaigns boast mainly overseas custom- that this group in the conti- depends on imports to service smart cards from Asia and the biggest economies the demands of electronic smartononly way to overcome that is for ers based in emerging “But don’t worry weeconoare nent’s 11“This is anhasact of exthan security issues mies, mostly in Africa, where tripled, from fewer than five mil- cards which are commonly used the federal government to conat work.” barbarism,” The media seem far in 2000 to 15million today. In in banking, he telecoms, voting and sider formulating a policy that the adoption of technology has lionceptional would ensure that the producfast caught on with the youthful the next 15 years its numbers car licensing.

Can we retake Baga? Mr maybegins and says security more Valswell by another 25million.

Foremost in the country, is the focused tion of smarton cardsthe in Nigeria population.

Recently Africa’s most popu- SecureID Ltd in Lagos which is Africa has about 1.1 billion Badeh ispeople asked. measures are in place to entine’s Day vote. That Littlefield and accounts for about 15 lous nation- Nigeria also be- the most modern card manufac- Continued on page 26 “Why not?” is the short apprehend the perpetra- seems to be where the polreply. Seconds later he tors. iticians are focused too. ducks into his car and is Ten days since Baga On Monday evening driven off. was first attacked and the government put out It is an unusual way for there have also been sev- a statement saying “the the capture of Baga to be eral suicide bombings. number of people who confirmed officially alBut we have not heard a lost their lives during the though it is worth noting word from Nigerian Presi- Baga attack has so far not this is the same very se- dent Goodluck Jonathan exceeded about 150”. nior military official who - except for a statement But we may never know told us a few months ago condemning the Paris at- how many have died in that a ceasefire deal had tacks. and around Baga. been reached with Boko The finance minister We know there will nevHaram which turned out also appears keener to er be an investigation that to be totally untrue. comment on events far will reveal the truth.

More eyewitnesses flee- away that have killed far It won’t be the first time ing Baga are telling the less people. we are not sure if 150, 300, BBC about hundreds of “Terrible incident. Our 500 or even 2,000 people bodies on the streets of deepest sympathies to were killed in a massacre Baga. the journalists and their in Nigeria.

Smart card manufacturing, need for tarrif reduction

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

Life&

TIMES Wednesday January 14, 2015

Lil Kesh, Olamide:

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What’s sauce for the goose...

Ogogo’s next L3 big thing P

The Adelekes in ... and out

L2

P

L2

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Life & Times L2 NBC bans

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 14, 2015

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Lil Kesh’s ‘Shoki’

What about

Olamide’s ‘Story For The gods’ Opeoluwani Akintayo Talking about the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation(NBC) axing songs due to inaapropriate lyrics and graphics, it’s high time we spoke the truth, NBC is biased!

Not bothering ourselves with irregularities from the body’s end in the past years, this is 2015 and of course, Olamide’s act, Lil Kesh’s ‘Shoki’ was the first to feel the heat from NBC .

Dated Jan.7, NBC released a signed statement through its Director, Lagos Zone, Ifeoma TheoObodo, saying the air play of ‘Shoki’ has been restricted between 10pm and 5am.

According to the statement, ‘Shoki’ is “highly suggestive of obscene representation and could corrupt the sensibilities of the impressionable and underaged.”

“In view of the above, the musical in question can only be allowed on air during watershed period, that is between 10.00pm and 5.00am. Stations are advised to adhere strictly to this provision of the Code and ensure strict compliance please.”

Okay but, that’s a move rather too late because as you read this, y’all can attest to it that ‘Shoki’ has already gained enough ground to have it on the lips of every little child on the street. I mean, you need to see the innocence with which young lads get lost in Shoki’s lyrics unaware of its lewdness.

As much as we are glad NBC has eventually taken a step towards restricting the song to hours we are sure kids would have gone to bed, what about Olamide’s ‘Story for the gods?’. Isn’t NBC being bias here? Come to think of it, the lyrics in ‘Story For The gods’ are even grosser than that of ‘Shoki’.

So how come ‘Story for the gods’ skipped NBC? Do we sense favouritism here?

Yes we agree, just like ‘Shoki’, ‘Story for the gods’ has got this hypnotising beat and you could zone in and dance all the way before you even think of learning its lyrics but, new generational acts must shift towards being decent in their words and stop promoting violence, rape, drug, drunkness and other societal headaches in their songs.

Let’s take some time to observe the lyrics of Olamide’s ‘Story for the gods’.

CHORUS: Mo ti mu dongoyaro, dongoyaro, dongoyaro And monkey tail, monkey tail, monkey tail Aro bami gbe claro, claro o, claro o I want to do sina today, sina today She said she cannot wait o She said its getting late o She said she want to faint o Ah, story for the gods Now she saying mo r’ogo O ti kan mi l’apa o O ti kan mi l’eyin o Story for the gods, the gods o VERSE 1: O my God insanity See your back calamity

Girl I want to have it Do I need your permit Oya whine it, whine It o Money, we gat it, gat it o Bere lowo Darlington, Darlington o We go donate am for your like charity Woos awon eru’ku lo fine O sha mo weyrey to for the vine Eru to gbe pon yi tun wa divine Game yi awa la tu redefine Awon tan get me wrong lan pe mi ni thug But team mi strong and money mi long Mi o fe mo boya o wowo bayi I’m sorry mo ti nana bai

VERSE 2: Oya pe Folake, Atinuke ati Dupe wa bami nu benz Me and my friends ka jo lo flex I’m I making sense, am an *** Mo ti je gbogbe ishe Mary j mo ti la O tele mi lo’le kiakia mo fi ha Bi mo shey n run mo lo pe mi l’Anofia Ni Ilekun ba shi le, ase o mu Nofi wa Lale yi, won daran Sare shey aluwala salamo Bo ba n dun e ko f’ara mo Cos lale yi, ma kanra mo I’ll show you what I gat No do yanga Oya dide ma joko lori aga Lo mo mi ka jo ma kuru ma ga (2ce) OUTRO: Dongoyaro, dongoyaro monkey tail, monkey tail claro o, claro o She said she cannot wait o She said its getting late o She said she want to faint o Ah, story for the gods Now she saying mo r’ogo O ti kan mi l’apa o O ti kan mi l’eyin o Story for the gods, the gods o ...

Translation: I have drank dongoyaro (a local herbal drink) And monkey tail (another local herbal drink, sometimes used as an aphrodisiac) Madman, give me the claro (a local slang for weed) I want to do sina today, sina today (sina is street lingo for adultery or fornication) She said she cannot wait o, she said it’s getting late o, She said she wants to faint o, Ah, story for the gods.

Now she’s saying “I’m in trouble”, “He has broken my arm o”, “He has broken my back o”, tory for the gods, the gods o.

“Story for the gods” is a street slang meaning, “what you’re saying is of no worth or value”.

If you don’t know, this is a terrible song we’ve all been shaking our butts to. Even the official video is horrible and filled with nudity yet the NBC pretends not to see it. Shockingly, the video also projects lesbianism! And... what was Veejay Ehiz about towards the end of the video?

What you don’t know about the

Adelekes One of Nigeria’s brightest artiste, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido came from the wealthy Adeleke Family. No wonder he calls himself Omo Baba Olowo( child of a wealthy man).

The Adelekes are three brothers. The eldest is Isiaka Adeleke, a former Senator, the first executive governor of Osun state and the Asiwaju of Edeland. Deji Adeleke is the second and Chief Operating Officer of DASIFIC Holding and, the third one is Demola Adeleke- he is not a politician.

Their late mother, Esther Adeleke who their mansion Lekki ‘Esther Adeleke House’ was named after, was from the Igbo clan.

Their late father was Awolowo’s party(UPN) secretary and the first Asiwaju of Edeland.

It will also interest you to know that Isiaka Adeleke became the Asiwaju of Edeland before Tinubu became Asiwaju of Lagos.

Deji Adeleke is, as we speak, the only person with the right to import Billet into Nigeria. As far back as 2001 to 2003, they were given the right to own a TV and Radio Station which they called ‘Pacific TV’ in Ede. Isiaka was married to the late Nike Adeleke, nee Omidiran, whose family are the leading cocoa traders in Nigeria. Surprisingly, Isiaka is also known as Chukuemeka while Deji’s Igbo name is Chukwudi.

Life & Times L3 Box Office

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday January 14, 2015

Showing from Jan. 9th - 15th 2014 in all cinemas across Nigeria Compiled by: Mutiat Alli

Taken 3

In The Wood

Ex-covert operative Bryan Mills and his ex-wife, Lenore are enjoying reconciliation when Lenore is brutally murdered. Bryan is framed for the crime and flees, with the CIA, FBI and police all in hot pursuit. For the last time, he channels his rage and particular set of skills into hunting down Lenore’s real killers, taking his revenge and protecting the one important thing left in his life: his daughter, Kim. Taken 3 is a star studded movie that parade stars with the likes of Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Liam Neeson, and Forest Whitaker amongst others.

As the result of the curse of a once-beautiful witch (Meryl Streep), a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) are childless. Three days before the rise of a blue moon, they venture into the forest to find the ingredients that will reverse the spell and restore the witch’s beauty: a milk-white cow, hair as yellow as corn, a blood-red cape, and a slipper of gold. During their journey, they meet Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack, each one on a quest to fulfill a wish.

Legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) retired from his violent career after marrying the love of his life. Her sudden death leaves John in deep mourning. When sadistic mobster Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) and his thugs steal John’s prized car and kill the puppy that was a last gift from his wife, John unleashes the remorseless killing machine within and seeks vengeance.

set for album launch

Director: Rob Marshall Running time: 124 minutes Producers: Callum McDougall, Rob Marshall, John DeLuca, Marc E. Platt

Director: Olivier Megaton Running time: 112 minutes Screenplay: Robert Mark Kamen, Luc Besson

John Wick

Ogogo

On Set Prolific cinematographer, DJ tee has employed the service of actors with the likes of Rachael Oniga, Wale Ojo, Wole Ojo, Alex Ekubo, Adunni Ade, Richardo Agbor, Kiki Omeili, and Ayo Shonaya on set of yet to be released flick titled “Getting rich in Lasgidi”.

The flick which is still filming on the Island is directed by Darasen Richard, Cinematography by DJ Tee and sound by Tajudeen Opebiyi.

Daily Times Life & Style photogog some location shots.

Director: Rob Marshall Running time: 124 minutes Producers: Callum McDougall, Rob Marshall, John DeLuca, Marc E. Platt

Seventh Son Centuries ago, a supernatural champion named Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) defeated Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore), a malevolent witch.

Now, she has escaped imprisonment and thirsts for vengeance. She summons her followers and prepares to unleash her wrath on humanity. Only one thing stands in her way: Master Gregory.

Gregory takes Tom Ward (Ben Barnes) as his new apprentice, but he has only until the next full moon to teach Tom what usually takes years: how to prevail against dark magic Director: Sergei Bodrov Running time: 120 minutes Story by: Joseph Delaney

Don’t Cry For Me Don’t cry for me tells the story of Alero who believed she was in the perfect marriage to the perfect man. But all that changes when she wakes up to an empty bed, an empty wardrobe and a note from her husband that he had left her.

No further explanations.

The star studded movie parade stars with the likes of Joseph Benjamin, Uti Nwachukwu, Yvonne Nelson, Mary Lazarus, and Yvonne Jegede Genre: Romance Running Time: 95mins Producer: Susan Peters

Taiwo Hassan

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Preparation is already in top gear towards the official launching of Ace actor, Taiwo Hassan popularly known as Ogogo’s first musical album titled “Oba Esa”.

It launches on January 25th, 2014 at the 10 degree event center, Lagos.

The event is expected to be chaired by Alhaji Rafiu Olohunwa with special music performance from K1 de ultimate.

Ogogo has joined the likes of Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Dayo Amusa, Jennifer Eliogue, and Gabriel Afolayan amongst other actors who have also delved into music.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday January 14, 2015

L4 Life & Times Showing on

Showing on

21:35

Elementary School Musical’.

Marge surprises Lisa with a retreat at a performing arts camp.

107 M

Critique Du Soleil: World’s Miracle 01:45 Circle Of Lies 03:05 Pop Star 04:35 Sleepingwalking 06:14 Cupid, Inc. 07:35 Get Over It 09:00 Her Best Move 10:40 Another Year 12:45 Random Encounters 14:15 The Family Stone 15:55 Broken English 17:30 The Break Up 19:15 Little Black Book 21:00 Great Expectations

157 Africa Magic

Eje Dudu 01:00 Ihoho 03:00 Ijakadi 06:00 Oyinmomo 06:35 Afefe Alafia 08:15 Ajo 10:00 Agogo Ayo 10:30 Adejumobi Aladejobi 11:05 Okan Sooso 11:35 Idan Irawo 12:05 Opo Metta 14;30 Itakun Olaleleyi 16:15 Ibi Afojusi 18:00 Ominira 18:35 Ohun Titun 20:00 Aja

The Tonight Show returns to New York with award winning comedian Jimmy Fallon.

Tune in to catch the fun and games with A-list celebrities and house band, The Root

Wed, 14 Jan | PG

121 Discovery

00:00 Dive Wars Australia 00:35 Manhunt 01:20 Fast n’ Loud 02:10 Container Wars 02:35 Dallas Car Sharks 03:00 Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition 03:25 How it’s Made 04:10 Dirty Jobs 05:00 Mythbusters 05:50Treehouse Masters 06:40 Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition 07:05 Container Wars 07:55 Naked And Afraid 08:45 Dive Wars Australia 09:35 Manhunt 10:25 How It’s Made 10:50 How It’s Made 11:15 Fast n’ Loud 12:10 Container Wars 12:40 Dallas Car Sharks 13:05 Dirty Jobs 14:00 Mythbusters 14:05 The Big Bang Theory 14:30 ‘Til Death 14:55 Treehouse Masters 15:50 How It’s Made 16:20 How It’s Made 16:45 Fast n’ Loud 17:40 Container Wars 18:05 Dallas Car Sharks 18:35 Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition 19:00 Troy 20:00 King Of The Nerds 21:00 You Have Been Warned 22:00 Totally Insane Guiness World Records 22:30 Dallas Car Sharks 22:55 Troy

135 BET

00:00 Shuga 00:30 Shuga 01:00 Shuga 01:30 Shuga 02;00 106 & Park 03:00 BET Now 03:30 BET Now 04:00 Late Night Heat 06:00 Soul Sessions 07:00 Soul Sessions 08:00 Soul Sessions 09:00 106 & Park 10:00 The Sheards 11:00 The Wendy Williams Show 12:00 Let’s Stay Together

12:30 Let’s Stay Together 13:00 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 13:30 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 14:00 TBA 15:00 The Wendy Williams Show 16:00 Apollo Live 17:00 Let’s Stay Together 17:30 Let’s Stay Together 18:00 The Wendy Williams Show 19:00 106 & Park 20:00 The Sheards 21:00 Keyshia & Daniel: Family First 21:30 TBA 22:00 The Wendy Williams Show

156 Africa Magic

01:15 Abokai 02:10 Gidan Asali 04:05 Bakin Uwa 05:25 Mai Gida 06:00 Labarin Duniya 06:35 Dan Baiwa 07:10 Jamilun Jiddan 10:00 Wani Gari 13:35 Umar Farouq

15:10 Taskira 15:40 Ya Ta Gari 17:25 Mai Gida 18:00 Labarin Duniya 18:35 Dan Baiwa 19:10 Garin Dadi 21:10 Farar Fuska 22:00 Ruwan Zam Zam

21:55 Wed,14 Jan. |PG 13

151 Africa magic

00:00 Tenant 00:30 Star Gist 01:00 Tinsel 01:30 Hotel Majestic 02:00 Calabash 02:30 Windeck 03:30 Mashariki Mix 04:00 The Room 05:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 06:00 Star Gist 06:30 Wiles Of A Woman 07:30 In Her Shoes 09:30 Living With Trisha 10:00 Living With Trisia 10:30 Windeck 11:30 Mashariki Mix 12:00 Star Gist 12:30 Calabash 13:00 Hotel Majestic 13:30 Tinsel 14:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 15:00 Andrew’s File 16:00 Windeck 17:00 Calabash 17:30 Living With Trisha 18:00 Living With Trisha 18:30 Jara 19:00 Star Gist 19:30 Tinsel 20:00 Hitel Majestic 20:30 Eindeck 21:30 V-Republic 22:00 Stereotype

Raimi

XT Exclusive

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME Full name: Nicknames:

Salami

Poster!

Rated at:

EMMANUEL DAPIDRAN PACQUIAO

hits Serbia for Belgrade deal X2

Height: Reach: Nationality: Born: Place of birth: Stance: Total fights: Wins: Wins by KO:38 Losses: Draws: No contests:

I have to give people time to take a picture, and sign autographs. I have to be generous to people. It is in my heart. Without that, I would not be Manny Pacquiao.

WBC Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs) WBC Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBC Lightweight Champion (135 lbs) WBO Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) WBC Light Middleweight Champion (154 lbs) WBO Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) Minor World Titles: IBO Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs) The Ring/Lineal Championship Titles: Lineal Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) The Ring Featherweight Champion (126 lbs) The Ring Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) The Ring Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs) Regional/International Titles: OPBF Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) WBC International Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs) WBC International Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBO International Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) Special Titles: WBC Emeritus Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBC Diamond Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) WBO Welterweight Super Champion (147 lbs)

I’ve always fought for my country, in my own way, showing that Filipinos are a strong people and can do anything that they put their minds to.

Emmanuel

Dapidran Pacquiao

Y T I C MAN D E R U J N I S P STO

, O H C A N IHEA I L A K A W N

Serving Nigerian Tennis Into Stupor

X3

beats Stephens in Hobart tourney

Ennis-Hill to make heptathlon return X7

5 2 0

Major World Titles:

I remember as a little boy I ate one meal a day and sometimes slept in the street. I will never forget that and it inspires me to fight hard, stay strong and remember all the people of my country, trying to achieve better for themselves.” —Manny Pacquiao

X4,5

WATSON

Pac-Man Ang Pambansang Kamao (The Nation’s Fist) The Mexicutioner The Destroyer Fighting Pride of the Philippines Pambansang Ninong (National Godfather) The Fighting Congressman The Filipino Slugger Flyweight Super Bantamweight Featherweight Super Featherweight Lightweight Light Welterweight Welterweight Light Middleweight 5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (169 cm)[3] 67 in (170 cm) Filipino December 17, 1978 (age 36) Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines Southpaw 64 57

X7

X6

X2

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

Nigerian players abroad

Salami hits Serbia for Belgrade deal Fenerbache denies Tottenham £8m Emenike bid Turkish giants, Fenerbahce have denied claims that English Premier League (EPL) side, Tottenham, have made a substantial bid for the Nigerian forward, Emmanuel Emenike.

The Super Eagles star is believed to be unsettled at the Turkish side and he is said to be keen on a move away from the club with the EPL his preferred option.

Emenike had been linked with a transfer to Tottenham in recent weeks but Fenerbahce have consistently de-

nied reports of any deal.

“Emmanuel Emenike is a Fenerbahce player and has a contract with us until 2017, there are currently no transfer talks,” a statement from the club reads.

Emenike was reportedly seen in London earlier in the year leading to suggestions that he was in town to finalize his move to the north London side, however, his agent denied such claims stating that the Nigerian was in the English capital on holidays.

Emenike

Nigerian striker Gbolahan Salami has left the Super Eagles camp in Abu Dhabi to conclude his deal to Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.

Salami who played in Nigeria’s 0-1 loss to Cote d’Ivoire in a friendly on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, could not travel with the rest of the squad to Dubai where they will now face Yemen.

The ex-3SC player is expected to do a medical and sign a deal with the team shortly.

A statement by the Eagles stated that as a result of Salami’s departure, there are now 19 players available for Saturday’s match against Yemen, who replaced Sudan.

Last month, Salami revealed he was close to sealing a move to Red Star Belgrade in January.

“I am excited already and appreciate God for what he has been doing in my career. I am so happy that a big team like Red Star Belgrade are interested in my services,” Salami said.

“I will be in Serbia soon for a medical after which I will sign the deal.”

Salami scored 17 goals last season in the Nigeria Premier League for Warri Wolves.

The ex-3SC and Sunshine Stars striker has 11 caps for Nigeria with two goals.

Emenike

Chrisantus

Sivasspor lays off Chrisantus T urkish Super League side Sivasspor have released Nigerian striker Macauley Chrisantus.

The former Nigeria youth international was among the four players shown the exit door by the club following low productivity in the first half of the season.

The club’s technical director Serge Yalcin said based on the coach’s recommendation Chrisantus and three other players namely Shahbaz Ahmed,

Berk Neziroglulari and Cihan Ozkara have been released.

Club president Majnun Otyakmaz said he wishes the players well.

“I want to thank the players who are leaving the team because of the effort they put in. The first half did not go well for us. We want to make a good start in the second half of the season.

We parted ways with four of our players in line with the report of our coach,” he said.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

AYC

Man City stops injured

West Ham bids for

EGWUEKWE

IHEANACHO, NWAKALI

Egwekwe Warri Wolves skipper Azubuike Egwuekwe has moved closer to nailing a deal with interested English Premier League club West Ham United.

The AFCON 2013 winner was recently in London for trials with the Hammers and made a favourable impression.

Checks revealed that the former club of Nigeria forward Obinna Nsofor have made an offer of £500,000 for a contract of three and a half years.

However, the amount falls short of the asking price of the player agent which is £1.2m.

Iheanacho

E

nglish Premier League (EPL) champions Manchester City have informed Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) they will not release Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali for the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) in March in Senegal.

Both players were among nine foreign-based pros called up by the

Flying Eagles for the AYC. In a mail signed by City’s Scouting and Recruitment Operations Manager, Fergal Harkin, the EPL side said Iheanacho is injured and may not be fit till mid-March, while Nwakali is about to be loaned out to a club in Europe.

“With regards Kelechi Iheanacho, he is currently injured. We believe he will be fit around the middle of March but

we can keep in contract regarding his recovery,” read Tuesday’s mail in part.

“For Chidiebere Nwakali, we are currently in the process of agreeing his loan deal to Europe and he will not be available to meet up with the national team until further notice.

“At this moment in time, we feel it is best for his development that he cements his place in the club side.”

EAGLES battle Yemen after Sudan’s withdrawal

N

igeria ‘B’ team will now play Yemen on Saturday in Dubai following the last-minute withdrawal of Sudan.

Sudan, who gave no reasons for their sudden withdrawal, were scheduled to play Nigeria on January 17 and Finland, January 22, both games were scheduled for Dubai.

But Nigeria’s team administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, said in order not to distort the schedule of the national team for the New Year, Yemen were approached and accepted to play the

Eagles and later Finland on the scheduled dates.

The Nigeria versus Yemen game will be played at the Sevens Stadium in the bubbling city of Dubai.

Already, the Secretary General of the Yemen Football Federation, Dr Hamid Alshaibani, has sent a letter to the organisers a copy which was made available to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) accepting to test the might of his side against the reigning African champions.

Already, the Super Eagles, who lost

narrowly by 1-0 to Cote d’ Ivoire last Sunday have since arrived Dubai to prepare for the game against Yemen.

The team arrived Dubai by road on Tuesday afternoon and are staying at the Time Grand Plaza Hotel.

Eagles star, Rabiu Ali

West Ham, also have offered a £15,000-a-week wage for the big central defender, while Warri Wolves are asking for €300,000.

Egwuekwe, who is currently with the Super Eagles ‘B’ team ahead of a friendly against Sudan on Saturday, hinted last week he has received an interest from an EPL club.

“Offers are coming from overseas, I have an offer from an EPL club, the (English) Championship and from Russia,” he disclosed.

“I am still a Warri Wolves, but at the end of this month, I hope to say bye-bye to Warri Wolves.”

No more struggling for Bayelsa United –BUBAGHA Bayelsa United coach, Richard Bubagha, has said outright that time of struggling is over for the side in the nation’s domestic league.

The Restoration Boys barely escaped relegation in the out gone 2013/14 Glo Premier League season as they finished 15th on the log on paltry 51 points.

Bubagha said the side’s seemingly delay to resume camp for the upcoming season is borne by the determination of the management to fix things right to ensure smooth campaign in the new season.

“Bayelsa United won’t struggle again as we did in the out gone season rather we’ll be a candidate for Africa in the coming season.

“In fact, the perceived delay in our resumption for the new season is evidence to the management determination to fix leakages that hampered the side

Bubagha performance in last season.

“Everything is being done right to ensure we hit the ground running once we commence for the new season hopefully between now and next weekend.

“Already we’ve pencilled down three possible places one of which will host our pre-season tour namely Rojenny Holidays Resort, Oba, Ijebu Ode and Kwale in Delta State.

“Though we’re yet to resume camp but we’re quite on top of the situation that will see the side excel in the coming season.

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

I have to give people time to take a picture, and sign autographs. I have to be generous to people. It is in my heart. Without that, I would not be Manny Pacquiao.

I remember as a little boy I ate one meal a day and sometimes slept in the street. I will never forget that and it inspires me to fight hard, stay strong and remember all the people of my country, trying to achieve better for themselves.” —Manny Pacquiao I’ve always fought for my country, in my own way, showing that Filipinos are a strong people and can do anything that they put their minds to.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

EXTRATIME Full name: Nicknames:

Rated at:

Height: Reach: Nationality: Born: Place of birth: Stance: Total fights: Wins: Wins by KO:38 Losses: Draws: No contests:

Pac-Man Ang Pambansang Kamao (The Nation’s Fist) The Mexicutioner The Destroyer Fighting Pride of the Philippines Pambansang Ninong (National Godfather) The Fighting Congressman The Filipino Slugger Flyweight Super Bantamweight Featherweight Super Featherweight Lightweight Light Welterweight Welterweight Light Middleweight 5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (169 cm)[3] 67 in (170 cm) Filipino December 17, 1978 (age 36) Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines Southpaw 64 57 5 2 0

Major World Titles:

WBC Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs) WBC Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBC Lightweight Champion (135 lbs) WBO Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) WBC Light Middleweight Champion (154 lbs) WBO Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) Minor World Titles: IBO Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs) The Ring/Lineal Championship Titles: Lineal Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) The Ring Featherweight Champion (126 lbs) The Ring Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) The Ring Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs) Regional/International Titles: OPBF Flyweight Champion (112 lbs) WBC International Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs) WBC International Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBO International Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) Special Titles: WBC Emeritus Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs) WBC Diamond Welterweight Champion (147 lbs) WBO Welterweight Super Champion (147 lbs)

Emmanuel

Dapidran Pacquiao

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

Feature

T

SERVING

he game of tennis has come a long way in Nigeria since independence. Its growth at the early stage was the result of a deliberate policy to introduce it in many secondary schools around the country in the 50s and 60s. This policy helped produce many acclaimed players, who won laurels on the African stage and players from Nigeria stood atop the tennis pinnacle in Africa.

There were several hubs for tennis development in Nigeria at the time: Benin, Ibadan, Minna, Enugu, Kaduna and the former Gongola State (now Adamawa) – they produced outstanding junior tennis players in the 1970s.

Nigeria also became a member of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Olympic movement as Nigerian players became regular faces in major tournaments around the world. The credit goes to the early pioneers, who invested their time and resources to further the growth of tennis in the country. People like Ibrahim Sangari, Lord Rumens, and Raheem Adejumo are three of those whose contribution should be acclaimed.

Some of the great tennis players the country had in the last 50 years include the late Lawrence Awopegba,

NIGERIAN TENNIS INTO STUPOR

The game of tennis has come a long way in Nigeria since independence. Its growth at the early stage was the result of a deliberate policy to introduce it in many secondary schools around the country in the 50s and 60s.

This policy helped produce many acclaimed players, who won laurels on the African stage and players from Nigeria stood atop the tennis pinnacle in Africa.”

a former national coach; Thompson Onibokun and Edward Agori, a former assistant national coach. Others are Bala Habu; Ola Olagbegi; and Adewale Isa. They were regarded as the first successful set of Nigerian tennis players.

Among the top women players then were Vero Oyibokia, Ann Abimiku, Nosa Imafidon, Cecelia Nnadozie, Ngozi Morah, Aishatu Adamu and Peju Akomolafe.

Nigeria has had six different generations of men and women tennis players from the 50s till the present time.

The aforementioned players were the best in Africa but could not compete with the rest of the world in the 50s and 60s tennis scene as it was not an open sport for people of colour. Probably the late Edward Agori may have won one of the grand slams as he was considered the best person ever to hit a consistent backhand, which was a veritable weapon then, in his years.

At a point in the 70s, Nigeria rose to the pinnacle of African tennis for both the men and the women.

Nigeria tennis witnessed tremendous growth during the ‘oil boom’ because there were many tournaments organised in the country by companies and individuals.

In addition to this, a lot of Nigerian players were offered scholarships in universities abroad and were therefore able to play in international competitions.

This generation of tennis players included Nduka Odizor, Tony Mmoh, Bulus Husseini, Sadiq Abdullahi, David Imonite, Romanus Nwazu, Godwin Kienka, Steve Olagbegi, Rotimi Akinloye, Segun Balogun, Chris Mamman, and Bitrus Istifanus.

A number of these players competed in grand slam events like the US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open and French Open. Nduka Odizor, known as the Duke famously got to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1983. He also rose to as high as number 40 in the world.

It was a feat that is yet to be attained by the present generation of Nigerian tennis players.

The Nigeria Tennis Federation board in 2008 approved aggressive marketing and sponsorship drive, establishment of functional committees, accelerated youth development program, special attention to women programme, training of coaches and umpires, adequate planning for Davis Cup, encouraging more futures and national competitions, and encouraging the sponsors of the board programmes.

However, internal wrangling and failed leadership has continued to haunt the vision and goals for tennis development in the country.

We need to reflect on the present situation in order to have the courage to hit the best tennis strokes for a meaningful change in future.

Culled from www.nigeriang.com

Giving a helping hand! Nduka Odizor (right) presents tennis kits to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the development of the game in Nigeria.

Nduka Odizor, known as the Duke famously got to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 1983.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

TENNIS

Watson beats Stephens in Hobart tourney G

reat Britain’s Heather Watson beat American fifth seed Sloane Stephens in straight sets to reach the Hobart International quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old won 6-3 6-1 in 64 minutes and looked impressive in form going into the Australian Open, which starts on January 19.

Watson, who faces Italian ninth seed Roberta Vinci next, said: “This is how I want to play consistently.

“I’m feeling good, confident and very comfortable coming to the net.”

It was a second straight sets victory at the tournament for Watson, who beat Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova

in the first round.

Watson, the world number 49, partnered Andy Murray in a 3-0 win over Australia at the Hopman Cup on Saturday, although the GB duo missed out on a place in the final.

ATHLETICS

EXTRATIME

Ennis-Hill to make heptathlon return

B

ritain’s Jessica Ennis-Hill will contest her first heptathlon since she won gold in the discipline at London 2012 when she competes in the Hypo-Meeting in Gotzis on May 30-31.

Ennis-Hill, 28, competed in a handful of single discipline events in 2013, but injury ended her season early.

She took the following year off, giving birth to her son Reggie in July 2014, and returned to training in October.

Compatriot Katarina JohnsonThompson is also set to compete in the event.

She is the defending champion after scoring a personal best of 6682 in Gotzis last year and will make her own comeback from a foot injury at next month’s Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix.

Ennis-Hill won gold at the 2012 London Olympics with a British and Commonwealth record score of 6,955 points.

She missed the World Championships the following year because of an Achilles tendon problem.

And she was absent for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2014 before giving birth.

Watson

GOLF

McIlroy aims to join Masters

W

orld number one Rory McIlroy says his ambition for the first part of the golfing year is to maintain an aura that he so brilliantly built in 2014.

On the way to his current visit to the Middle East, the 25-year-old continued a personal tradition by noting down seven goals on the back of his first airline boarding pass for the new season.

The fact that the other side of the document was imprinted Seat 1A is testament to his current level of success.

McIlroy won last year’s Open and PGA Championship - to add to his PGA victory in 2012 and US Open title from 2011 - and will go to Augusta in April trying to become the sixth man to complete a career grand slam of all four current majors.

His objectives for the year surround personal processes that allow him to play his best golf. He also wants to remain the game’s most feared name on leaderboards.

And this forms a primary objective

as he starts his season at the HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi this week.

“It’s always a good sign when other players are talking about you,” he said.

“Look, I obviously want to go into every golf tournament being the guy to beat.

And I want to be going into the Masters being that same guy.

“I think with the performances that I put up last year that’s what happened.

“And I feel that the way to continue to do that and have that so called aura is to keep producing these performances consistently, so that’s the goal.

“It’s to get into contention as many times as possible, test your game under the heat of battle and see where you stand against everybody else.”

This week’s season opener is the first of five tournaments he intends playing before his attempt to secure his first Augusta green jacket. He will compete in the Dubai Desert Classic the week after next, before Florida stops in West Palm Beach and Doral.

Ennis-Hill

McIlroy

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME Briefs

Cazorla revelling in central role

BUSQUETS

plays down MESSItalk

S Messi

ergio Busquets has reassured Barcelona fans that Lionel Messi has no intention of leaving the club.

The Barcelona midfielder spoke out following reports which suggested the Argentine had fallen out with head coach Luis Enrique.

Messi admitted at Monday’s Ballon d O’r ceremony, where he finished runner-up to Cristiano

Ronaldo for the second year running, that he had no idea where he would finish his career.

When asked whether he might one day return to hometown club Newell’s Old Boys, Messi said: “I’m not sure what’s going to happen – if one day I’ll go back to Newell’s. I’m not sure where I’ll be next year!

“I’ve always said I’d like to finish my career at Barcelona, play

Ronaldo urges Real fans to back Bale

B

allon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Real Madrid’s fans to show more support for teammate Gareth Bale.

Bale came under criticism for going for goal instead of passing to an unmarked Ronaldo during Real’s 3-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

The Welshman was subsequently jeered by fans inside the Santiago Bernabeu, despite having scored a superb freekick earlier in the game.

Ronaldo, who picked up his third Ballon d’Or award on Monday, winning the vote ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, has called on the Real fans to give Bale their backing.

“Madrid fans are always the same, they are very intense, they show what they feel, they aren’t liars,” he told reporters.

“But I think the things with Gaz are normal because they know that Gaz is a very

at Newell’s, but nobody knows what the future holds – much less so in the case of the football world where so many things can change overnight.”

Busquets, however, has played down his team-mate’s comments and is no doubt he will stay with the Catalan club.

“He controls his future and he has said he has no intention of leaving – and that’s very impor-

Fabregas: Chelsea back on track!

important player for us, a key player.

“What happened on Saturday is in the past, sometimes I make mistakes too so its part of the business, part of football.

“I think the people will be nice with him and they should be nice with him.”

Fabregas

C Bale

tant for us,” Busquets said.

“All he was saying yesterday was the typical cliche that you never know what might happen in the future.

“People usually only know what they are told by the press but I think everyone has now had a chance to speak. We just want to be united, to be as one, and for the fans to be behind us.”

esc Fabregas believes Chelsea are firmly back on track with their Premier League title challenge after their mini-slump around the turn of the year.

The Blues were caught by Manchester City at the top of the table on New Year’s Day after drawing 1-1 at Southampton and then losing 5-3 at London rivals Tottenham.

However, they returned to winning ways by beating Watford 3-0 in the FA Cup and followed that up by defeat-

ing Newcastle 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last weekend, as City drew at Everton, to move two points clear again at the summit.

“There is never complacency at Chelsea, we just want to win every game,” Spanish playmaker Fabregas said. “Of course that’s not possible through the season, there are many, many games.

“You can always have a bad day and things won’t go your way. But we are ready. Some of us had a little break.

“We have recovered from the Christmas schedule. It was tough but we feel that we had a few days to rest.

“Losing to Tottenham like we did was a shock, but when you watch the game again you see that every chance they had, they scored.

“It was one of those days where we hit the post, Ramires and Cesar Azpilicueta also had a chance.

“Things didn’t go our way, but credit to Tottenham, they played a good game. But that’s it, we are just looking to move forward now.”

Santi Cazorla hopes his Premier League form can help cement a regular place in the centre of Arsenal’s midfield for the rest of the season. Having started the campaign in a wider attacking role for Arsene Wenger, Cazorla has moved inside in recent months and flourished.

Cazorla

Walker dreams UCL football Tottenham have a squad strong enough to finish in the Premier League’s top four, according to fullback Kyle Walker as the club is three points outside the UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualifying places following a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend. And Walker says the performance against Jose Mourinho’s men shows they have the quality to finish above the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in the race for a UEFA Champions League place.

Lopez joins Torino

Torino have confirmed the signing of Maxi Lopez from Serie A rivals Chievo on a permanent deal. The Argentinian has had a somewhat nomadic career in recent times, with short spells at various clubs in Italy’s top flight.

Lichtsteiner

Lichtsteiner extends Juve deal Stephan Lichtsteiner has agreed terms on a new two-year deal at Juventus, with the option of a third thereafter. Lichtsteiner joined the Serie A giants from Lazio in 2011, and has since made 134 appearances for the club.