Daily Times of Nigeria

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

NIGERIA

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

dailytimesng

N150

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014 VOL. 1. NO.13

Police may begin strike tomorrow

6

Ï RƇƇƈƅƆƏ ƆƐ Ƌ Əƕ jƑƆ Ɨ ƕ

Relations of the AirAsia plane mishap in tears while receiving the bodies of the victims ... yesterday.

PHOTO: CNN

8

Ï Mƈ ƆƏƈ ƏƆ Ƒ ƆƗ Ɛ Ɛ ƆƈƏ ƋƈƆ è ƕ ^

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja & Akinjide Akintola, Lagos

T

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday rated the performance of President

er.”

1

NUMBER

Manuel Peter Neuer Full name: 27, 1986 (age 28) Date of birth: March West Germany Place of birth: Gelsenkirchen, 4 in) 1.93 m (6 ft Height: Playing position: Goalkeeper Munich Current team: Bayern

Personal information

Kahn

Onazi promises better 2015

X3

Unconscious Bianchi begins rehab

BANNED!

X8

X5

Oliver age I best keeper. At his “He is the world’s become I only started to wasn’t close to that. at 30.” a decent keeper

X4,5

X2

EDUOK PASSES ESPERANCE MEDICAL

and as a goalkeeper “The way he just in extraordinary. Not and his technique are mainly how he parries possession, but like Oliver Kahn was catches shots. Someone of technique. Kahn had never had this kind but Germany have beta great goalkeeper, Neuer is definitely that better shot stoppers.

I’ve known for years ter than Kahn was. an impressive goalkeephe would become

29, 2014

EXTRATIME

Brazil hero Claudio Taffarel plays

Monday, December

STRIK YI JOINS AWONI EAGLES FLYING

Sportlitics

29, 2014

EXTRATIME

Manuel Neuer

r KalmEa R

Goodluck Jonathan in the transport and aviation CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Monday, December

X4

Poster!

FA suspends Newcastle’s Cisse for violent conduct X8

the defence.”

Milan stuns Real 4-2 in Dubai friendly X8

has the same technical “Manuel Neuer the he could play in skills as the others, and has great awareness midfield, he also take happy for him to that’s why we are so valuthat’s why he’s these risks, and be a player behind able. He can basically

XT Exclusive

Germany boss, Joachim Loew

Anguish as debris of AirAsia is found

PDP rates Jonathan high in road, aviation, others

INSIDE

X7

2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Page Three

3

s

Editorial

On strike-free tertiary education

T

he recent announcement by the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, that the crisis confronting tertiary institutions has been subdued is welcome news. Shekarau noted that problems could only be resolved through without the workers resorting to industrial actions as has been the practice in the past. While acknowledging this development, there is the need to restate that the country’s education system has suffered from incessant strikes mostly due to the non-implementation of agreements reached between unions and the Federal Government.

We know that the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), for instance, has always called attention on the deteriorating standards in the country’s universities. Similar complaints by other unions in polytechnics and colleges of education are a regular feature.

The strikes are always embarked upon to force government into increasing funding of and creating the enabling environment for teaching and learning. It is a fact that our universities are grossly underfunded, leading to lack of basic infrastructure, teaching materials and educational facilities. For example,

the recent needs-assessment study of universities carried out by the federal government showed a complete breakdown of facilities in all universities in Nigeria. Before now, it was usual to see strikes by ASUU lasting up to four and six months. It would be recalled that some of the issues between the union and government include Academic Earned Allowance (AEA), to be paid to lecturers for excess work load and allowance for supervision of post-graduate programmes.

Incidentally, the highest AEA is only N12, 500 per month, yet successive administrations failed to pay it. We recall that 49 lecturers of the University of Ilorin were unjustly sacked for participating in a nationwide strike action in 2001. Despite the Supreme Court judgment, which re-validated their right to unionise, their entitlements are still being denied them. Years after the landmark judgment, the university still withholds the salary and allowances of some of the affected staff while their entitlements for sabbatical leave and promotions have not been addressed.

No country can develop without a literate population. Yet it is easy for generations of citizens to step back into the Stone-age, if the country’s education system is allowed to rot.

L-R: Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), Gubernatorial Candidate, Mr. Akinwunm Ambode; Candidate for Vice President, (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Governor, Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at the End of the Year Town Hall Meeting of Artisans, Tradesmen and Farmers, at Agindigbi, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday.

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Blowin’ in the wind

RAY, what difficulty is there in Major General Muhammadu Buhari applying to military authorities for the certified true copies of his academic credentials, thereby submitting to a simple dictate of democracy?

Similarly, what advantages has the possession of a doctorate degree by Good-

luck Jonathan conferred on the electorate?

As Nigerians inch towards the Almighty 2015 general elections, it is increasingly getting difficult not to conclude that the exercise is for the people to choose between a bad candidate and a notgood challenger.

Yet, there doesn’t seem to be a third force: The people are condemned to choose between a candidate whose Messianic credential is daily being assailed by his past actions and utterances on the one hand; and a candidate whose six years in the saddle have not inspired confidence on the next direction for the country.

Beyond the verbal darts that they routinely throw at each other, the camps of both candidates ought to answer some pertinent, troubling questions: What should Nigerians expect from their candidates on education? It is not enough to promise free education, how do they plan to fund the policy on a sustainable basis?

Now that oil resources are dwindling, what are the deliverables from the government in the areas of road, housing and health? Do the parties, and their candidates, believe in the National Insurance scheme?

The answer, of course, is blowin’ in the wind…

Kayode Ajulo, National Secretary, Labour Party

Tai Solarin, educationist and social critic

All over the world, when the people rise in unison to say ‘It is enough’ they change any government they want out

How many Socrates did Greece breed? How many Nehru’s did India breed? They had one each, but they all had one thing in common, sense of mission. An unquenchable thirst to get things done.

Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Ayo Agbomuserin

Analysis Yinka Olujimi

P

More info: www.dailytimes.com.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head, Sales & Marketing

Managing Editor

Head of Operations

Head ICT (Shared Services)

Editor

Online Editor

Head Graphics

Noel Anosike

Gabriella Osamor Yinka Olujimi

Deputy Editor Yemi Ogunsola

Bisi Abidoye

Innocent Nwankwo Adetayo Adelaja

Business Editor

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Moses Ebong

Banjo Ayorinde 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.

The Labour Party, (now the Peoples Democratic Party), in Ondo State is no longer able to serve the interests of its members and our youths in general

4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

bringing it all together www.bglgroupng.com

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Unity Schools: Parents tackle FG over N5,000 insurance levy

L-R, President Goodluck Jonathan receiving a greeting card from Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Seriake Dickson; the Judge of Bayelsa state, Hon. Justice Kate Abiri, and Chairman, Bayelsa state traditional council, King Diete-Spiff, during a courtesy call on the president by Elders and leaders from Bayelsa state at the presidential villa, Abuja

Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

N

Reps probe missing N605m from N/Delta ministry’s coffers Henry Omunu, Abuja

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, is investigating how a staggering N605 million intervention fund allocated to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs allegedly got missing.

Angry members of the House of Representatives committee have resolved to invite officials of the affected ministry to appear before it to explain how the amount meant for the completion of some vital zonal projects nearing completion vanished

without trace.

To unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the N605 million from the coffers of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the committee, Daily Times gathered, shall summon officials of the ministry immediately the House reconvenes in January 2015, to answer queries as to the whereabouts of the alleged missing funds.

Sources close to the House committee further disclosed that as at last week, no credible information as to where the N605 million is domiciled could be confirmed by the offi-

cials of the ministry.

“We are inviting all the parties involved unfailingly by the third week of January and all avenues would be explored to get positive results.

“We’ve asked questions where the money was kept but nobody is willing to divulge any information on where the money was kept.

“And the projects scattered all over the region are begging for attention while such a huge amount has grown wings into no specific account.

“Contractors that monies due to them are yet to be paid are already threat-

ening to abandon site to register their anger,” the sources added.

Also, another source privy to the alleged disappearance of the N605 million disclosed that “we are not going to rest on our oars until we achieve results on this very sensitive issue as all members of our committee have vowed to get to the bottom of this matter as soon as we resume next year”.

According to the source, “a date will soon be communicated to all the top officials of the ministry which would be made public before the end of this year.

Atiku urges Nigerians not to despair Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

F

ormer Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has urged Nigerians not to despair or lose hope because of the current challenges facing the country.

Atiku, in a New Year message to Nigerians released by his media office in Abuja on Tuesday, said he was fully aware of the tough challenges of existence facing the ordinary Nigerians.

5 News

The former Vice President however stated that democracy offers the people the opportunity to use the power of their votes to bring about the desired change.

He also reminded political leaders that the success of democracy is determined by how much the life of the people have improved and not how much fortunes leaders have made for themselves.

According to him, “while poverty is accelerating like hurricane in the land”,

Atiku elected leaders are living opulent lifestyles inconsistent with the hardships of the ordinary voters.

Atiku explained that democracy is as good as those who practice it, adding that

elective offices should be perceived as an opportunity to offer selfless service rather than personal enrichment.

He pointed out that once democracy was made to work as it should, there would be no excuses for the current level of poverty in the country.

On deepening democracy, he urged all political leaders to embrace the spirit of tolerance, adding that people should not become enemies because of political differences.

ational Parents and Teachers Association of Federal Government Colleges in Nigeria (NAPTAFEGC) has challenged the federal government over its decision to impose an annual insurance levy of N5,000 on each student in the 104 Federal Government Colleges across the nation.

In a communique made available to Daily Times in Umuahia and signed by the association’s National President, Elder Gabriel Ossy Nnaji and its National PRO, Mrs. Oby Igwilo, said the association received the news with “disbelief and shock as no prior information and discussion on this insurance levy was ever had with our parents across the levels of our assocciation”.

They said “We don’t

know how this imposition and fundamentals were arrived at. It should be emphasized that the acceptance of any insurance policy remains the choice of an individual, hence should never be compulsory through imposition”.

Citing reasons, the association said a lot of students, especially the SS3 students are on their way out of schools, while others may have been insured by their parents, hence no need for additional insurance policy.

NAPTAFEGC therefore mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to shelve that idea and open up a line of dialogue with them as soon as possible.

The association directed all parents in the 104 Federal Government Colleges not to pay the levy “as this is not our priority now as the issue of security of students remain the focus of NAPTAFEGC.

Ogun workers, Govt in war of words over unpaid salaries Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

T

here was a mild drama on Tuesday when the Ogun State government claimed to have paid the November and December salaries of its workers with the union members debunking the claim.

The government, led by the Secretary to the Ogun State government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, during a press conference held at the press centre at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the government had successfully paid the November and December salaries of the workers in addition to 10 percent bonus.

Flanked by the Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Adekunle, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, State Accountant General, Senfuye and the State Com-

missioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Yusuph Olaniyonu, the SSG said the state is one of the few states that is not owing its workers.

Adeoluwa, who lamented the delay in monthly federal allocation disclosed that Ogun State is the second state with the highest internally generated revenue stressing that the feat was achieved through well packaged financial mechanism of the state government and the ability to trace the state money going to other states.

Adeoluwa who praised Adeosun, Senfuye and the state’s financial team however disclosed that 56 companies had been commisioned in the state, assuring that the state government would continue to take the welfare of its workers serious at all times.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Police strike may start tomorrow Monday Agu, Jnr

I

f their threats are anything to go by, the rank and file of the Nigeria Police could stay off work from tomorrow, January 1, 2014.

That would mark the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued to police authority earlier

this month by a group of police personnel, apparently speaking on behalf of their colleagues across the country who were said to be displeased with the working conditions in the force.

Some police inspectors had met and demanded, among other things, the release of the third batch of

the ‘ASCON ASP Promotion Course’, which they said was “supposed to have commenced at the Police Staff College, Jos, since January 2012, but was put on hold by the former IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, despite a directive from the Police Service Commission to release the batch for the course.”

The statement of the personnel signed by Inspector James Baba, Sergeant Philip Adeojo and Pat Raphael, had also called on the police authorities and the Inspector General of Police to pay the backlog of promotion allowances and arrears of the rank and file since 2013 to date.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); human rights activist, Amitolu Shittu (middle); his wife, Mrs. Falilat Folasade Shittu (2nd right); Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Babatunde Badmos and his wife, Mrs. Ganiyat Badmos, during the 50th birthday anniversary of Shittu at the Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo...recently.

It also urged the Acting IGP to address the issue of distribution of uniforms among others.

Consequently, the group said if within two weeks nothing was done on the issues affecting the welfare of the junior cadre of the force, “we will have no options again than to mobilise our colleagues nationwide to embark on strike and we will not call it off until all our demands are met by the police authority.”

Some policemen who spoke to Daily Times in Lagos welcomed the planned strike saying that many of their benefits were being denied them. A Deputy Superintendent of Police who preferred anonymity, told Daily Times that he had not been paid his promotion entitlements despite the fact that he was promoted since February 2014.

In the words of the DSP, “I was promoted in February 2014. My promotion took immediate effect but money equivalent to that rank has not been paid to me since then. We are many in this dilemma, but it is difficult to come out to talk,” he said.

Another DSP in Lagos

also told Daily Times that ranks commensurate to new educational qualifications are not given to qualified personnel. He also said that those promoted have not been paid their due allowances.

Following the strike threat, IGP Suleiman Abba, immediately ordered all zonal Assistant Inspectors General and Command Commissioners to strictly monitor the activities of their personnel.

But in a swift reaction, Force Public Relations Officer, Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojokwu, berated those behind the plans, calling them ‘faceless.’

In a text message to Daily Times, the police spokesman says, “There is no purported strike in the Nigeria Police. The IGP has since reassured all officers of the premium he places on their welfare. All hands are on deck to guarantee safety and security of citizens. There is no division in our ranks.”

Daily Times also gathered that in a move to defuse tension, senior police officers whose December salaries were being owed have been paid since Tuesday.

PDP rates Jonathan high in road, aviation, others Continued from page 1

sectors as unprecedented.

The rating drew sharp criticisms from the All Progressives Congress (APC) which pointedly accused the ruling party of lying.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, stated that Nigerians are happy with the ongoing transformation in the key sectors that support greater economic productivity in the country.

According to the statement, “Under President Jonathan, rail services have returned, boosting not only commerce but also national integration.

“Today, the LagosIbadanOsogbo-Ilorin-

Minna-Kaduna-ZariaKano narrow gauge has been rehabilitated with improved fast coaches providing regular services.

“The Enugu-Port Harcourt-Enugu intercity train has been opened for operations while container cargo freight services from Apapa Port complex have commenced,” it said.

Rehabilitation works on the Port Harcourt-AbaUmuahia-Enugu-Markurd i - L a f i a - Ku r u - B a u ch i Gombe-Ashaka-Maiduguri, as well as the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna, the statement added, are at completion stages and will be operational soon.

Continuing, the party said that work on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line has reached ad-

vanced stage and is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2015.

“This is in addition to the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge line, which is projected to resume full operation by the middle of 2015.

“Other segments of the new standard gauge speed train network are planned, with contract already awarded for the Lagos–Ibadan segment.

“Already, a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a new railway line that will run from Lagos to Calabar, extending to the Obudu Cattle Ranch has been signed,” PDP claimed.

According to the party, passengers carried by rail have increased from one

million in 2012 to 4.2 million in 2013 and are still growing with the opening of new lines in 2014, while the investment-friendly environment created by the Jonathan administration on land transportation has resulted in increased participation of private individuals and companies in road mass transit, including those funded through SURE-P and other financing windows.

It added, “The dredging of the River Escavos and the Niger from Warri to Baro in Niger State and the inland city ports in Onitsha have since been completed to create the much- desired inland water channel for movement of personnel and goods.

“This is in addition to

the acceleration of the dredging work at the Lokoja axis and the opening of coastal transport services.

“In the last three years, over 6.7 million passengers and over 1.6 million tonnes of cargo have been moved through this channel.

“In the same vein, extensive port reforms by the administration have paved the way for availability of twenty-four hour services with clearing time reduced from 39 days to seven days for trouble-free cargo,” it stated.

The party further pointed out that the aviation sector, which in the past was denied adequate attention, has been revamped and repositioned

by the Jonathan’s administration.

It added that obsolete infrastructure were either replaced or upgraded in all the major airports across the country in line with international best practices.

In the words of the PDP Publicity Secretary, “Under the Jonathan administration, all 22 federallyowned airports across the country were remodelled to ensure safety and improve passenger services.

“Five new Airport Terminal Buildings and airfield facilities have been constructed while existing ones are being recon-

Continued on page 8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Nigerians’ll praise me when I leave - Jonathan Monday Agu Jnr

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday boasted that based on the achievements of his administration across all sectors, Nigerians will begin to praise him when he leaves and another leader resumes office.

The President, who played host to a delegation of traditional rulers and leaders from Bayelsa State at his residence, noted

that he was not surprised by the spate of criticisms which his administration has suffered in recent times.

President Jonathan added that people do not often give credit to great men when they are still in charge, saying he was very sure that when a new administration takes over and people make comparison, they will appreciate his efforts and give him his due credit.

The President said he

won’t be distracted by criticisms as he would continue to give his best to the nation.

He acknowledged the fact that leaders all over the world get more lambasted these days due to the effect and power of social media since people often use new inventions for the wrong reasons.

“These days, leaders all over the world get lambasted a lot and the effect of the social media has made it worse. There are

some inventions that are not used for the right reasons.

“The social media that is supposed to be used for positive things is being used for something else. I don’t expect praises now until I leave office. But I will do my best for our economy to continue to thrive despite the challenges in dwindling oil price and the security challenges.

“People don’t often give credit when the man is

Group rejects alleged imposition of PDP guber candidate

L-R, Professor G Darah; Chief Dafe Akpereye,deputy president Urhobo Progress Union; Chief Augustine Uloho, Minister of Niger Delta Development; Chief Stephen Oru and president Goodluck Jonathan, during a courtesy visit by the Urhobo Progress Union to the president at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

Abisola Oyewole, Lagos

T

araba socio-cultural group, Taraba Peoples Assembly (TPA) on Tuesday threatened to put on hold the general election over what it described as ‘Abuja selection’ of the state PDP governorship candidate.

The TPA group in a statement signed by its National coordinator Martins Andekin, also threatened not to vote President Jonathan if he would not uphold democratic principles regarding the conduct of the Taraba state PDP primaries.

Martins said President Jonathan berated Taraba state and its people by moving the state PDP governorship primaries to Abuja to achieve selfish political gain of a retired general from the state.

“Jonathan is no longer visible in Taraba state, we see a PDP governorship candidate that has no electoral value from his home stead” he said.

According to the group, they said they have seen the popularity of President Jonathan diminishing fast because the acting governor, Sani Abubakar Danlandi, is working for the APC.

still there. They often do it when he has left and another man is in charge.

When they make comparison, they will begin see the great things the former man did.

“We will continue to thank Nigerians for the opportunity given to us to serve and we will continue to do our best” the President said.

He thanked the delegation for their consistent support for his administration.

Angry housewife bathes thief with hot water Joy Ekeke

A

furious housewife in Lagos poured hot water on a suspected robber identified as Kayode Oduto and got him arrested.

Oduto and his accomplice, Quadri Lateef, now in the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, had attacked the woman’s house at Kollington area of Alagbado on the outskirts of Lagos.

While the housewife

poured hot water on Oduto and used hot pot to hit his face repeatedly and smashing it beyond recognition, her husband dispossessed the suspect of his gun and pinned him down.

Police investigators discovered that Lateef used to live in the area where they went to rob.

Lateef told Oduto that he knew every nook and cranny of the area and was sure his knowledge would make the operation easy.

Lateef picked a building, which he told Oduto thatn was inhabited by a rich

man, simply known as Mr Charles.

When they reached the targeted building, the gate was locked, but the generator was on. The two men quickly scaled the fence since they knew there were no dogs.

Oduto switched off the generator and the two men took strategic positions.

Oduto had a cut-to-size locally-made pistol, while Lateef had a toy gun.

A few minutes after the generator went off Charles stepped out of the house to find out what went wrong.

Oduto pointed a gun at his head and herded him back into the house, while Lateef followed closely behind.

The robbers ordered the man to bring his money and gold. He told them that the money was in the master’s bedroom.

As they were walking towards his bedroom, the man suddenly turned and grabbed Oduto, trying to dispossess him of the gun. Rather than assist his partner, a rather petrified Lateef just stood and watched.

7 News Army trains NSCDC on counter terrorism, weapon handling

T

he Nigeria Army has trained 142 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on counter terrorism and weapon handling.

The Commandant of the 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, Brig. Gen. Abba Dikko, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Batch C passing out ceremony in Minna.

Dikko said the training involved practicals and theories for 129 personnel of the NSCDC state command and 13 from the zonal command on weapon handling.

He said the lessons on counter terrorism and counter insurgency were added to the curriculum to get the participants better equipped for contemporary security challenges.

He added that the trainees went through courses on counter terrorism and counter insurgency as well as weapon handling leading to range classification, minor infantry tactics and fitness.

“The training commenced with a directive from the army headquarters to train NSCDC personnel nationwide on the same subject.

“The participants exhibited sustained interest and good character which enhance the smooth conduct of the course,” he said.

The Course Officer, Cpt. Labiwa Madugu, said that the participants were trained on various kinds of weapons, adding that practicals were conducted at the cantonment firing range.

Madugu said physical fitness, obstacle crossing, route march, 3.2-kilometre race and beam work were also included.

“They were also trained on special counter terrorism raid operations, cordon and search, body guard duties and VIP protection.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Tears as debris of AirAsia is found

A

grim discovery in the waters off Indonesia on Tuesday dealt a heartbreaking blow to families whose loved ones were lost on AirAsia Flight QZ8501, and their anguish was felt around the world.

Debris from the plane was spotted 100-200 kilometers (60-120 miles) from the aircraft’s last known location over the Java Sea,

Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said.

Three bodies were recovered: two women and one man, Indonesian search and rescue chief Bambang Soelistyo said, according to the Indonesian state-run Antara news agency.

“To the relatives, I feel your loss, and all of us pray that all of the families are given the strength and fortitude during this

incident,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo told journalists. He then went to meet with families.

“We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances,” said Sunu Widyatmoko, head of AirAsia Indonesia.

“We would like to extend our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of those on board QZ8501.

Our sympathies also go

out to the families of our dear colleagues.”

“My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501,” AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes tweeted. “On behalf of AirAsia my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am.”

Later, speaking with reporters, Fernandes said there is now “at least some closure” for families who might have been “holding

Representative of the Commandant, School of Armour, Brig.-Gen. Kayode Ogundele; Commandant, 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.Gen. James Myam; Bauchi State Deputy Gov., Alhaji Sagir Saleh; Bauchi State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, retired Capt.

Yakubu Mohammed and the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Mahmud Maijama’a during the 2015 Armed Forces Emblem Appeal Fund Week in Bauchi ... on Tuesday

out hope.”

Hospitals in the Indonesian city of Surabaya are being prepared to help house and identify bodies being recovered off the coast of Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province on Borneo.

As families watched a live news conference about the discovery of the debris and saw video of a helicopter lowering a diver to what appeared to be a floating body, some people fainted. Stretchers were brought into the room.

Family members burst into tears, dabbing their eyes as officials passed out tissues. Some sat with their eyes full of tears, hands covering their mouths or heads buried in their hands. Others had phones jammed against their ears.

Soelistyo, the head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, said the debris was discovered when a crew on a military aircraft spotted the shadow of an object that looked like a plane in the water.

Further searching found floating objects believed to be the bodies of passengers, and then what appeared to be an emergency exit of the plane. Officials sent other search teams racing to the area.

Several nations are con-

tributing resources to the effort, including the United States. The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Sampson arrived Tuesday.

The USS Fort Worth is also being prepared to deploy from Singapore, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said Tuesday. It “can be ready to sail in a day or two to get on station and can be there very quickly,” he said.Pilot’s wife: I hope he will be back The United States is also preparing maritime patrol aircraft that could help, he said.

The flight, which was lost Sunday on its way to Singapore, was carrying 155 passengers and seven crew members. The overwhelming majority were Indonesians. There were also citizens of Britain, France, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.

Search and rescue teams are diverting all their resources to where the debris is, in the Karimata Strait, about 110 nautical miles southwest of the Indonesian city of Pangkalan Bun, AirAsia said.

Divers and ships with sonar equipment are being sent to the site, where the water depth varies between 25 and 30 meters (about 80 to 100 feet), Soelistyo said.

PDP rates Jonathan high in road, aviation, others Continued from page 6 structed.

“These efforts have received global acknowledgement, including the attainment and retention of the FAA Category One Status,” it said.

While noting that President Jonathan has been championing a silent revolution in all sectors of the Nigerian economy, the PDP urged the citizens not to allow a relapse to the past by ensuring that the Jonathan administration is supported beyond 2015.

It contended that such is the only way to guarantee that the successes so far

recorded in the country are sustained and consolidated.

The APC) has however described as a tissue of lies the long list of achievements claimed by the ruling PDP in the transport and aviation sectors, saying Nigerians can no longer be fooled.

Speaking with the Daily Times, APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said gone were the days when those in government felt Nigerians were stupid and they could feed them with any nonsense which they would swallow hook, line and sinker.

His words: “Are we

stupid? To whom are they telling lies? Nigerians are now conscious of the lies as they are aware that it’s nothing but lies. Somebody that cannot pay his children school fees; that cannot feed; that has no job; that lives in poverty; will he not know it’s all lies since they are not stupid.

“They should tell us which city in the country is the railway running; they should tell us how many kilometres of rail they have added to the rail line; they should tell us which road has been done; is it the Lagos/ Ibadan road? Is it the Lokoja/

Abuja road? We ply these roads daily and we know their condition.

“Where are the jobs they created? They should tell us. Over 1.8 million youths enter the labour market every year while 55 per cent are unemployed,” he said, noting that the PDP government has failed completely on every front.

The APC spokesman said security is very woeful in a place where over 200 square kilometers have been placed under control of Boko Haram while the entire South East and South South have been taken over by

kidnappers.

“A country where armed robbery, kidnappings, road accidents and Boko Haram insurgents are taking lives in wanton disregard, where the mother of the Minister of Finance was kidnapped, where an uncle of the president and governor were kidnapped; what kind of country is that where over one million people have been displaced,” he asked?

In the area of corruption, he described Nigeria as having the most corrupt government in the world, saying the issue of over two trillion naira subsidy fraud has not

been dealt with, wondering what happened to the pension scam, Malabo oil scam, police pension scam and many others.

According to Lai, half of the students of school age can’t go to school; one third have no access to health care, despite the huge amount of money being realized, alleging that the money was just being divided among PDP members.

He charged Nigerians to vote for General Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s Presidential election so that he can bring the much desired change into the country.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 31, 2014

Time to rest . . . Some members of Highway Managers opposite the National Stadium, at Surulere, Lagos.

9 News

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Apprehension in Osun as APC holds senatorial re-run

Independent group boosts campaign for Jimi Agbaje

he re-run of the All Progressive Congress (APC) primaries for Osun East Senatorial District, was held on Tuesday amidst tight security and palpable tension.

It would be recalled that the APC ticket for the senatorial district had been a subject of bitter rivalry between the incumbent law-maker representing the district, Mr. Babajide Omoworare, and the Publicity Secretary of Ogun State chapter of the party, Mr. Sola Lawal, who hails from Ile-Ife. Lawal had claimed he

Kayode Adelowokan

T

Suswam presents N98b budget estimate in Benue Freddie Adamgbe, Makurdi

G

overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has formerly presented the 2015 budget proposal

was the duly elected candidate of the party by the delegates at a primary held in Ile-Ife on December 10 at Ife City hall, while the leadership of APC in Osun had insisted Mr Omoworare would fly the party’s flag in the 2015 poll, saying he won the primaries conducted then.

Following the stand of the party, Lawal had petitioned the National Appeal Committee of the APC, which ordered rerun of the exercise.

However, at the Timsed Hotel venue of the rerun, in Ijebu-Jesa, a town in

Oriade Local Government area, there was a heavy security presence, just as supporters of the two politicians in the race were near almost set to clash.

Journalists, who had thronged the venue, were ordered to vacate the premises by the chairman of the committee that conducted the exercise, Mr. Oguntola Toogun, who explained that the “exercise is strictly a party and internal affair.

The Director of Publicity, Media and Strategy, Osun APC, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, described threat of violence by the sup-

porters of both aspirants as “ normal in political gatherings,” adding that the national headquarters of party ordered the rerun to ensure that no member harbours ill feelings.

Oyatomi further explained that 3,000 delegates drawn from the ten local government areas in the senatorial district are participating in the exercise and restated the readiness of the party to ensure a free and fair exercise.

As of the time of filing this report, accreditation of delegates was about to end.

of N98.5 billion to the state House of Assembly, tagged “Budget of Consolidation.”

Suswam told the state’s law-makers that the budget was planned to continue to lay a solid foundation and development of the state and it will also emphasize the welfare of the citizens.

He noted that his administration had shown exemplary leadership and responsibility on the cause of improving the lives of Benue people, saying the 2015 budget estimate of N98.5 billion was 11.6% lower than the one presented

in 2014, adding that the essence was to avoid ambiguous planning and reflect the mode of transition in the administration.

“2015 marks the year of election and in the year, my administration will have only few months to complete capital projects already embarked upon and ensure timely payment of workers’ salaries.”

“That is why we have proposed a modest and realistic budget estimate to reflect the economic situation we are currently experiencing in the country,” he said.

According to the governor, the budget will help the state government to ensure timely payment of salaries and wages, meet the aspirations of the teeming population and completing the ongoing projects, ensure provision of security during the 2015 election.

He added that the risk factors such as heavy workforce, increased wage bill and dwindling federal allocation which had affected successful implementation of the 2014, may also pose a serious challenge for the 2015 budget.

T

he electoral fortunes of the Lagos State Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, in the February 2015 general elections, has received a major boost with the inauguration of the Jimi Agbaje Independent Campaign Group (JAICG).

The JAICG is a platform founded by passionate Lagosians, who are truly committed to the desired leadership change in Lagos State.

The founders strongly desired to effectively compliment all efforts to effect this change through Agbaje.

Its Director of Communications, Mrs. Victoria Falowo, said its membership cuts across key players in the organized private sector (OPS), youths and women organizations, with no particular affiliation to the PDP. Falowo said that the major drive of JAICG is to independently work with like minds in all sectors of the state by employing a very vigorous person-to-person and door mouth-to-door mouth campaign to see that their prized asset in the person of Mr. Jimi Agbaje,

a thoroughbred Lagosian and professional par excellence, emerge victorious in the February elections.

Already, as part of ways in the achievement of their goals, the group has gone ahead to set up a website and social media platform on facebook and Twitter, to further enhance interaction, as well as engage Lagosians and the voting public on the need to queue behind Agbaje, by emphasizing his strong points and value which, amongst others, are a strong pedigree, a quintessential professional, an avowed listener and, more importantly, a good team-player.

Falowo said that the JAICG is totally independent of the PDP, any other political parties, nor machinery to politicians, personalities or structures.

Agbaje

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 31, 2014

Yuletide: Ogun FRSC arrests 50 motorists Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

N

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and Member,Board of Directors, Etisalat Nigeria, Junaid Dikko, at Dikko’s Turbaning as Turakin Babba of Zazzau by the Emir of Zazzau...recently.

Buhari’ll revive Nigeria’s fortunes, say Ekiti APC elders Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado-Ekiti

T

he Elders Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said that the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as President in the February General election will revive Nigeria`s fortunes and sanitise the country.

Specifically, the APC Elders Forum declared that Buhari is the only answer to the virus of corruption

that has festered during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration in the country.

The group`s spokesman in a chat with the Daily times in Ado Ekiti, Dr. Bayo Orire, said a Buhari Presidency will point Nigeria to a new direction in a way things should be done adding that Nigeria would need the military experience acquired by Buhari to tackle and defeat the insurgency of Boko Haram and other militant groups threatening the corporate existence of the

country.

Apart from this, the APC elders forum also carpets the PDP and its spokespersons for making attempts to denigrate the person of Buhari by accusing him of being semi-literate and having dictatorial tendencies saying the more the ruling party attacks the APC presidential flag bearer, the more popular he becomes.

Orire who expressed regrets that the PDP-led administration has mismanaged the nation’s economy with the ship of the state

almost running aground due to bad leadership, declared: “Under a Buhari Presidency, I expect eradication of corruption, graft and stealing, I expect dedication to duty and a paradigm shift in the way Nigerians will start to look at things.

“I expect total uprooting of Boko Haram and I expect discipline in the Armed Forces. It will be a new Nigeria where everybody will be happy, where everybody will enjoy light and water between six months and one year.

Imoke’s wife urges female politicians to lead by example

T

he Founder and Board Chair of Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realization, (POWER), Obioma Liyel Imoke, has charged female politicians in the country to rise up to the challenge of leadership by working together to achieve the desired results in their various councils.

Imoke`s wife stated this at a one-day orientation for female local government political leaders organised by POWER’s Political Advance-

ment for Women (PPA4W) programme in Cross River State.

The governor’s wife maintained that the event was organised in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs and stressed that the exercise was designed to enhance the capacity of 75 elected female chairpersons, vice chairpersons and councillors in various councils across the state.

Imoke’s wife disclosed that the training was to help make excellent leaders out of all the elected female

representatives, adding that the desire to create resultsbased leadership among the women leaders can only be realised if their capacities and knowledge are broadened in different areas such as in affirmative Actions, etiquette and protocol, basic administrative skills and security tips.

She noted that PPA4W is premised on the fact that gender equality and women’s empowerment are not only human rights but are also imperative for achieving a fair, inclusive, equitable and

sustainable development.

In a keynote address, the United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Dr. Grace Ongile, noted the importance of Affirmative Action as a means to increase women’s participation in the political structure in view of their roles in addressing salient societal issues like development, poverty alleviation and empowerment.

He lamented that Nigeria has the lowest percentage of women in Parliament in West Africa.

o fewer than 50 motorists plying the Abeokuta/ Sango - Ota/Oshodi axis were yesterday arrested by the Itori Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety (FRSC) for violating traffic rules in its bid to make the festive season a crash-free one.

Making this known to journalists was the Unit Commander of Itori Unit of FRSC, Assistant Corps Commander Fatai Bakare, who also educated motorists on the need to maintain decorum on the road.

FRSC also organised a one-day seminar for commercial drivers, members and leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) and other road users in the Abeokuta and Ewekoro local government areas of the state.

Bakare, who lamented

the carelessness of road users in the country at observing simple safety rules, also said that over-speeding, overloading and other negative attitudes of road users informed the for the seminar which also had in attendance royal fathers, executives and members of transport unions, the police and other stakeholders.

While dismissing the belief that “ember” months are prone to accidents, Bakare also said his commission intended to put a stop, if possible, to accidents on Nigerian roads.

“Let me correct the impression that something is wrong with ember months.

No. Nothing is wrong with end of the year. Rather, it is the attitude of road users that cause problems. We have taken the campaign to mosques, churches, markets and parks to sensitize the people on dangers associated with negative attitude on the road.”

Uncertainty in Anambra over PDP candidates Ï ^1 è ^ Ƌ ƕ ƌƄƑ Ɛ 9M& Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka

T

he confusion over who are the candidates of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra for the national and state Assemblies in 2015 general elections has created a pall of uncertainty in the state.

This is because the that last PDP primary election in Anambra State produced four senatorial candidates for Central Senatorial District, three candidates for South and three for the North senatorial districts.

Similarly the 11 House of Representatives slots in the party produced 24 candidates instead of 11 candidates while in the 30 seats in the state house of assembly produced 43 candidates of the same party.

Thus the duo of All progressive Congress (APC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) are already laying ambush at the Independent National Elec-

toral Commission (INEC) on when the PDP would submit the list of its candidates for the election as, according to the two parties, the time for submission of candidates’ names has elapsed.

According to the Chairman of APC in the state, Emeka Ibe, the habit of PDP holding the entire state to ransom has become unbearable, adding that the unconstitutional act of the party of fielding more than one candidate in the past will not happen again in 2015. ‘’ We in APC are ready to battle both PDP and the commission to its legal conclusion this time around,’’ he added.

Also, National Chairman of APGA and senatorial candidate of the party for Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, has announced that the party is set to institute legal action against the multiple candidacy of the PDP contending that the party could not hold others to ransome.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 31, 2014

11 News

Petrol scarcity persists in Benin Titus Eguaoje - Benin

T

he scarcity of petroleum products, notably Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) which characterized the yuletide has continued to hit Benin City and its environs less than 24 hours to the New Year.

Consequently, long queues of vehicles and increased human traffic

of anxious buyers with jerry –cans have become prominent features in the few filling stations that are selling the products.

When our correspondent went round the town yesterday, virtually all the filling stations along the ever busy Akpakpava Road were closed to business following scarcity of the products.

However, Con oil filling station was seen dispensing fuel with only two dispensing pumps as long queues of vehicles in a disorderly manner pervaded the station, while anxious buyers with jerry cans clustered round the dispensing pumps.

The few dealers selling the products also cashed in on the scarcity to adjust their fuel pumps to

between N100 and N110 per – litre.

At Ugbowo axis of Benin City, only few filling stations were opened to motorists, as travelers groaned over the abnormal increase in the pump price of the products.

The situation at the Upper Sakponba Road axis in Benin City was not different as some dealers were more inter-

ested in the sales of the products into jerry cans at high cost.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Benin depot, Mr. Douglas Iyike said there was no cause for alarm, as most marketers have resolved to buy the products from Lagos or Port-Harcourt.

Iyike, who expressed

hope that the products would be available soon, said major marketers have continued to buy the products from private depots that are selling the products.

He explained that the current trend of scarcity may not be unconnected with the holidays within the period, after members of NUPENG called off their three days warning strike.

Wike unveils female deputy governorship candidate

T Fuel queue

PDP govt won’t discriminate against non-indigenes in Kwara Ola Yekeen, Ilorin

T

he People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship flag- bearer in Kwara state, Senator Simeon Ajibola, has assured the people of the state that his government would not discriminate against non-indigenes in the state.

Ajibola gave the assurance on Tuesday in his New Year message to the people of the state.

The flag bearer who felicitated with the entire people of the state for witnessing yet another new year, promised better deals for them in 2015 if he gets into office.

Ajibola Ajibola appealed to all the people of the state to be patient as freedom from bondage and political slavery was in sight.

Ajibola declared that both indigenes and non-indigenes in the state would be given equal rights and treatment as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

He added that non- indigenes living in the state

should not entertain any fear of discrimination as Kwara belongs to everybody, irrespective of creed, birth place or political leaning.

“Whatever PDP government does for the state indigenes, would also be done for non-indigenes”, Ajibola said, adding that the free education that the PDP government would embark upon, immediately it gets to office, would also be enjoyed by children of non-indigenes.

Ajibola assured non indigenes that the welfare package for old people to be launched once the PDP gets into power would be extended to the Hausa, Ibo or any other tribe in

Kwara.

“Our free health service to children below the age of five years and free preand post-natal treatment for pregnant women would include non-indigenes in the state”, he added.

He said the PDP government would always carry non indigenes in the state along in its programmes and activities as leadership of these non-indigenes have declared their support for the party.

“All the welfare programmes of PDP led government in Kwara would be extended to non-indigenes, because they live in Kwara, do their businesses and pay their taxes to the state”, Ajibola added.

he Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, in Rivers state, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Tuesday, formally presented Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Gogo Banigo as the deputy governorship candidate of the party for the 2015 election.

In a press release signed

by Wike’s Special Assistant (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, it was said the 62-year-old medical doctor, is a former health commissioner, former permanent secretary, former Head of Civil Service and former Secretary to the Government of Rivers State.

Speaking during the public presentation of his running mate in Port Harcourt, Wike declared that the governorship of the state is not a personal property of a god-father to be bequeathed to ill-prepared godsons.

He said that the massive rot and under development of Rivers state had necessitated the assemblage of the Rivers state PDP governorship ticket built on commitment to the service of the Rivers people by doing things differently.

He said that, in order to realize the vision of a new Rivers state where men and women as inseparable partners in governance

and development, Banigo was nominated to offer her wealth of experience and expertise in the quest to restore the glory of Rivers state.

“Our choice is not a runof-the-mill material. She is a competent, tested and seasoned professional and bureaucrat with several years as a key holder of highly challenging public offices in Rivers state.

“As a deputy governor, she will join in the crusade for women and children’s right. She brings to the PDP ticket, a rich dossier of leadership skills necessary to achieve synergy”, he said.

Wike urged women in the state to seize the opportunity and vote massively for the PDP in the 2015 election, in order to claw back the fortunes of the state.

Wike

Africa 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Somalia:

Suspected Al-Shabab militants captured during a recent attack on African Union base in Mogadishu, recently.

Gambia rocked by shooting while Jammeh is abroad

H

eavy gunfire has erupted near the presidential palace in The Gambia’s capital, Banjul, reports say.

Details are sketchy but military and diplomatic sources say soldiers from the presidential guard

tried to stage a coup, AFP news agency reports.

The fighting was reported while President Yahya Jammeh is abroad.

Mr Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and his critics accuse him of leading one of the most repressive regimes in Africa.

U.S. strike in Somalia targets Al-Shabaab

T

he United States conducted an airstrike Monday in Somalia against Al-Shabaab, said Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, Pentagon press secretary.

The strike, which took place in the area of Saakow, was targeting a senior leader of the Islamist militant group.

“At this time, we do not assess there to be any civilian or bystander casualties. We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information, when appro-

priate, as details become available,” Kirby said in a statement.

The strike was carried out by an unmanned aircraft, and was an operation of the U.S. Defense Department, according to a U.S. defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

On Saturday, Somalia government forces captured a top Al-Shabaab commander, said two of the country’s military officials.

Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, Al-Shabaab’s intelligence chief, was captured

There has been no official comment on the shooting, but a military source told AFP that the attackers had been beaten back.

“They wanted to overthrow the regime,” the unnamed officer is quoted as saying.

Some media reports say

Mr Jammeh is on a visit to France, while others say he is in Dubai.

In 2011, Mr Jammeh told the BBC he would rule The Gambia for “a billion years”.

The tiny West African state, with its sandy beaches, is a popular tourist destination.

in a house near the town of El Wak, Somali military commander Isack Hussein Mursal told state-run radio.

He was a close associate of former Al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike near Barawe city in September.

The capture came after militants with the group, which is linked to al Qaeda, attacked a large African Union base in Mogadishu last week, killing three Ugandan soldiers and a civilian.

Al-Shabaab has said that attack was revenge for the U.S. airstrike that killed Godane. The State Department had offered a $7 million reward for information on Godane’s location.

Eight killed on Burundi border

A

t least eight fighters were killed on Tuesday in clashes between Burundian security forces and members of an unidentified armed group which crossed into the Central African nation from the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said.

Burundian officials and witnesses said the armed group, thought to number around 200, crossed into Cibitoke province during the night, and that Burundian soldiers and police had been locked in battles against the group throughout the day.

24 African migrants drown off coast of Yemen

Y

emen’s interior ministry says coast guards have found the bodies of 24 African migrants whose boat has capsized off the country’s

western coast.

The statement on Monday said most of the migrants were from Ethiopia.

It said search-and-rescue operations are still underway to ascertain whether there are survivors from the boat that capsized off the shores of the Red Sea. Tens of thousands of migrants make the treacherous journey between the Horn of African and Yemen every year, refugee organisations say.

The United Nations has documented more than 200 deaths at sea so far in 2014 — which they say exceeds the combined totals from 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Senegal court rejects Karim Wade bail

A

Senegalese court on Monday rejected bail for former president Aboulaye Wade’s son, Karim, who is accused of amassing a multi-million dollar fortune through corruption during his time as a minister.

The special court on illegal enrichment (CREI) said it was turning down the request on the grounds that it could “risk disrupting public order” and lead

to the “intimidation of witnesses”.

The head of the court, Henri Gregoire Diop, said the flamboyant Wade had not “yet confronted any witness or detainee” linked to the trial.

He also rejected a similar demand for co-defendant Mamadou Pouye.

Karim Wade is alleged to have illegally acquired companies and real estate worth almost $240m and has been in custody in Dakar since April 2013.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

13 World

Argentine president breaks ankle after slipping on wet floor

A

wet floor caused Argentine President Cristina Fernandez to slip and fracture her left ankle, the government said on Monday, providing the first details of the South American leader’s latest of several health setbacks.

The president, 61, fell on Friday at her home in El Calafate, in the southern

province of Santa Cruz, where she was spending a few days resting, Cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich said at a press briefing.

“The president has had a domestic accident,” said Capitanich, adding that it happened because Fernandez didn’t see that the floor was wet.

Fernandez suffered a “bimalleolar fracture”, and

Palestine:

initial treatment would include immobilizing the foot and limiting movement, according to a statement from the president’s medical staff.

Such breaks are commonly associated with stepping incorrectly or a blunt impact to the foot, such as in a car accident, and can require surgery, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

R

native.

Fernandez, less than a year away from finishing her second and final term, has been frequently sidelined with ailments over the past year. In November, she was hospitalised for several days for inflammation of the colon. She was obliged to suspend her presidential activities for a few days in October due to a sore throat.

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour (L) and Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar leave a meeting of Arab states at U.N. headquarters, Monday.

Alleged fraud: Putin’s critic gets suspended sentence ussian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has avoided jail after being convicted in a highprofile fraud case.

Navalny was given a suspended prison sentence of three-and-a-half years for defrauding two firms.

But his brother Oleg is facing a three-and-a-half year custodial sentence.

Navalny has consistently said the charges were politically motivated. He accused President Vladi-

Fernandez has since cancelled several activities planned for early January, including a trip to the Vatican to commemorate a peace treaty with neighbouring Chile on the Beagle Channel in Patagonia. Fernandez had planned to commemorate the treaty, signed in 1984, with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Pope Francis, an Argentine

mir Putin’s government of targeting the relatives of his opponents.

The brothers were convicted of stealing 30m roubles (£334,600; $518,100) from the firms, one of which is an affiliate of French cosmetics giant Yves Rocher.

They have also been fined 500,000 roubles (£5,460; $9,030) each and have been ordered to pay some 4m roubles in damages.

Oleg Navalny, brother and co-defendant of Rus-

sian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, stands inside the defendants cage, during a court hearing in Moscow December 30, 2014. Alexei Navalny’s younger brother Oleg has been sentenced to jail for three-and-a-half years.

Alexei Navalny is the opposition figure the Kremlin fears most. A charismatic anti-corruption campaigner turned political activist and a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin.

I

ndonesian officials have recovered at least 40 bodies from the sea near the wreckage of an AirAsia passenger jet that crashed during a storm on Sunday.

Local television on Tuesday showed rescue helicopters pulling bodies from the Java Sea, about 160 kilometers off the coast of Borneo Island.

Families of some of the 162 people on board AirAsia Flight 8501 burst into tears and hugged one another after seeing the images of the floating bodies, which were not wearing life jackets, and wreckage.

By nightfall, rescuers had recovered only a quarter of those on board

UN urges Myanmar to grant Rohingya full citizenship rights

U

nited Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution urging Myanmar to grant citizenship and equal rights to the country’s beleaguered Rohingya minority.

In a resolution passed by consensus on Monday, the General Assembly expressed “serious concern” at Myanmar’s treatment of the mostly Muslim minority group.

Around 140,000 Rohingya are stuck in filthy, overcrowded camps in Rakhine state, where sectarian unrest has left up to 280 people dead in since June 2012.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, does not recognize the existence of the Rohingya ethnicity. Many locals and government officials instead say they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

The U.N. resolution urged members of the group to be granted “full citizenship” and be allowed to self-identify as Rohingya and not Bengali, as the government insists.

40 bodies, debris recovered from missing AirAsia airliner the jet. None of the passengers or crew have been found alive.

The bodies were located shortly after the discovery of wreckage, including what appeared to be an orange life jacket, luggage, and a red and white emergency door.

The plane is yet to be found, but Indonesian officials have spotted a “shadow” under the surface of the water that is believed to be the main body of the Airbus A320200.

In a statement late

Tuesday, AirAsia confirmed the wreckage was the missing plane, which disappeared Sunday, about halfway through what was supposed to be a brief, two-hour flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

Tony Fernandes, the CEO and founder of AirAsia, said he is “absolutely devastated” at the news.

Earlier on Twitter, Fernandes said his “heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved,” and that “words cannot express how sorry I am.”

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Intellectual Property: Leveraging on Diaspora exchange

D

Chidi Oguamanam

epending on where one locates its advent, contemporary globalization is now, certainly, more than half a century. It requires asking whether globalization has been beneficial to Africa.

One quick and easy way of addressing this often asked question is to cursorily look at the regional dynamics of over half century of globalization. Not many disagree that East Asia, South East Asia and South American regions have taken a quantum leap. China, India and Brazil have indisputably emerged regional economic and global powers. Despite prevalent poverty and inequity in these continental and sub continental countries, there is demonstrable evidence that they have been and are on the match. And the world has taken notice. Today, these countries are accorded the recognition and respect they deserve as they continue to wield influence and to shape the global economic and power dynamics.

But the African picture has not been as exciting. Through globalization’s trajectories, Africa is still the continent with the highest concentration of least developed countries. It is still home to the most vulnerable in

direst need of the basic means of human survival. It is perhaps the most vulnerable region to global climate crisis, as it is the least prepared for the challenge. On a global scale, human development indicators in Africa still remain the worst.

In the last couple of decades, there is a “big buzz” about Africa.

This is as the US, Europe and most of the developed world’s economies fumble and contract.

The downward economic trends in Europe and the US are results both of systemic failures as well a consequence of involuntary, even if inevitable, structural calibrations to accommodate the continuing shift in the global economic status quo. At the same time, the red-hot growths of the new emerging economies have begun to show signs of cooling down or stabilizing; Africa’s regional economies are surging. Compared to other regions, Africa successfully weathered the global financial crisis of 2008-2010, for reasons outside the present discussion. Today, African countries constitute 50-70 percent of the fastest growing economies in the world. As far-fetched as it sounds, it is projected that at the current growth rate, by 2050 Africa’s economy will surpass that of the United States and Europe combined. But like all projection, a little unforeseen game changer

can result in a dangerous turn.

For example, not many policy makers and economic pundits saw the current global oil glut.

Meanwhile, Africa has become the destination of choice for foreign direct investments (FDIs).

Africa’s traditional partners in the West (Europe and the United States) are fast being displaced by China, India and Brazil.

These contemporary transformation in the global economy in which Africa is strategically implicated unravels the catalytic role of two major technological revolutions. They are the digital and bio- technology innovations.

From rural and mobile telephony to diverse computing applications and the wonders of the Internet, digital technologies have changed the global landscape and have left nothing untouched. From resource extraction, harnessing of genetic resources for food, agriculture and medicine, to various creative repertoire in music, movie, choreography, and resourceful deployment of the cyberspace to energize the social media, personal cum communal exchanges and democratic participation, nothing has escaped the innovative potential of the digital overhang.

From research in medicine, to agriculture, food production and processing, and various aspects of life sciences, the marriage of

digital technologies and biotechnologies continues to transform our society.

Like most African countries, Nigeria had embarked on critical transformations in virtually all sectors of its economy since the return of democracy in 1999.

The corruption-ridden privatization regime of the early 2000s has swept through the telecommunications, power, ports, banking, petroleum, agriculture and the broadcast industries to name the few. All of these involve the opening up of the market for FDIs and competition. Because technology is the driver of the new ways of doing things, the ability of countries to optimize their interests in the new environment depends, in part, on how they leverage on intellectual property rights and technology transfer in the pursuit of their peculiar development objectives. If a country is not well equipped in the intellectual property and knowledge governance front, it is less likely to optimize opportunities on the critical issue of technology transfer and capacity building. Without strong capacity in intellectual property and overall knowledge governance, the present buzz about Africa may be one in which Africa yet again receives a short end of the stick even in the new framework of South-South partnerships.

Nasir El-rufai is incapable of ruling Kaduna State

I

John Dania

t is that time of the year when politicians and aspirants beg the populace for their votes, make empty promises and canvass for support, some even go to the extent of kneeling down, promising to bring down heaven to earth, the two most commonly used words are “Change” and “Transformation”.

I believe in Nigeria, I believe there are a few good guys but experience in time past have thought people not believe in those stuffs, I would say Nigerians are becoming wiser.

Yes, I am from Edo state but I was born and grew up in Kaduna state; an observer and I love politics.

Enough about me, the question in mind is, can Mallam Nasir Elrufai rule kaduna state?

My opinion? A big NO! I am not biased; I try to be as neutral as I should when it comes to

politics.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai emerged the Kaduna State APC Governorship Flag Bearer seems to be the major contender for the seat against the incumbent Governor, Alh. Ramalan Yero.

When growing up, I was thought that charity begins at home and I am pretty sure that is the belief of so many people.

Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (Born on 16 February 1960) was a former Director General of The Bureau of Public Enterprises, the head privatisation agency in Nigeria and also the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 16 July 2003 to 29 May 2007. His spell with the government began under the transition government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, where he served as an adviser in the Transition government.

He was reportedly in self-exile during the tenure of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Read the above paragraph

carefully, correct me if I am wrong but there is no mention of “Kaduna state”. It is just like me waking up one morning with a great vision of changing The United State of America as a Nigerian (It worked for Obama but at least he worked for His people before moving up the ladder but I may not be as lucky).

El-rufai is an alien!

It is our culture and tradition in Nigeria that before one is crowned a king or a given a title of a chief, he must work and his work in the town of local government be seen by all. (Ask my Igbo friends) El-rufai cannot just wake up one morning and claim he can change and transform Kaduna state (a typical politician begging for votes), from where? He does not even know what the plight of these people are.

Just recently I read on Leadership when Nasir El-rufai disclosed he has no regrets for the demolition exercise he

carried out in Abuja and will repeat same in Kaduna if elected governor.

Let me help you here, Kaduna state does not need that now.

Fine and good, you earned a degree as a quantity surveyor, but my friend, there is more to being a governor than demolishing and having unaffordable beautiful structures!

Now you talk about replicating same in Kaduna state, a growing state that have less millionaires that can afford new houses for themselves if thrown out. I love development but not at the expense of hurting other people or rendering them homeless.

Kaduna is not Abuja!

My honest opinion, El-rufai needs to learn a little more about Kaduna state then come back 2019 to run, I might just consider but for now, sorry!

El-rufai is incapable of leading Kaduna.

email john.dania2@gmail. com.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

15 Opinion

NIGERIA: Should we break ranks with PDP?

I

Chiedu Uche Okoye

s Nigeria not tending towards one party state what with the ruling PDP maintaining a suffocating strangle-hold on the country’s soul?

Can any political party other than the PDP win the presidential election in 2015? Now, Nigeria is synonymous with PDP, the political octopus that has seized power at the centre. Since the inception of the fourth republic in 1999, the party has been ruling Nigeria for 15 unbroken years. And, the end of the party supremacy is not anywhere in sight for now.

The party is nationalistic in out-look as its members are from diverse ethnic and religion backgrounds. It is a known fact that PDP is the political reincarnation of NPN, the dominant political party in the ill-fated second republic. It’s on the platform of PDP that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo won the presidential election in 1999, in order to placate the Yoruba over the annulled June 13, 1993 presidential election.

So, the imposition of leaders has become the enduring feature

as well as the legacy of the PDP. It is evident that PDP was birthed on the foundation of lawlessness and undemocratic norms. In the interest of political expediency and for selfish considerations, the PDP hierarchy has set bad political precedents for the party. So those precedents have continued to guide and shape the decisions and polices of the party. After his scuttled third term political gambit, Chief Obasanjo chose the ailing Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua above other politicians as the party’s presidential candidate in 2007.

In addition to its lack of internal democracy, some of the party’s political big wigs were brutally murdered. Daramola, Funso Williams, Bola Ige, Harry Marshal, and others were dispatched to the great beyond by hired assassins. Little wonder, Wole Soyinka described PDP as a nest of killers.

Sadly, the police have not found their killers, not to talk of bringing them to justice.

So, now, Nigeria is in the firm grip of insecurity. Armed robbers roam on the land, while kidnap-

ping for ransom has become the norm. And members of the dreaded Boko Haram group have occupied some towns in the north-east, while the military is struggling to flush them out. Yet, one of the cardinal duties of any government is to protect lives and properties of the people.

The fact is that PDP’s leadership performance, so far, is unimpressive. Nigeria is in a sorry state based on any benchmark for assessing countries’ national development. Our educational system is dysfunctional; the health sector has collapsed; and there is infrastructural deficit across the country. But our national woes are traceable to the government’s condoning of corruption. It is the cankerworm that is eating away at the fabric of our society.

But do we have any hope for redemption? Some political parties coalesced and formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). But it is anything but progressive.

The motive behind its formation is to wrest political power from President Jonathan, who is considered unfit to occupy the

presidential post due to his ethnic origin. Some selfish politicians who lost out in PDP’s power game defected to APC. So the APC is still afflicted with the same disease troubling PDP. The only thing APC has got right is the successful and exemplary conduction of its presidential primary election. But can Muhammadu Buhari, turn the table against President Jonathan in the 2015 election?

Can he make in-roads in the South-east and South-South and win the people to his side? Incidentally, some northern elites are not favourably disposed to Buhari’s becoming President for what they see as his inflexible nature.

We shall look beyond the APC and its pretension to progressive politics for the political messiah who will salvage Nigeria from the mess it has got into. But unfortunately, the PDP has not lived up to our expectations. The PDP should be reformed; it should change its undemocratic ways and tackle corruption, which has held Nigeria down for so long. But, if we break ranks with PDP, which political party is a better alternative?

JONATHAN vs BUHARI: Choosing between bad and worse

W

E.O.EKE

ith the selection of Buhari as the presidential candidate of APC, the next election would be a rerun of the last, demonstrating that Nigeria has not made any progress in the last four years. It would seem that nothing has changed and that it would be business as usual and more of the same, no matter who wins.

Whatever, happens, Nigeria will have either Jonathan or Buhari as president. It would be interesting if Nigeria chooses to elect a man who believes in Sharia more than the constitution of Nigeria. I was in the university, when Buhari was head of state. He was impervious to public opinion and only did what he believed to be right no matter how unjust to the victims.

However, as they say, time heals all wounds. Has Buhari changed for the better?

Definitely, the man is not a democrat at heart. His religious convictions would seem to only have room for what is written in the Quran. He believes that a book which contains the incitement to

violence like the ones quoted below was written by God. No one who hold his religious convictions and sense of ethnic identity in a multi-ethnic nation, should be given power, unless such a country has a strong culture of separation of religion and power, rule of law, strong institutions and able to protect individuals’ freedom of belief.

However, it would seen that Buhari is anxious to allay the fears of people like me, which may be why he has gone for a Bible basher as a vice presidential candidate, given Nigeria one of the most religiously minded candidates.

In a country that believes in God, what can be better than, a president that has the ear of Allah and a vice that can pray down the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, I suppose. Nigeria may have found the perfect solution after all. With this ticket, all sinners should know that the days of iniquity in Nigeria are numbered.

To people like Buhari and Asinbanjo, words like, paradise, eternity, Jesus and Allah, can mean the difference between eternal torment and bliss everlasting.

Is it not ironic that Nigeria may have a president who believes that

his vice will go to hell because he is not a Muslim and a Vice President who believes the president will go to hell because he is not born again Christian? Religion is a funny thing indeed.

My fear is that Buhari may share the conviction that religion has a place in the moral recovery of Nigeria and may be minded to push religious morality, instead of the rule of law and liberty, which are the main constructs on which viable democracies are built.

This does not mean that Jonathan is better. The way Jonathan has used his, ethnic origin, Christian beliefs and affiliations, has been very divisive Nigeria can do better than Jonathan and Buhari. However, Jonathan would always seem a better democrat than Buhari. He may be more minded to respect the rule of law, when Buhari may ignore it. He may be more disposed to treating other ethnic groups with respect and as equal partners than Buhari . Again, Buhari seems to have countered this argument by appointing a lawyer, who is a Christian as his vice.

Nevertheless, the fact is that all presidents of Nigeria so far, have behaved like military head of state.

They have all abused their powers and used security agencies to pursue unlawful ends.

Nigeria desperately needs a leader who will fight corruption, respects the rule of law, build strong institutions, make executive accountable, regards individual liberty as sacrosanct, treat the whole of Nigeria as his constituency, lead by example and respect the secularity of Nigeria. Sadly, Jonathan has not been that leader and there are just a lot of questions for Buhari to answer.

My point is that religious piety should neither be sufficient, nor the determinant reason to elect any man or woman to political office. For the reason amongst many, of what their religious convictions can make them to justify.

The choice between Jonathan and Buhari, is choice between bad and worse and Nigeria deserves better.

Nigerians must continue to hope that one day; a leader who has the temperament and courage to confront the corrupt institutions and interest group would emerge.

Until then, Nigerians must choose between corruption and incompetence and extremism and sectarianism.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Politics I remain a member of PDP Adedoja

- Adedoja

s F

ormer Minister of Sports, Professor Taoheed Adedoja has restated his commitment to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in spite of recent developments in the party in Oyo State which led to many leaders of the party in the state leaving in droves to other parties.

According to him, some members of the party particularly

governorship aspirants, house of assembly and national assembly aspirants who had contributed immensely to the growth of the party were forced out of the party to join other parties.

This he said was as a result of the malpractices and injustices that characterised the adhoc delegates congresses and subsequent party primaries in Oyo State, a development that may

have depleted its membership rating in the state.

However, Adedoja, one of the frontline aspirants said despite the exodus of members to other parties, he remains a committed and loyal party member, “preferring to remain in PDP to continue to right the wrongs meted out to members with my strong conviction that PDP is still very dear to the people of

Page 18

PDP ‘ll lose 2015 Elections woefully- Enikuomehin Benson Enikuomehin is the former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Ondo State, He dumped Labour Party (LP) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to some cracks that have pitted him against Governor Olusegun Mimiko. He later moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to further his political career. In this Interview with ‘TOSIN AJUWON in Akure, the legal practitioner spoke on some pertinent issues in the state and the roadmap to the 2015 general elections.

Y

ou seem to like cross-carpeting; you were in the Labour Party (LP) before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), you have now moved to the All Progressives Congress (PDP), why is this so?

I can’t stand a situation where a man would always say he is all in all. The office of the governor must be respected but it’s unfortunate that the policy Governor Olusegun Mimiko embarked upon, the mode and manner in which he went about it, looks bizarre and a person like me can’t stand it and I had to leave.

Also, when I was leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) I told a good number of them that with the defection of the governor to the party, I can’t see my future in the party because

it was bleak and I can’t hold grudges against old PDP members but I couldn’t stand the audacity of the governor coming into the party thinking he is the lord of everybody and I had to leave the party.

The fact that someone is a governor doesn’t make him the best in the entire state. I had to find my way out of the place and I thank God I left the party. These and more reasons are why I felt I should part ways with the party and I have no regret about it.

You contested an election into the House of Representatives in your constituency under the banner of the APC but lost, why are you in court to challenge the election?

If I lose an election, I hardly felt bad about it because it’s

Continued on page 17

Enikuomehin

The fact that someone is a governor doesn’t make him the best in the entire state

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

17 Politics

Some people feed fat on insurgency Continued from page 16 a game but if the game is not played according to the rule that is when it has to be challenged.

The election conducted in my Federal constituency brought up issues and it started when the House of Assembly primary election was conducted. Some names where imported from nowhere and it caused lot of crisis.

My own election was to come up on Sunday and some persons felt since they have used those names for the State House Assembly election, it should be used for the National Assembly primary election. We said ‘No’, it can’t be possible and we went to court to stop it. The enrolment order of the court was served to the parties involved and there was no injunction.

I brought the case before party officials who came to conduct the election but they felt otherwise and went ahead to conduct the election. I immediately stepped aside after I had told them I won’t be part of the illegality and I was watching them only for them to play the ball by themselves and use hand to carry the ball into the net when they were about to score.

They released the result by themselves and signed it. The accredited voters for the illegal election has 553 and total votes cast as 549 meaning only 4 persons didn’t vote. In the result released by them after the election, they claimed total valid vote is 549 while invalid votes was 14, if you now calculate it, it means the number of people that voted were more than people that got accredited. I have petitioned the election and I’m urging the court to declare the election null and void by the party’s guidelines.

Since the election was con-

Delta 2015: Isoko tango over Okowa’s running mate Page 18

Enikuomehin ducted, why did you refuse to congratulate the person that won?

If my opponent had won I would have congratulated him but he didn’t win. We can’t accuse the other party of lacking internal democracy while our own party is acting same. There are 12 wards in my local government of Ilaje while Ese Odo has 10 wards, totaling 17 wards. Unfortunately, out of the 10 wards in ilaje, they conducted election only in 7 wards while they said the re-

If my opponent had won I would have congratulated him but he didn’t win.

We can’t accuse the other party of lacking internal democracy while our own party is acting same.

maining 5 wards had issues but they could conduct elections in whole 10 wards of Ese Odo. I believe the party would surely address and resolve it.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko promised to ensure President Goodluck Jonathan gets ‘One Million Votes’ in the Southwest in the coming presidential election, is this not a threat to your party that claims to own the region?

This is very funny. How many votes did he get when it was his own turn, he didn’t get up to

three hundred thousand votes because I was the returning chief agent for the election and I returned him. Someone that couldn’t get such votes, how does he want to get that for the president? Do you know how many people that have left him since he caused trouble in the PDP? You want to get One million votes and you are crucifying the people you met at the party. It can’t work.

I think nobody should fool the presidency and If truly the intelligence agencies are working, they should be able to give the president all this information that the governor is only deceiving him because he has lost his popularity in the Southwest. We are not perturbed by that threat because we have our strong supporters in the Southwest who are tired of PDP government.

What is your take on the defection of the governor to the PDP that is now ridden with crisis?

The Governor of Ondo State came into the PDP not with the intention of developing the party but with the intention of collapsing the party and making the party a failure in the state.

We learned that he defected in Abuja and formed a parallel executive members and office in the state while the people he brought from his party began amassing positions. Those in the party before him were taken for granted and this has never happened in the history of the state. Honestly, many couldn’t stomach the arrant nonsense and thrash, this is why crisis has engulfed the party since his defection to the party.

When he was battling and causing challenges with the PDP some years back, he didn’t know. If the party had collapsed, where was he coming stay? Now,

Continued on page 19

Invoking the spirit of Funso Williams comes alive again Page 19

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

What ordinarily should have been a simple political arithmetic to determine who becomes the running mate of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has turned messy as two major ethnic nationalities in the Delta Senatorial District of the state, Ijaw and Isoko ethnic groups have been at daggers drawn over the position.

JOE OGBODU reports from Warri, the bitter feud between Isoko and Ijaw over the position asking: who blinks first?

Okowa

Clark

Delta 2015: Stalemate over PDP’s running mate

T

hough the December 26 deadline stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for governorship candidates to pick their running mate expired last Friday, by last Sunday, the people of Ijaw and Isoko are still at war over who produces the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Daily Times of Nigeria learnt that the committee saddled with the responsibility of coming out with a running mate for Okowa have been finding it difficult to make a head way following the plethora of names being submitted before it from the two major ethnic group scheming for the plum job.

Sources said that Okowa had also rejected several persons presented to him and was not

consulting the leaders of the party in the state on the way forward.

Following the emergence of Okowa, as the winner of PDP governorship primaries, the Isokos ethnic nationality had assumed that the deputy governorship position would ordinarily be left for them going by political calculation that Ijaw have taken their turn in the person of Senator James Manager who won the Delta South Senatorial District race.

Both Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri had formed an alliance to which they rotate political offices in the Delta South among the ethnic nationality. Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan became governor in 2007 following the ‘G3’ alliance and quest for power shift. Senator James Manager took the Ijaw turn in the senate in 2003 and has perpetually retained the position for 12 years run-

I remain a member of PDP - Adedoja Continued from page 16 Oyo State going by the laudable programmes of President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, he opted to serve the people of Oyo State by contesting for the governorship with a view to utilising his experience, God given talent and state wide acceptability to better the lives

of the people of Oyo State who are yearning for good governance.

He then appealed to other aspirants for various elective office and other members of the party to remain in the party in order to make it greater in view of the forthcoming polls.

ning. He has again taken what was expected to be the turn of Itsekiri in the PDP just concluded senatorial primaries when Uduaghan who was his main rival suddenly quit the contest.

Understandably, the Isokos were the next in line to be empowered with any prominent position coming to the Delta South but victory is for those who are ready. Ijaws had positioned themselves for the job and had been lobbying the powers-thatbe to ensure that they get the position.

Sources said that since he won the PDP primaries, Okowa had been finding it difficult to pick his running mate following heavy pressure on him from both end. The source said that the governorship candidate had zeroed his mind on picking a running mate from Isoko but the outcome of the PDP primaries where it was widely believed that some forces from Isoko ethnic nationality worked against him during the contest may have made him change his mind though pressure is still being exerted on him that Isoko running mate would be the best choice for his victory at the poll.

Ijaw warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), who is believed to have help in swaying votes for Okowa, alongside Senator James Manager who maternally is from Isoko, are elements pulling the string for an Ijaw running mate notwithstanding the political imbalance it would cause in the Delta south senatorial district.

But Ijaw foremost leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark is said not to be supporting both Tompolo and Manager in their bid to produce Okowa’s running mate. The source said that Clark is rooting for an Isoko running mate instead since he can’t afford to give Tompolo the clout to pick a running mate for him from Ijaw enclave when he is still alive.

The apex Isoko socio-cultural organization, Isoko Development Union, (IDU) led by a retired army general, Gen. Paul Omu (rtd) has been lobbying for the Isoko deputy insisted that the Isokos have not been fairly treated in the geopolitics of the state.

Informed sources said that the Isokos are pushing either the Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovouzorie Macaulay or former Chief Whip, Senator Stella Omu as the running mate for Okowa. The source said that if Okowa eventually bows to pressure and is not forced against his wish, he may likely settle for Stella Omu against Macaulay who is believed to have played the spoiler card right from the onset and has rode on the black horse during PDP primaries. However for Okowa to pick Macaulay is like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

Another person that is being thrown up in Isoko as running mate for Okowa is former governorship aspirants in 2007 governorship election, Saliba

Mukoro. Sources said that the Chief EK Clark who maternally is also related to Isoko from Iyede is a factor that may likely work for Mukoro who has been a follower for Clark.

Daily Times learnt that Clark is not happy with the undue influence Tompolo is exerting in the political landscape of the state coupled with the likely negative effect it would create for President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election hence his decision to turn his back against an Ijaw deputy but many Ijaw people including groups like Niger Delta Grassroot Movement (NDGM) led by Itsekiri-born Comrade Weyinmi Olley have been appealing to him to allow Tompolo make the choice of a running mate for Okowa.

With the seeming development and bearing unforeseen circumstances, an Isoko may likely be named the running mate this week. but again, some Ijaws including the first Vice Chairman of Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri Leadership Forum (aka 3I’s), Chief Bare Etolor, feel that the Isoko have taken their share in the political equation in the person of Macaulay who is current SSG as well as during military era of Navy Commander Walter Feghabo, a Bayelsa-Ijaw posted as military administrator of Delta State who retained Sir Simeon Efenudu, an Isoko man, as SSG.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

19 Politics

No, Buhari can’t Islamise the country Continued from page 17 he came back again. You know when the prodigal son came back to his father’s house; he didn’t come to demand that the father should give him the best of the places. If Labour Party (LP) members who were prodigal sons to the PDP were coming in, they should come in like proper prodigal son who will say I am not worthy to be called one of your sons make me a hired servant. It beholves on the father to now say my son you

We all know that some people are feeding fat on this insurgency issue. I think we should be a serious nation and stop deceiving ourselves.

Enikuomehin

went; let us make merry for you.

I feel that is the way it should have been done.

Would you say your party is using the advantage of the crisis in the PDP to attract more members into its fold?

Yes, because sometimes if your opponent doesn’t make a tactical error when you begin to play a game of draft or the normal ‘Ayo’ game you may not win. The tactical error by your opponent is to your own advantage and the crisis in the PDP is to the advantage of the APC. I would encourage them to go ahead and they would keep on battling among themselves in the party while the public sees them as not being serious. If the crisis in the PDP escalated definitely the beneficiary of such crisis would be the APC. The crisis in the party makes it running slowly. A house cannot be divided against itself and remain standing. The people of Ondo State and Nigeria are crying because of what is happening in the state and country generally and surely, God will hear our voice. They are tired of the PDP government and I can assure you that they will vote the candidates of the APC massively while the Alagbaka seat for 2017 in the state is as good as gone for them.

Are you saying the ruling PDP has not done enough in the country?

The way the PDP is running the affairs of the country at the state and the national level shows that Nigerians are being taken for granted as the party thinks they are in charge of the country. Look at the Presidential primary election of the PDP which stipulated at the beginning that no other candidate must contest with the incumbent president and that only one form was available. Was that not nepotism compared to the APC election that was televised where five candidates contested, although there were lots of lobbying, but it was transparent and the winner emerged peacefully.

The PDP is an elephant that is roaming in the midst of hyenas, lions, tigers and scorpions and it would be stinged to death very soon as the party has become a balloon that is going nowhere because it has messed up and I think the challenge coming from the APC is a good one.

The present administration on board at the national level had repeatedly said it didn’t cause the insurgence, would you agree with this?

I agreed with it but if a doctor did not cause a disease, does it mean the doctor should not provide solution to curing the disease. Because the present administration didn’t cause it, insurgency should now be allowed to move on. When late Musa Yaradua came on board did he cause the Niger-Delta crisis?

Did he not provide solution to solving it? Our soldiers can no longer withstand the Boko haram militant. These insurgents are not as many as people in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno states and they recruit from just the ordinary people in these states.

We all know that some people are feeding fat on this insurgency issue. I think we should be a serious nation and stop deceiving ourselves. What is happening in these states has become an inferno and I think the present administration does not have the capacity to curtail it. President Jonathan might be a very fine gentleman but he is weak to rule this country.

Do you think the PDP stand a chance to win the forthcoming election with federal power of incumbency?

Williams

Invoking the spirit of Williams ÎÎÎ d ƆƐƎ Ə Ƈ Ɛ ƑƅƇƊƅƖ ƃ ƈƅó ƎƐ Ƈ Ƌ Əƅ

Abisola Oyewole, Lagos

I

t was like invoking the spirit of the late Funso Williams as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has chosen a trained teacher and accountant, Alhaja Safurat Olayinka Abdulkarim, to run with Mr. Jimi Agbaje, its Governorship Candidate in the 2015 race for Lagos State.

A staunch Moslem, she had been running mate to Late Engineer Funso Williams (PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos in 2003), Safurat is the wife of a retired Air Force officer and holds an MBA. A statement by Agbaje’s Media Director, Felix Oboagwina, said Mrs. Abdulkarim would complement her principal, and assist in ushering into Lagos a refreshing atmosphere, devoid of state-brewed intimidation and human rights abuses.

This is the second coming for Safurat, who in 2003 had been running mate to the Late Funsho Williams, the Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate, who was mysteriously assassinated in 2006.

“I feel humbled about being chosen for this noble responsibility,” she said of her pairing with the PDP Governorship Candidate. “Mr. Jimi Agbaje is an amiable personality. He is a complete gentleman. I hope I

can really, really complement him and assist him in winning the 2015 election because Lagosians strongly desire a change in government.”

Describing PDP’s chances in the governorship polls as very bright, the Deputy Governorship Candidate said she and Agbaje were entering the race at a time when Lagosians wanted to break the shackles of subjugation that had held them bound for 16 years.

“Our chances are very bright.

Everybody is tired of the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has demonstrated much impunity.

Citizens want a change in government. They want personalities who can bring positive programmes to their lives. We want to usher into Lagos a better way of governance, devoid of coercion and intimidation and harassment, characteristics that earmark the current administration.”

With a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of AdoEkiti in 2007, Safurat began her educational life in Ansar-udDeen Primary School, Badagry, Lagos, between 1966 and 1972.

From 1975 to 1980, she attended Government Teachers’ College, Badagry, where she obtained a Teacher’s Grade II Certificate.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Features

21

s

Death on Xmas day On Christmas day, the body of Dr. David Oguntuase, a consultant pediatrician and Head of pediatrics of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State, was found burnt beyond recognition sequel to a heavy fire at his private hospital, Universal Medical Clinic (Specialist Children Clinic) in Akure. No one could state the exact cause of the strange inferno. Family members and his colleagues are suspecting a foul play over the ugly incident which has not only claimed their breadwinner but also destroyed their means of livelihood. In this pathetic story, TOSIN AJUWON in Akure asked who killed Dr. Oguntuase at his private clinic in Akure?

I

f the late Dr. David Akintayo Oguntuase of the Universal Medical Clinic Akure, in Ondo State had known that death was lurking, probably he would have sought protection wherever he could get, even at any cost.

The circumstances that led to the death of the consultant pediatrician and Head of pediatrics of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, a town in the state is still very hazy even to the security agencies who have swung into action to unravel the cause.

On Christmas day, precisely Thursday, 25th of December, 2014, residents of Oke Ibukun Street, off Araromi area of Akure, the Ondo State capital woke up to the sad news of the death of Dr. David Akintayo Oguntuase, who was found dead in his private hospital.

The hospital, Universal Medical Clinic (Specialist Children Clinic) is an out-

patient private facility located in the neighborhood, and mostly run on charity bases as a result of the compassionate spirit of the late owner.

Daily Times investigation revealed that Dr. Oguntuase died in the hospital as a result of ‘fire incident’ which started around 12: 30 am on Christmas eve, when residents had already gone to bed.

Like a horror movie, residents near the clinic were woken up in the dead of night by a thick smoke which later resulted into an inferno at the hospital. This made them to begin a rescue operation to salvage the clinic from being totally burnt and to prevent their own buildings and apartments close to the hospital from being consumed by the ravaging fire.

After frantic efforts to put out the fire and preCONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Dr. Oguntuase,

is a consultant pediatrician and Head of pediatrics of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State. On Christmas day, his body was found burnt beyond recognition in his private hospital, Universal Medical Clinic (Specialist Children Clinic) in Akure. No one could state the exact cause of the inferno. Family members and his colleagues are suspecting a foul play over the ugly incident. Daily Times Correspondent in Akure, ‘Tosin Ajuwon writes on the incidence.

Features 22

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 31, 2014

The clinic that was gutted by fire

Who Killed

Oguntuase?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

vent it from extending to their own building and apartment had failed, they quickly resulted into entering the clinic which had already been saturated with the intensity of heat and heavy fire.

Unfortunaely, the main gate to the clinic had already been pad locked from inside, forcing a rescuer to forcefully break into the two bed-room flat housing the hospital. While the youths and grown up men were making every effort to stop the fire, other sympathizers, mostly women were making frantic calls to the emergency lines of the State Fire Brigade Service for help to salvage the situation.

But according to the residents, the response from the state firefighters was not encouraging as they claimed they had no functioning vehicle to render any help. Following this development, the youths resulted into self-help and struggled to put out the fire, which lasted for almost four hours.

Throughout the period of salvaging the situation, none of the residents was

aware that Dr. Oguntuase was inside his clinic, while the fire raged as it was still very dark. All they were after was to stop the fire from extending to other buildings around the clinic after which they went back home to celebrate Christmas.

But at dawn, the dismembered body of the doctor was found dead, by some of the same neighbors, who came to catch a glimpse of the debris and sad tale left behind by the inferno. His body was burnt beyond recognition, as residents, saddened by the unfortunate incident argued whether it was the doctor or a patient left behind in the clinic.

This was because Dr. David’s vehicle was not found parked-outside the clinic, in his habitual manner. It took the cries of the nurses working in the hospital, who rushed down to the scene that morning, having heard about the incident, to convince residents that the doctor was actually the one that died in the inferno.

The bereaved nurses wept uncontrollably as they narrated what hap-

“The witch cried yesterday, the child died today!

Only in this case, it has even more obviously gone beyond mere speculation into the realm of reality as to where the Police should focus their searchlight to unearth the criminals and their sponsor.

pened on Christmas eve, at the hospital to residents, adding that they were together with the late doctor who discharged them to go home for the celebration.

“The doctor came into the hospital and cracked jokes with us about the celebration of the Christmas and later told us to go home for a happy celebration with only himself left behind and before we left, he instructed us to lock all the windows and doors, which we did.

“We left only him behind while all of us went home.

We were even happy that the doctor released us and we won’t have to come to duty on Christmas day.

He even gave some of us transport fare. We never knew this will happen. It is very sad,” the nurses said amidst tears.

They disclosed that no patient was inside the clinic as at the time of the incident. “We have discharged all patients and everyone had gone home for Christmas. It was only the doctor that was left behind in the clinic”, they stressed.

In the same vein, a resident in the street, Temitope Adelani said residents never knew the doctor was inside the building as at the time of the fire adding that his vehicle was not parked outside the hospital as was the usual practice.

“Throughout the process of breaking the padlock to enter into the clinic, we never knew the doctor was inside the building because he did not park his vehicle outside. We made frantic effort to stop the fire from getting to other compounds. It was in the morning, when we came back, that we realised the doctor was inside the building and had already been burnt even beyond recognition”, he said.

The exact cause of the fire was mysterious, as residents said no one could state its cause. However, it was gathered that a gas cylinder in the clinic exploded following the intensity of the fire while rescuers were battling to put out the fire.

Daily Times Investigations revealed that there was no electricity in the whole street on the night of the incident even as it was gathered that the late doctor didn’t put on the hospital’s generator.

What or who then could have killed the doctor is a question that is still confusing to everyone in the

street and the state at large.

The deceased was also the former Ondo State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) from year 2002 to 2004.

While effort is still on going to unravel the cause of the death, his family members said an examination conducted into the site of the scene revealed that he was gruesomely murdered, thereby suspecting foul play.

Elder brother of the deceased, Ben Oguntuase, who is doubling as the spokesperson of the family indicated in a statement that the doctor might have been professionally slain while his arsonists carried his body to the backyard of the clinic before setting the building on fire.

“Evidently, they shot him in the main clinic area and carried his body to the room in the back area where they left him face down. Not done, they severed his hands and legs before proceeding to douse the body with petrol.

“The rest of the building on the inside was sprinkled with petrol before it was all set ablaze. The inferno made the building implode as the roof caved inward.

“Interestingly, the neighboring buildings were not affected. No doubt this was a most professional job that was obviously very carefully contracted and crafted”, he said in the statement released in Akure.

He also berated the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Dr. Abiodun Olufemi Omotosho, whom he claimed had been having running battles with his late younger brother and doctor over frivolous allegations of plotting to kill him (Dr. Omotosho) adding that police should know where to beam its searchlight.

“The witch cried yesterday, the child died today!

Only in this case, it has even more obviously gone beyond mere speculation into the realm of reality as to where the Police should focus their searchlight to unearth the criminals and their sponsor.

“The Oguntuase family is aware of some running issues between David and the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo. Some six weeks ago, on the trumped up, very false, baseless and malicious allegation by Dr. Olufemi Omotosho that Da-

“The doctor came into the hospital and cracked jokes with us about the celebration of the Christmas and later told us to go home for a happy celebration vid and some others in the FMC were planning to kill him, David was arrested by the Police in Owo where, upon investigation, the falsity of the allegation was established. We are aware that this same Medical Director has been a regular guest of the ICPC and very recently, EFCC was granted leave to arrest and prosecute this same man”.

Daily Times authoritatively gathered that Dr. Omotosho has a pending case with officials at the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption, and embezzlement of funds belonging to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo. He was arrested in March this year along side his lawyer, Barrister Ayodele Owoka who was alleged to have attempted to bribe officials of the EFCC to sweep the case under the carpet.

Management of the FMC, through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yusuf Olarenwaju denied knowing the Barrister while the case is still pending at the EFCC’s office in Abuja.

Accorind to Oguntuase in his statement: “Some illinformed commentators and reporters are hastily coming up with some spurious speculations over this tragedy. Some have suggested that it was as a result of an inferno, which was caused by gas explosion! Some even claimed it was suicide! Haba! For us in the family, this even goes further to confirm the reality of a carefully scripted assassination plot with arrangements in place to deal with scenarios that may emerge afterwards. However, there is enough trace and evidence left in their trail to follow up on the source of this dastardly crime. After all, there is really no perfect crime!

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 31, 2014

23 Features

All I want is justice -Widow What would you say about the death of your husband?

My husband was assassinated and set ablaze by arsonists. His death was very obvious because he was burnt beyond recognition and I seriously believe that some heartless people carried out his murder. There is no doubt about it that Dr. David was killed. Apart from being my husband, those who really knew him all say my husband doesn’t deserve that kind of death.

When would you say was your last moment with your husband?

I heard last from him on the eve of Christmas, which happens to be Wednesday at around 17:15 pm. He called me on the phone in his usual caring manner. He was lively and told me to get bread for the house, which has been his habitual manner to always get bread for the family on daily basis.

He told me to send the children to buy bread because he wouldn’t be able to buy it as it was already getting late. He also told me I could reach him through the line he used in calling me and I told him no problem about it not knowing it’s going to be the last time I would hear from my husband.

But you got the bread, what now happened?

Mrs. Ifeanyinwa

Vivian Oguntuase is the wife of Dr. David AkintayoOguntuase, Head of Pediatrics at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, in Ondo State, who was found dead in his Universal Medical Clinic in Akure, after it was razed by a mysterious fire on Christmas eve. In this interview TOSINAJUWON, in Akure, the bereaved widow alleged that their breadwinner was murdered, and is now demanding for justice over his death.

We got the bread as he instructed but when I didn’t see him, I started calling his mobile line. I called him at about 11: 00 pm but unfortunately the line he earlier used to call me was switched off. I also called his regular line but also switched off.

Do you know if he had issues with anyone before his death?

The issue I could only remember is the fact that few weeks ago, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Dr. Olufemi Omotosho reported my husband and some doctors precisely about 16 of CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Features 24

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 31, 2014

All I want is justice -Oguntuase’s wife them to the police that they were plotting to assassinate him. Dr. Omotosho alleged my husband of spearheading the plot.

The police came and arrested my husband where he was made to write a statement. This happened just two months ago.

Even, the matter is still pending because it’s not s hidden case but an open one.

Can you recollect if he told you he was facing any serious challenges?

No, but something happened to him penultimate Saturday at around 9:00 pm. He was robbed after some hoodlums had stopped his car and some other cars behind him.

He was ordered out of the car at gunpoint while the robbers held him into ransom. They ransacked his car. They collected his two mobile phones, money and other valuables in his possession.

Although, the thieves didn’t ask him anything they needed but they just ordered him out of the car, and collected things they need from him by themselves and that was how he lost his two mobile phones.

He was practically out of communication up till the time he was killed. He didn’t have mobile phone from that 9 pm of Saturday till Monday before he was able to buy a new mobile phone.

You mean, he bought a new mobile phone to call you on the Christmas Eve? Yes. When he bought the new mobile phone, he immediately went to recover his line but on getting there, the crowd was too much and he couldn’t withstand it, he had to leave. On Tuesday, he went back to recover it. But you know activation might properly be after 24 hours and that was what caused the delay.

He had to use another line to call me and told me to reach him on that line.

How did you now hear about his death since you called his mobile phone and was switched off ?

I had to call his elder brother’s wife, Mrs. Wuraola Oguntuase,

who later reported the incident at the police station. I didn’t want to call his elder brother directly because he is an elderly man and hypertensive. I told Mrs. Wuraola I haven’t seen my husband and I haven’t heard from him because his lines are switched off and she said she would go and find out what was happening. She eventually told her husband what I told her.

They tried the lines too but it was not going, they now went to the hospital and later discovered what happened. When they got there, they were not so sure of what happened to him they now called me back to ask if he went to the office with his car.

I told them that they should let me confirmed if he went to the clinic with his car and properly if he had collected it from the workshop but surprisingly the mechanic said the vehicle was still there.

Although, it’s not the first time he would go to the office without his car. He is a simple person. If its someone else, he would demand for my car but he would prefer flying with motorcycles and cab.

What happened to his vehicle and why did he not take it along?

His car had a problem somewhere and had to call the mechanic went to carry it to the workshop for repair.

When I didn’t see him, I started calling him and he didn’t pick. I woke up in the morning of Christmas day and he wasn’t at home yet I immediately sensed that something must be happening, as it was not his unusual practice.

For any reason at all, if he was doing some jobs in the hospital, the following morning he should be back to do his normal routine by bathing and going back to work.

Since you have claimed that unknown arsonists killed your husband, what do you now want?

Yes, they assassinated him and we can see traces in his clinic where he was murdered in cold blood. The most important thing I want for my late husband is justice. All I want is justice to prevail. They must unravel the proper cause of

Obembe his death. I want everyone connected to this incident brought to book and made to face the full wrath of the law.

How would you describe your husband when he was alive?

He was a man of principle and easy going. He made peace his watchword and related with everybody that cames his way. He does not discriminate nor needs to know where you come from before relating with you.

His hospital where they even burnt him to death was a shared charity clinic because he doesn’t want parents crying painfully over the sickness of

He was a man of principle and easy going. He made peace his watchword and related with everybody that cames his way

their children, that was why he established it.

He doesn’t make any penny out of it; He doesn’t care about money, and he gives everything he has, all this is what you can ask from people who worked there. The nurses working and parents that bring their child or ward to the clinic knew quite all right that it’s a charity clinic.

For how long have you been married to him?

I have been married to him for 20 years. We did our wedding on the 19th of November 1994. The wedding clocked 20 years just last month. We have three children.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Inside Niger Delta

25

s

Erected with huge money yet not in use

Unending posers over Warri’s BRT project Joe Ogbodu, Warri

I

f there is anything on the lips of motorists, commuters and residents of Warri today concerning the performance of the Delta State government, it’s the failed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which was conceptualized last year and started in January 2014 in a bid to assuage the heavy traffic in the metropolis.

And the project, which has gulped so much from the government, has become a nightmare which motorists, commuters and residents of the oil city have to contend with

everyday.

As it is, the state government has commercialized the Warri/Sapele road where the supposed BRT system was introduced. Many residents who spoke to our correspondent in the course of this report still wonder how the government had embarked on such massive project without first expanding the length and breadth of the road.

Yet what remained puzzling for residents is how the state government vis-a-vis the contractor handling the project, which has since been abandoned, had concentrated more

on the BRT lane which were being designed exclusively for government owned buses to the detriment of other road users who ply the other part of the lanes that were divided and made narrow.

When the state government started talking about the project last year, few months after the popular Enerhen Junction was restructured and beautified to befit the status of the oil city that Warri supposedly is known for, many people in the metropolis applauded it, following the belief that it would CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Erected with huge money yet not in use

Inside Niger Delta 26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

help ease the traffic gridlock being experienced along the route.

Moreso, it would be a quick ride for government owned buses, which are mainly patronized by the middle class and the poor.

The project was to boost the state urban mass transit scheme, popularly known as ‘Uduaghan Bus’ that was then introduced by the state government. The ‘Uduaghan Bus’ scheme was a delight to many, particularly traders, market women, school children, youths and other people cutting across the Warri communities, and so the BRT lane project became a welcome development.

Though many didn’t understand what the scope of the project would look like, they merely applauded the initiative because it appealed to the common people and would permit the ‘Uduaghan buses’ ease of movement, uninterrupted by other road users, thus reduce the number of vehicles on the road, thereby tackling the heavy traffic jams being experienced along the Warri/Sapele road and other parts of the city.

Soon after the project took off from the Effurun roundabout, which had a four-lane carriage, with the construction of bus terminal stations, the project started having issues of expansion and possible compensation.

The hype about the project soon began to dwindle, motorists began to complain about the project which turned out to be a mere demarcation of the former two-lane road into four lanes, with poorly constructed BRT terminals in the middle of the road.

Driving along the ever-busy Warri/Sapele road, which was a little bit okay prior to the BRT lane regime, has become a nightmare for motorists. It is now hellish driving on the road which is riddled with potholes and craters. They have to struggle with the little space remaining on the roads. What is even more troubling about the project is how the contractor handling it goes about scattering and restructuring the BRT road.

Equally worrisome is how Enerhen junction, that was hyped as ‘star project’ after millions of naira was invested in it, was dismembered few weeks after a huge commissioning. However, what would again happen to Enerhen junction, which had returned to its normal state, when the BRT project gets to the point where there is a filthy square, is unclear.

It is unfortunate that the BRT lane which is supposed to run through Warri/Sapele road,

Questions, more questions over BRT project Warri-Sapele road. beginning from Effurun roundabout, through the major route, down to main market and to NPA road junction and was first disclosed to the international community during the 60th Congress of the International Association of Public Transport (IAPT), in Geneva, Switzerland, is now abandoned with motorists bearing the brunt of the pains.

Although the state government had at a time promised it would expand the road to tackle the problem of narrowness of the lane meant for other road users, nothing has been done since then and many residents still

wonder: “One cannot help but wonder how a state government and its contractor can initiate a BRT Lane Project on an existing narrow expressway without first expanding the road (with good drainage system) to adequately accommodate the BRT Lane and other road users by the side?

Zik Gbemre is a social analyst who had lived in Warri for years.

Hear what he has to say of the BRT project: “Who would start such a huge project that would deface existing structures without first sitting down to appropriately plan and strategize each stage of the project and how best to go about it?

“Adequate plans were not made to address a lot of things.

Even though the Delta State Government was reported to have promised to expand the said Warri-Sapele Road before work would continue, that has remained to be seen up till now.

“Also, with the current width/ size of the said BRT Lane, it will be hazardous and even dangerous for the Delta State Government to introduce the usually big Marcopolo buses for its BRT transportation, because it would not be safe for such bus sizes to pass on opposite sides on its lane. Not unless the Government intends to use a smaller type of

buses for the scheme.

“Let us also remember that the Delta State Government had embarked on and completed the construction of several bus stop terminals/shades in major cities of the state, which were never used by Deltans or public transporters till date. Not that these bus stops points are not good, but the fact is that they were never needed by Deltans in the first place, going by the dynamics of the transport sector in the state.

“But our Delta State government and its cabinet are very good at copying what they see in other states like Lagos, without

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

27 Inside Niger Delta

Struggling, sweating under BRT project

Japa road, Effurum, Warri. first considering if such projects would work in the state or be accepted by the people, thereby making such projects complete waste of public funds.

“We are, however, not surprised by these unfortunate developments in the infrastructural developments of the state because of the issue of ‘vested selfish political interests’ in government circles, which has made the appointments, award of contracts and job execution to be heavily-influenced politically.

Moreso, for a government that barely has five months to exit from office, one begins to wonder what the faith of some of the

ongoing projects would be, especially in Warri and the environs.

These include the BRT Lane, the fly-over in Effurun Roundabout, the streetlights that are no longer sustainable,” Gbemre observed.

A resident of Warri, Barrister Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe, who is a human rights activist had, in a statement made available to Daily Times, castigated the state government over the failed project, saying the suspension of the project highly demonstrated the ‘purposeless focus’ of the state government.

Ogedegbe contended that the project was doomed to fail ab

initio. “If the government is reasonable it would have realized that the Lagos State government that initiated the BRT project has areas where BRT do not ply because the road, by the expectant standards, are narrow.”

He, however, charged the state government to pull away the demarcating slabs that have narrowed the roads and holding motorists to ransom. “We agree with Uduaghan that he can’t finish all projects in the state, but he should not waste huge funds in visionless projects because state resources ought to be reasonably spent and not gambled with.”

Notwithstanding, the state of the project amidst the controversy which had trailed it, some Deltans still believe the state government had mooted a good idea by initiating the project, even with its shoddy execution.

Lucky Ayomanor, a member of the Delta owned Direct Labour Agency (DLA) and National President of Niger Delta Peoples Network (NDPW), a nongovernment organisation, had expressed optimism that apart from the fact that the BRT project would add beauty and glamour to Warri town, it also has the potential to attract investors to the oil city.

Ayomanor stated that Uduaghan deserves resounding commendation and praises for his urban renewal initiative and drive across Delta State, including the BRT project. According to him, the BRT project would, in no small way, help to facilitate Uduaghan’s economic blueprint for the state: ‘Delta State: Beyond Oil Initiative’.

While rolling out the potentials of the project when it was conceptualize, the state’s Commissioner for Transport, Bernard Igbakpa, said that government had carried out trafCONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Inside Niger Delta 28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Warri’s worrisome road project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

Water resources area of Warri-Sapele road.

Airport junction bus-stop.

fic surveys and feasibility and topographic surveys, detailed engineering designs to bill of engineering measurements and evaluation before the commencement of the project in July 2014.

Waxing strong, Igbakpa, who said that the Warri BRT scheme, which is personally driven by the governor, is an expression of political will and recognition of the strategic importance of public transport on a large percentage of the populace, with its economic impact on the disposable income of the people.

“With increasing population and economic activities, Warri is set to join the community of global cities with sustainable, integrated and affordable transport system to meet its economic aspirations.

“The project, which is aimed at creating jobs numbering tens of thousands, would also through multiplier effect, require personnel and business transactions in the areas of traffic management and enforcement, bus shelters and terminals, segregated lanes constructions, public information/enlightenment, traffic signs and signals,” he revealed.

The BRT project, he said; “would be the climax of our on-going transport reform programme, which included the delivery of Asaba Airport, introduction of 60 high occupancy vehicles (HOV), the purchase of 705 mini-buses (for city and inter-city transport), ban on commercial motorcycles for public transport, construction of 30 jetties, 30 bus shelters, four mini-terminals, two mega bus terminals, 12-junction improvement works and setting up of Delta State Traffic Management Authority. We are really looking into an integrated, flexible, sustainable and cost effective public transport solution for Warri, the state’s economic capital,” he added.

Now that the project, which Igbakpa disclosed would be financed by a combination of accruals from fuel subsidy removal fund (SURE-P), bond issuance, statutory allocations and bridge financing, has collapsed owing to paucity of fund, what happened to the beautiful dummy sold to the international community and the disjointed state of ever-busy Warri/Sapele road?

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Money

29

s

Firm urges ban on importation of electricity meters Ugochukwu Onyeocha

A

n indigenous manufacturing company Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Limited, Lagos, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to ban importation electricity meters.

The Chairman of the company, Mr. Kola Balogun, made the call in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, stressing that the appeal was necessary because many indigenous companies had made their mark in meter production.

He said that the indigenous companies should be supported to enhance their growth.

According to him, the government should not to allow foreigners to dominate local meter production. ``There is need for government and distribution companies to promote indigenous meter manufacturing companies to prevent foreigners from taking over our local market,’’ he said.

Balogun said that indigenous meter manufacturing companies had standardised their products and should be encouraged through the Local Content Act. ``The business would be sustained if electricity distribution companies patronised local players to protect the huge investment made into their businesses.

“The patronage of local firms will generate more employment for job seekers, develop capacity building and reduce capital flight. ``Meters manufactured by indigenous firms are of global standards and quality.

L–R: Mr. Tony Ibeziako, Head, Mainboard, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju, Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management; Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, NSE; Olumide Oyetan, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management; Oladele Sotubo, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Stock Brokers; Dapo Martins, Head, Wealth Marketing, Stanbic IBTC, at the Stanbic ETF listing at the NSE, on Tuesday.

Nigeria becomes leading smart card hub in Africa Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

N

igeria has become the place to go to for smart cards in Africa, following the successful partnership between the Bank of Industry (BoI) and SecureID Manufacturing Ltd, Lagos, which resulted in the setting up of a pioneer multi billion naira state-of-the-art production facility by the company.

This revelation came to light during an official tour of the company’s facility in Oshodi, Lagos by the managing director of BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa, and members of the press, yesterday.

The managing director of SecureID. Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe, noted that the realisation of the project was in line with the na-

tion’s vision of actualising local content production, stressing that the manufacturing facility will enable the local production of SIM cards for the telecoms industry, bank payment cards and high security polycarbonate identity cards for private and public sectors.

“We are very proud of our results thus far, being an indigenous company encouraged by the Bank of Industry, as what we have achieved is something many industry experts around the woprld insisted could not be done in Nigeria,” she said.

Akinkugbe pointed out that it was worthy of note to mention that SecureID has delivered numerous successful projects for private and public sectors across Africa and were currently

responsible for the supply of 13 million high-end, residents identity cards from the Lagos state Government.

In his remarks the managing director of BoI, noted that the facility was the first integrated card manufacturing plant in Sub-Sahara Africa, which has brought pride to the country.

“The company has just commenced backward integration in their operations, bringing importation of smart cards to an end for Nigeria,” Olaoluwa said.

He said he was convinced from the production technologies which included the use of robots in the plant, that the facility would remain a standard for a long time to come.

He explained that the bank’s visit to the company was to see

first-hand how the company was implementing its corporate objectives, noting that as a bank BoI was satisfied with what was on ground.

“As a country, we are making progress, about a month ago Innoson launched a car manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State and here we have witnessed the production of smart cards from locally sourced materials to world-class finished products, indeed this is another 100 per cent Nigerian company,” he said.

Olaoluwa, said it was particularly noteworthy that the development has created about 350 jobs for Nigerians, which otherwise would have been created for other countries when importation is the case.

SEC bows to brokers’ pressure, extends capitalisation deadline Adesola Akindele

R Arunma Oteh, DG, SEC

eprieve has come the way of capital market operators as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) succumbed to brokers’ pressure and extended the deadline for minimum requirement for all capital market

operators to Sept. 30, 2015.

The commission has been battling with the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and the Association of Stockbrokers Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) over the extension.

The extension is contained in a statement pasted at the commission’s web site.

It stated that the approval was given on Dec. 22 at the commission’s board meeting following a review of the status report on the level of compliance by capital market operators.

“The board expressed satisfaction with the efforts made by all operators, particularly those who have complied with the

new requirements.

“The board, however, took cognisance of the effect of the global economic situation and approved an extension of the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital requirements by nine months, to 30th September 2015, “ the statement stated.

Money 30

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

FG tasked on diversifying revenue sources Zamfara GIS graduates urged to start own businesses

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

T

he Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) has called on the Federal Government to get creative by evolving strategies to expand tax revenue base through exploring the informal and nonoil sectors fully.

Dr. Foluso Fasoto, the APBN President, gave this advice in a chat with journalists on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to him, exploiting the informal and non-oil sectors of the economy is more realistic than introducing luxury tax. ``The efficacy of luxury tax is also doubtful. ``This is because those, who the tax aims to bring into the net like the elites, can easily short change the system,’’ he said.

Fasoto, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), also advised the government on the need to ensure accountability on revenue generated by its agencies.

The efficacy of luxury tax is also doubtful He said that elected office holders should obey Section 24 (f) of the 1999 Constitution by paying tax commensurate to their incomes.

The APBN president said that the government should find solutions to the many problems plaguing the nation’s tax system.

According to him, such problems like the under collection of revenues from taxes, fines and penalties, should be addressed.

He enjoined the government to make good its promises of qualitative service delivery in various sectors of the economy.

Fasoto also advised the citizens to contribute their quotas towards developing the nation.

Premier Breweries to begin production in 2015 Ugochukwu Onyeocha

T

he Chairman, Board of Directors, Premier Breweries Plc, Onitsha, Prince Arthur Eze, on Tuesday said that the company would commence full stream production of beer in the first quarter of 2015.

Eze said this while addressing shareholders of the company during the 2014 annual general meeting of the company for the year ended March, 2014, held in Enugu.

The businessman noted that with the assurances of the company’s technical partners and the level of re-engineering so far achieved, the company would resume its leading role in the beer production industry in the country. ``New boilers have been installed and tested while the old ones are being repaired to serve as standby facility. A new Ammonia cooling system has been installed along with new

compressor. ``A new glycol cooling system has been installed with stainless pipes while the room cooling system that is now in place is changed from ammonia to Freon to minimise hazardous leaks in the factory,’’ he said.

The chairman said that electricity supply had been stabilised with the installation of a 500KVA generator while water supply was already in place from which the company produces the table water that was already in the market.

Eze explained that with about N1 billion share capital, the company settled a monthly electricity bill of N1 million and a salary bill of N3.4 million.

He assured the shareholders of better days ahead and commended them for their patience and understanding during the turbulence the company experienced.

Some of the shareholders commended the board members for their efforts to revamp the company.

A

President Jonathan

UBA’s N13billion rights issue gets approval Adesola Akindele

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the proposed rights issue of N13 billion for existing shareholders of one of Nigeria’s leading banking groups, UBA Plc. Mr. Obi Adindu, Communications Adviser to SEC DirectorGeneral, who confirmed the approval in a telephone interview in Lagos said that the rights issue opened on Dec. 29.

Adindu said that the commission also approved UBA’s application for a bond issue that would commence at a later date.

He said that the approval was granted because the bank satisfied all regulatory processes.

A breakdown of the rights issue showed that it would be one new share for every 10 shares held by existing shareholders at N4 per share.

The bank had in October announced plans to raise Tier 1 Capital by way of a rights issue to boost its diversification strategies across Africa.

In a public announcement signed by the bank’s Secretary, Mr. Bili Odum, the bank said it had the approval of shareholders and board resolutions to raise additional capital by various means.

The proceeds of the offer, according to the bank, will boost UBA’s highly diversified businesses across Africa.

Adindu also said that the commission was yet to approve Access Bank’s application for rights issue of N68 billion.

He said that Access Bank’s application had gone through second stage and would likely be approved this week.

According to him, some unspecified issues raised by the bank’s minority shareholders led to further scrutiny of the banks application to avoid short-changing.

total of 100 trainees who took part in a one year training organised by the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) in Zamfara, have graduated on Tuesday from the scheme which started in January.

Mr. Peter Papka, the Programme’s Director-General, who spoke at the graduation ceremony held at Fulbe Villa Hotel, in Gusau, said that two batches of the programme, comprising 50 trainees each were graduated.

Papka, represented by a GIS state official, Mr Abubakar Bah, called on the programme beneficiaries to use the knowledge they had acquired to initiate their own businesses.

He said this would ensure that the Federal Government’s goals for introducing the programme would be realised. ``GIS, as one of the SURE-P safety net programmes aimed at reducing unemployment among Nigerian graduates, has so far provided large number of Nigerian graduates with the skills for employment. ``The Federal Government’s target is to provide employment for 50,000 unemployed graduates through the programme across the country. ``The programme is a big opportunity for Nigerian graduates,’’ the director-general said.

He said that as the 100 trainees were being graduated, 100 other new interns were being absorbed into the programme.

Papka called on the interns to be serious and to work hard during the one year exercise, adding that employers should also handle their graduates well.

GIS SURE-P trainees

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

31 Interview

We need long-term believers in Nigeria’s Capital Market- Oyetan Stanbic IBTC‘s 11.447million units were listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Tuesday and have further raised the competition among listed ETFs. Olumide Oyetan, the Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, in this chat with KAYODE ADELOWOKAN and ADESOLA AKINDELE, speaks on the future of ETFs in Nigeria. Excerpts...

Oyetan

H

ow would you assess the level of acceptance of your stock today?

At least, there are 114.41 per cent who have subscribed, and we are quite happy. We have spoken to a few clients, but they said we should be listed first and now that we are listed, they are interested to buy more. Our strategy now is to be at the fore-front to promote the use of ETF as opposed to just buying direct access to singular securities as people normally do, because a lot of time as fund managers , a lot of people come around, wishing them to do well and also asking which one to buy.

So, you buy one unit, you get access to another one on the line. Basically, we are going to be at the fore-front promoting.

For example, it is like taking an insurance policy, you don’t have to be thinking which you would take, rather, and you’ll go for the policy you like.

What is the ambition of the ETF in trading in the capital market and what portion of that impact, would

your ETF contribute in say the next quarter or by the end of next year, given the growth at the moment?

For now, it will still be small because there is a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of education and awareness. The truth is that, we don’t advocate that people buy what they don’t understand, a recipe for that is what gets them into trouble. So, we are going to start from the bottoms up approach, we are going to create awareness and try to tell people that this is how you should trade ETF, it should go in as a component of the investing basis.

For traders as well, people that like to trade ETF it is also quite a useful mechanism to do that as well. Like the Executive Director mentioned there will be things like celebrities doing the auctions and features, and I think when all those things come on board then that will become achievable and I think ETF increasing year on year will find it easier to contribute a larger share, but at the moment it is very difficult to pinpoint at

People are still unfamiliar with ETF...

Some have continued to ask questions the moment.

What are the factors that raise the confidence of investors for subscriptions on the ETF? First, the truth is that we have five to six client base, because we already have mutual funds, so we have low people that already have formed the culture of investment. So, when we were going to launch the ETF, some of them were interested because they already have that culture of investing and the thing about it is that, some people have continued to ask questions and we tried to educate them with series of engagement as well.

So what we did, we came to the exchange to engage the brokers, at the beginning to say, this is what we are trying to do, it is an ETF and this is what is tracking. Thereafter, we then engaged institutional investors, fund managers, other asset managers, insurance companies and a few HNI’s in Lagos as well we had that one event at Eko hotel and they had opportunities to ask questions well.

We also went for presentations which

in return createS awareness and confidence for investors. We also went to Abuja and Portharcout as well, so at the outreach, we were able to deduce that people are still unfamiliar and like I said, we want to ensure that we demystify that product so that people will give their confidence.

Another thing is the brand, quite a few people know that when we try to do things we try to talk to them as well and I think that has also give the people some confidence. Basically, the idea is that it will give you the return of the index, so because it is tracking and then you know the NSE 30.

So what we try to do is that we are transparent with people, we tell them exactly this is what you are buying; you are buying a market return, if a market comes down this will transpire, if it comes up as well.

So the idea is do you believe in the long term of Nigeria Capital Market? If you answer that question, you have made a decision.

Property 32

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 31, 2014

Five trendy ways to transform your living room corner space

D

ecorating a corner space can be a tricky affair and often a task that leaves even the best designers perplexed. It is not so much the fact that the lonely little corner is incredibly difficult to decorate, but the complexity lies in making the right choice in relation to the rest of the room. Decorating a living room corner

A Snazzy Workspace

space is all about figuring out what works best for your home and the design theme that you have going.

While some rooms demand an intricate and captivating corner makeover, others look stunning with simple, minimal additions.

And yet there are times when a room looks balanced when the corner is left untouched and idle!

With more and more homeowners either working from home entirely or preferring to bring part of their work back home, it is only natural that a beautiful home office is quickly becoming a must in most modern residences. But for those who cannot afford to have a dedicated home office, the living room corner offers an ergonomic and practical

solution. Just add a smart work desk, some floating shelving units, and of course a snazzy chair, and you are good to go.

Corner living room workspaces also allow parents to keep an eye on their little ones as they turn the living room into their playroom each evening! You can even keep an eye on the football game or the latest news as you flip through work, thanks to this smart addition.

Light It Up with Style!

Not looking for decorating solutions that demand too much work? Then why not enliven that lonely living room corner with a dazzling lighting addition!

Often, floor lamps make a big visual statement and also automatically ensure that the corner is no longer dull and forgotten.

With oversized light fixtures gaining popularity in 2014, this is both a safe and trendy bet. You can even use a beautiful table lamp coupled with the right corner table if floor lamps do not tickle your fancy.

Invite the View Indoors

Not all of us are blessed with a view outside the living room that is filled with mesmerizing mountains or relaxing waves in the distance. But don’t let that stop you from opening up your living room to the

outdoors. Instead of filling up the corner, use glass walls to bring that backyard or the pool deck “indoors�. This seamless connectivity with the outdoors also gives the living room a more cheerful and airy appeal.

Striking Shelves and Displays

Another instant hit among those looking to utilize every inch of vertical space, corner shelves also double as chic living room displays that bring aesthetic value. In case you are less organized, closed cabinets

Sculptural Style and Greenery

Decorating the living room corner is a lot easier than thinking of ideas for the bedroom or kitchen corner area. Simple sculptural additions, captivating art installations and even

ensure that one can easily tuck away the mess. Custom corner shelves are easy to design, give you an opportunity to showcase everything from your book collection to the latest DIY creation, and maximize storage with style!

a refreshing natural potted plant instantly transforms the vibe of the living room with ease. You can even switch between these corner additions with changing trends and seasons to give the living room a more contemporary appeal

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

33 Global News

Foreign automakers under fire over dealers’ bloated inventory

F

oreign automakers in China may struggle to dictate sales goals in the future after dealers complained to the government that inflexible targets set during a market boom obliged them to buy too much stock and bear the brunt of a drop in demand.

Automakers largely stuck to targets throughout 2014, selling cars to dealers on schedule. But dealers slashed retail prices and booked losses as sales growth in the world’s biggest auto market halved from the previous year’s 14 per cent.

“Carmakers have high market expectations. But the reality is: supply exceeds demand,” said Luo Lei, deputy secretary general of the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA).

“In the past, dealers were angry, but dared not speak out.

But now, they have to shout because the situation is getting so unbearable,” said Luo, whose body this month filed a report with authorities on the practice of transferring stock to dealers.

The report from China’s biggest dealer body could help change the balance of power

at a time when automakers are starting to alter expectations in an economy expanding near its slowest rate in 24 years.

Japan’s Honda Motor Co Ltd and Nissan Motor Co Ltd cut their China sales forecasts last month while executives say Toyota Motor Corp is likely to miss its 2014 goal. Germany’s BMW said it expects profit margins to narrow as the market “normalizes” from the growth spurt of the past few years.

“Carmakers are making a compromise to dealers” in their worst-ever spat, said Yale

U.S. agency acquiesce to light oil exports

T

he main U.S. export authority is telling some oil companies that they should consider exporting a lightly processed form of crude oil called condensate without formal permission, according to people familiar with the discussions.

In conversations that may help clear the way for more overseas sales of U.S. shale oil, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has told companies seeking clarification on the legal status of so-called “processed condensate” that self-classification – whereby companies export their product without any formal authorization - could be a way forward, the people told Reuters.

An official familiar with the law said the agency’s discussions did not represent a

change in policy since self-classification is allowed under U.S. export controls and is a routine, common practice for the majority of exports.

Yet the message, though carefully couched as an informal suggestion, marks the first sign that the administration is becoming comfortable about allowing companies to work around the nation’s fourdecades-old ban on exporting untreated crude oil.

Last month, BHP Billiton Ltd became the first company to announce it would export lightly processed ultra-light U.S. oil without explicit permission from the government. It said it was on firm legal footing because its product was similar to what the agency had already blessed for other companies in a

Zhang, managing director of consultancy Automotive Foresight.

“Over the past years, carmakers, especially luxury brands, have been too aggressive in their quest for China market share. Now with the problem fully exposed, I expect to see an obvious slowdown in their pace of expansion next year.”

Honda has been helping dealers “adjust” inventories since the middle of the year, a company spokesman said. Honda’s China sales have fallen every month since July.

BMW China head Karsten Engel said in an interview last month that the luxury carmaker had “listened” to dealers saying stockpiles were building up, and that it had started “reducing wholesale supplies”.

The reduction contributed to BMW’s sales growth slowing to 8 percent in the third quarter from over 20 percent in the first half.

BMW in a statement said it is in continuous dialogue with dealers about all aspects of business development including targets, and that it is in its interest for dealers to be profitable.

S&P 500 at closing record despite lowered futures

U

landmark ruling earlier this year.

But until recently, the government’s attitude toward the self-classification for crude has been unclear. Officials have repeatedly declined to comment on what has become one of the year’s most contentious and controversial energy policy topics, beyond saying that it is under review due to the surprising surge in U.S. oil production.

“I would not characterize BIS’s position necessarily as one of encouragement, but BIS has made clear that companies should not overlook the option of self-classification,” said Theodore Kassinger, a partner at law firm O’Melveny & Myers, who had represented oil producer Pioneer Natural Resources in its dealings with the agency.

.S. stock index futures were slightly lower on Tuesday, suggesting the market’s recent trend of slight moves and low volume would continue in the nextto-last trading day of the year.

Equities have been trending to the upside, buoyed by strong economic data and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s commitment to be “patient” about raising interest rates. After the S&P 500 gained nearly six per cent over the prior eight sessions, it notched its 53rd record close of the year on Monday, while the Dow just missed extending its streak of positive sessions to eight.

The speed and scale of the rally could cap further upside, especially in a holiday week, when many traders are out.

Volume was expected to remain light, which could exacerbate volatility. The stock market will be closed on Thursday for the New Year’s holiday.

A measure of consumer confidence, is seen rising to 93

in December from the previous reading of 88.7. Investors will also pay attention to CaseShiller data on home prices, released at 9 a.m. EST. Prices are seen up 0.4 per cent in October.

While overall trading has been light, there has been heavy volatility in both the biotechnology and energy sectors. The trend could continue on Tuesday, with Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) one of the most active names premarket. The stock was down 0.3 percent at $97.05.

Crude oil CLc1 fell 0.8 per cent, building on losses of about two per cent in each of the three previous sessions. While the decline is viewed as positive for consumers, it has sharply pressured the energy sector.

Civeo Corp, which provides temporary housing for oilfield workers and miners, said late Monday it slashed its workforce and forecast revenue could fall by one-third as slumping crude prices force oil producers to cut costs.

Capital Market 34 Adesola Akindele

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

DAILY MARKET SUMMARY

Market Capitalization and All Shares Index Trend for Equities Day

Market Capitalization (N)

Index value

Monday 22/12/2014

10,357,359,381,104.26

31,371.93

Tuesday 23/12/2014

10,857,979,211,251.34

32,786.00

Wednesday 24/12/2014

11,402,042,992,052.69

34,428.82

Monday 29/12/2014

11,479,902,985,244.65

34,663.92

Tuesday 30/12/2014

11,486,658,400,845.79

34,684.32

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Daily Times Advert Rates Promotional rates valid till January 31ST 2015

Colour

Black & White Rate for Computer & IT/Property/ Vacancy/Home & DĂŠcor

Pictures & Captions Classified Advert

Loose Insert

Colour

Political

Black & White

35

Society 36

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Davido bounces back at AFRIMA 2014

by Opeoluwani Akintayo

T

he highly anticipated AFRIMA Awards 2014 has come and gone and of course, Davido was one of those who went home smiling.

After getting one of the highest nominations, the O.B.O singer ended up clinching the plaque for the ‘Best Male Artiste in West Africa’ with his song, ‘Skelewu’, ‘Artiste of the Year’ and song of the year with ‘Aiye’. This is another milestone for the singer who lost out big time in some recent awards.

The main ceremony which held on Saturday, December 27, at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, witnessed stakeholders from five regions of Africa flying into the country for the event produced in cultural themes ranging from the rich Egyptian heritage of the Pharaoh era to the earthy depth of the artistically in-

Tokunbo Afikuyomi goes back to school

by Isaac Oguntoye

S

enator Tokunbo Afikuyomi can be categorized as one of the top politicians who went on political exile in London. The returned twotime senator who first served Lagos Central Senatorial District between 1999 and 2003 before moving to the Lagos West Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007, we gathered, has decided to returned to London to finish his Phd after all effort to get an elective post proved abortive.

tricate Benin Kingdom and the fierce power of the Zulu Kingdom.

No wonder 2face Idibia who also played host, was all dressed up like an Egyptian king, an outfit which got everyone talking.

Artistes who graced the red carpet were the likes of DJ Arafat (Cote D’Ivoire); Mi Casa (South Africa); Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe); Ahmed Soultan (Morocco); Laurette La Perle (Democratic Republic of Congo); Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania); Betty Akna (Equatorial Guinea); Radio and Weasel (Uganda); Lawi (Malawi); Dama Do Bling (Mozambique); Wiyaala (Ghana); Davina Green (Zimbabwe); Cindy Munyavi (Zimbabwe); MC Mahjoul (Algeria); Elani (Kenya) and Dear Zim (South Africa). Others are Cohbams Asuquo, Omawumi, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Dammy Krane, Dr. Sid, Bez, Don Jazzy and the Mavins, Ice Prince, Flavour,

Niyola, TemiDollFace, Yemi Alade, D’Prince, Konga, Naeto C, Olamide, Patoranking, Daddy Showkey, Jaywon and others.

Other Nigerians who also won were; Album of the Year, Olamide(Baddest Guy Ever Liveth), Song Writer of the Year, Brymo(Down), Best African Group/Duo/Band, PSquare(Personally), Best African Collaboration, D’Banj and Friends-19 countries in Africa(Cocoa Na Chocolate), Best RnB &Soul Channel, 2Face(Dance in the Rain), Best African Traditional Music, Adjiboye and Yinka Ayanda-Benin and Nigeria (Inna and Ise), Best Female Artiste in Inspirational Music, Nikki Laoye(Only You), Best Video, Bez(Say), Producer of the Year, Don Jazzy and Robbie Malinga & Mojalefa Thebe-Nigeria anSouth Africa(Eminado and Impilo), while AFRIMA Legendary Award went to late Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Dapo Adelegan revives ‘Lekki Sun Splash’

by Isaac Oguntoye

L

egan rose to fame and made a fortuneat a relatively tender age when he pioneered one of the most popular and patronized entertainment show, ‘Lekki Sun splash’.

The significance of this success story is not just that the man in question was able to identify his strength early enough but for the fact that he had the courage to follow up his dream as a fresh graduate. The bold step taken by Dapo, many years back is what has made him the toast of many even after he moved on to other greater accomplish-

ments. Today, the eloquent and dark-skinned English graduate, Sits atop a flourishing business, Celtron group, that deals in a number of things. From information at our disposal , it was discovered that Dapo, for some time has been trying to revive the show which brought him to the lime light, Lekki Sun Splash. A source revealed that Dapo is presently doing all to make sure the show comes back.

He has held exclusive meetings with veteran musicians at Celtron office complex, Lekki, with the likes of Ras Kimono, Orits Williki and Mandator to mention a few in attendance. We heard sponsors are ready to throw their weights behind it.

Controversy trails Olaonipekun Famoroti’s marriage

by Isaac Oguntoye

T

he name Olaonipekun Famoroti might not have rung a bell in the social circle but his name sure matters in the business sector.

The owner of Utilities World Limited and Scratch ‘n’ Pay Limited, a company that deploys prepaid electricity and water vending solutions, we learnt, has been facing challenges in his marriage lately.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Stories by Judith Frank-Edet

Solange broke after wedding

A

fter 19 years of marriage, inter national comedian and actor, Chris Rock and his wife Malaak ComptonRock, have decided to call it quits. The couple already have two children together — Lola, 12, and Zahra, 10.

According to Malaak said in a statement on Sunday that; “After much contemplation and 19 years of marriage, Chris and I have decided to go our separate ways,”. “Being fortunate enough to lead a life of service by working with those most vulnerable makes me well aware of life’s blessings, even when faced with difficulties.

“While recognizing that this is a significant change, my children remain at the center of my life and their well-being is my top priority. It is in this spirit that I sincerely ask that their privacy and the privacy of our family

J Chris Rock, wife end marriage after 19 years be respected during this transition in our lives.”

Chris’ attorney also confirmed the story saying that “Chris Rock has filed for divorce from

his wife, Malaak. This is a personal matter and Chris requests privacy as he and Malaak work through this process and focus on their family.”

Jay Z’s nephew slams him for disowning his family for Beyonce

Alicia Keys welcomes second baby

37 Society

A

licia Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz have welcomed their second child.

The baby boy was born on Saturday, December 27.

Alicia Keys posted a picture of her little boy’s footprints.

He has already been named — Genesis Ali Dean.

The little boy was born at 1:52 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces.

She captioned the photo; “The joy of joy is joy!! It’s a boy!! we are so grateful!! #blessings!!,”

ust days after it was reported that Beyonce’s father is broke and has taken to selling her old items to eke out a living, Beyonce’s younger sister who just got married is getting harassed by the taxman for being in debt.

According to Entertainment tabloid, TMZ, Solange needs to settle up with the State of California, which claims she owes more than $55,000 in taxes from 2010-12. Unfortunately, the case was filed three days after Solange tied the knot.

A

merica’s no.1 rapper, Jay Z is presently under fire and we are just weeping for him right now. That’s because one of his nephews took to Twitter to blast the rapper because according to gist, Beyonce allegedly advised him to disown his family.

Although the nephew who refused to disclosed his real name deactivated his account after tweeting his rants, the media was able to capture his statements.

Read below: ‘You changed man. Your life ain’t the same since that bitch came in. Now you think your family is Tina, Solo, Julez. We

aren’t let in your home. You won’t forgive Aunt Mickey, but you forgave your bitch’s drunk sister. After she hit you like a bitch – man for the world to see.

Because she doesn’t want you around your family and you say “yes” like you’re some puppet. You spend your birthday in Iceland so we wouldn’t get invited.

Shit Mama Gloria doesn’t find it weird.

She likes that bitch [Beyonce]. She tells TT and crew not to be immorial in school.

She says ‘be like Beyonce. She lost her innocence to your uncle’. Wait until your 21. Maybe that’s why you’re still in?’, he wrote.

Seriously!?

Sony’s ‘The Interview’ earns more than $15 Million

S

ony’s controversial Korean comedy, “The Interview” earned $15 million from online rentals and purchases at the weekend.

According to Fox News, The movie took in $2.8 million from 331 theaters since its opening on Thursday, and $1.8 million of that came from the weekend.

In a statement by Rory Bruer, Sony’s president of worldwide distribution, he said,

“I’m so grateful that the movie found its way into theaters, and I’m thrilled that people actually went out and saw it”.

“We are very pleased with how it is doing both theatrically where we are seeing numerous sell-outs across the country, and online where it remains at the top of many charts”. In just four days, “The Interview” became Sony’s most successful online film of all time.

Insurance 38

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Leadway’s assurance

Ï 0ƈƒƆ ƌ Ɛ ƇƐƆƏè ƇƈƏƌ ƕƆƐ Ɛ ƅ ƌƍƆ ƐƆ ƍ Ƌƈƅƕ ƋƗƆƏ j ƕ ƗƆƋ Ɖ Ɨ C ƕ &ƊƆƊƆ

W

HEN her house was gutted by a mysterious fire on July 17, 2014, Mrs Nike Oladunni Omorodion thanked God for little mercies. Reason: She knew that unlike most Nigerians, she had prepared for the evil day.

She knew that restoration was on the way. Was that not the essence of insurance?

Well, it appears she is dead wrong.

Five months on, and rather than restoration, Leadway Assurance company has continued to present legal impediments rather than defray her losses.

“I don’t know what made me trust this insurance company, because I am an insurance illiterate,” she told Daily Times.

Mrs. Omorodion added: “I always run away from them. I’ve heard so many negative reports about them but I don’t know why I trusted this one. Perhaps it was because my bank was involved and my husband convinced me to take up the insurance”.

Omorodion lamented almost six months after her house was gutted by fire and the insurance company she insured with started playing games with her.

The fire that gutted a section of the house was attributed to an upsurge in power.

Leadway Assurance, which was recommended by her banker – Standard Chartered Bank – is now claiming that the subject of policy was not the house on her policy.

She said: “I started this insurance policy between July and September last year. My bank was involved. It took a long time for my husband to convince me to insure the structures. We insured the structure for about N300 million. We moved into the house fully in January 1, 2012 and we even paid the 2013 premium. I don’t know why I would have insured another building in 2013. The house from where I moved to this place was a rented apartment and a bungalow.”

The woman stated further: “This insurance deal was brokered by my bank (Standard Chartered Bank) and the insurance company is now saying that because I opened that account

j Ɔ ƅ ƐƏ ƒƆƏ ƈ Ƌ Ƒ Ɔè ƄƆƇ ƏƆ Ɛ Ɔ ƇƈƏƆ while I was living in Sonibare, the address on the bank’ information, that is the house I insured.”

She continued: “I fully moved in here in 2012 and I insured my house in 2013. Meanwhile, immediately after the fire on the 17th of July, the insurance company sent an underwriter with a quantity surveyor to evaluate the extent of damage in the house. Apart from the underwriter that I saw, I have never seen a soul from the Leadway Insurance Company till now.”

She explained that the fire incident recorded five causalities, two of which were very bad cases.

She said: “We did two surgeries for one. The other case involved my uncle’s wife who was here at that time of the incident. She underwent three surgeries, all those things are included in structure insurance. For any responsible company like that, they are to

accommodate you for a period of time. They did not. On the day of the fire, we moved into Leadway Protea Hotel and we even paid hotel accommodation.

“Can you imagine an insurance company coming to say this was not the house I insured? I paid my premium of N499,500.00 for this year on August 2014.”

Abiodun (surname withheld), an official of Chartered Bank which brokered the deal told the Daily Times that the misunderstanding was administrative.

He said: “There was an error in the form as regard the address. It is not a question of who filled the form because it was a long time ago. The house that was insured is the house in Maryland. That is the property that got burnt. I’ve told Mrs Omorodion that there is no need for the case to get messy.

I know her very well and she is not the type of woman that will set her house on fire and tell the

LƏê Ɨ LƏ ê Rƌ Ə Ɨƈ insurer to come and pay.”

On the perceived slow response of the insurance company to her demand for performance, Abiodun said: “I’ve also got in touch

with the insurance company and they claimed to have sent her an email but that she didn’t respond.

I’ve told them to let us have a round table conference.”

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 31, 2014

39 Insurance

of controversy

Ï d Ɔ ƈ ƑƏƆƗ ƗƈƇƇƆƏƆ Ɛ Ƒ Ɔè ƕ ƇƇƈƅƈ Ƌ

j ƍ Ɨ ƄƆƋ Ɠë ^ ƏƐ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ə ƖƆƗ ƄƑƈƋƗƈ

Abiodun disclosed a lady in Leadway Assurance Company called Stella brokered the deal, which he said was a product of an internal arrangement between the bank and the insurance company. “We’ve an internal arrangement in Standard

Chartered whereby we introduce our clients to Leadway for Insurance”, he said.

Stella, who refused to disclose her surname and designation, told Daily Times that the blame is squarely Omoriodon’s.

She said: “Abiodun brought the

document to me and there was an error. Sincerely, she doesn’t have a case. We wanted to overlook the error, but as things are now, I really don’t want to comment on it.”

When prodded further, she said, “Omoriodon should have changed the address on her

policy. The address on her policy is what we have on our system.

More so, the Loss Adjuster that reviewed her case is an external body. If it was an internal body, we could have been able to address the error. We don’t have control over an external adjuster.”

Stella confirmed that her insurance company doesn’t inspect all property insured. She said: “Omoriodon gave us the value sum of N320 million. There are some properties we don’t value. Not that we couldn’t have gone for the valuation, but we have a relationship with the bank and so we overlook it because it is coming from the bank. When that incident happened, I printed the form and showed Abiodun.”

When Daily Times enquired why the insurance company still accepted the renewal of the policy in August when there was a claim pending and it was aware that the address on the policy was wrong, she said: “As at when the policy was renewed, we had not known that the address was wrong. It was at the point that she brought the estimate of repairs that we knew.

If you see the renewal, you will see that we corrected the policy.

“The mistake was that it had got to the Loss Adjuster and there was no way we could do anything.

It is not as if we want to dodge the claim. Leadway doesn’t dodge claims, I’ve worked with several insurance companies, I know how they respond to claims but Leadway has integrity.

“A filled form was given to me by Abiodun and I’d not seen her and I don’t know her. When the claim happened and it was brought to my notice, the first thing I did was to ask for estimate of damages.”

While the legal brickbats continue, Omoriodon is left to live with the trauma and to ponder her fate. She said: “You can imagine the trauma of having five casualties to deal with. Five people were injured, including my husband. We had to move two of the bad cases from Redditton Hospital to the military hospital because there was a workers’ strike at that time. We did two surgeries for one.

The other case, my uncle’s wife who was also here at that time, underwent three surgeries. All those things are included in structure insurance, and the bill for one of the patient was over N3 milion.

“For any very responsible com-

pany like that, were they not supposed to accommodate us for a period? They did not. The day of the fire, we moved into Leadway Hotel and we even paid for accommodation.

“We did our independent investigations and discovered that the fire was caused by electrical surge. The Nigeria fire service was here, they gave us a letter and we presented a copy with the Police report to them. Within one week their underwriter was here, and that was the last I heard from them.”

An official of Leadway Assurance, who told Daily Times that he was relying on a report obtained from the company’s loss adjusters, confirmed the fire incident.

He said: “From the circumstances of the loss, there was a fire outbreak at 8, Aduke Close, Maryland on the 18th July, 2014.”

He, however, insisted that that was not the subject of policy with the company. He said: “The property insured by policy number HC/13/00129/LD is located at 5, Olaperi Street, Shonibare Estate, Maryland, Lagos state which had not been affected by fire. Therefore the liability of the insurers is not engaged and we are recommending repudiation of the claim.”

When asked if Leadway went to the property for inspection when the deal was brokered, an official of the company, Ms. Bunmi Adeleye, told Daily Times that the deal was actually brokered by Standard Chartered Bank but did not confirm if the company went to the building for inspection.

Adeleye, said though the company is still trying to get to the root of the matter, to know what went wrong between the bank and the insured.

She disclosed that the company’s officials had met with the woman and that further investigations were still on.

Omorodion concluded that people’s apathy to insurance in Nigeria may not be totally unconnected with harrowing experiences like hers, particularly about the readiness of insurance companies to sell policies while looking for loopholes not to pay claims.

One thing is sure, she stressed, she will not give up on this issue.

“I am not a quitter, I will see this to a logical end,” she swore.

Society

Davido bounces back at AFRIMA P36 2014 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

VOL. 1. NO.13

PDP ‘ll lose 2015 Elections woefully- P16 Enikuomehin

Property

Five trendy ways to P32 transform your living room corner space

Price: N150

dailytimesng

When the Messiah didn’t come I

Nigerians need to go beyond sentiments and interrogate the person of the APC presidential running mate

Death on Xmas Day P21

Politics

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

Philip Agbese

Features

am disappointed in spite of the fact that my expectations were not set too high so they should have been easily met.

But the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) apparently had no such plan to meet the expectations when they promised messianic change come 2015.

The entire country had waited for the change that was promised. And like people of faith in various creeds, we waited for the messiah that would bring the much-coveted change and that is assuming what we have is not already the best. Of course, the expectations for change were driven by that primordial programming that makes us continue to seek improvements even when we already have the

best, relatively speaking.

This was why the recent choices of the APC confirmed our worst fears that whatever change or changes we wish to see are best sought under existing structures and not chase away a demon to accommodate the devil.

Those of us who could read between the lines were not yet done coming to terms with the party’s choice of a retired dictator as its presidential flag bearer.

The APC opted for Professor Yemi Osibanjo (SAN) as the running mate to retired General Muhammadu Buhari, ostensibly to continue the tradition of damage control. The presidential candidate had come out to all discerning minds as a hardliner and religious fanatic, so it is understandable that the old strategy of shopping

for a Pentecostal pastor to tone down the candidate’s religious perception was again applied.

However, that is where the entire value of opting for a Southern-Pentecostal Christian-Moderate ends. The scenario this time has no semblance of anything like when Pastor Tunde Bakare was Buhari’s running mate.

This is because the APC’s Vice Presidential hopeful is a product of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who continues to hold the opposition hostage to protect himself from his past. A story is presently making the rounds about his exploits in the United States in the early 90s.

Could this explain why he was insistent on planting his puppet as the nation’s potential number two, assuming Nigerians falls for the gambit? This would be a disaster of un-

told proportions.

What is clear at this point, however, is that Nigerians need to go beyond sentiments and interrogate the person of the APC presidential running mate in the person of Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.

He has ties to Tinubu and these are ties that cannot be easily dismissed. Osibanjo has been Tinubu’s legal strong man for years and it is thus clear to see that for every instance that the former Lagos State supremo had been able to evade, manipulate or simply twist the law, this man being touted as the number two messiah has input in them.

It is a given that Osibanjo and his candidate lack the political experience or savvies unlike those they are running against. Perhaps, Nigerians can live with that since it will only entail a

The phoenix

rises

BREAKING NEWS | POLITICS | BUSINESS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. www.dailytimes.com.ng email: www.dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI

couple of years of suffering while the “messiahs” learn how to govern in a democratic setting. The economy is also sure to rebound at some point when these men are done with performing the grandiose experiments they have outlined for the nation; they will at least be forced by circumstances to confront realities.

But being people who are constantly fair in our dealing, Nigerians will like to hear from Osibanjo. This time around not about his or his party’s manifesto, not about his experience and neither about his uprightness, no, this time he should tell us about his role in the building of the Tinubu empire and all the laws of Nigeria and those of other countries that were broken in the course of helping to build this odiousness.

Sportlitics

Milan stuns Real 4-2 in Dubai friendly X8

EDUOK PASSES ESPERANCE MEDICAL

X8

X4,5

r a m l Ka

STRIKER S N I O J I Y I AWON S E L G A E FLYING

BANNED!

FA suspends Newcastle’s Cisse for violent conduct

X8

“The way he plays as a goalkeeper and his technique are extraordinary. Not just in possession, but mainly how he parries and catches shots. Someone like Oliver Kahn never had this kind of technique. Kahn was a great goalkeeper, but Germany have had better shot stoppers. Neuer is definitely better than Kahn was. I’ve known for years that he would become an impressive goalkeeper.”

Monday, December 29, 2014

“He is the world’s best keeper. At his age I wasn’t close to that. I only started to become a decent keeper at 30.”

Brazil hero Claudio Taffarel

1

NUMBER

EXTRATIME

“Manuel Neuer has the same technical skills as the others, he could play in the midfield, he also has great awareness and that’s why we are happy for him to take these risks, and that’s why he’s so valuable. He can basically be a player behind the defence.”

Oliver Kahn

Manuel Neuer Germany boss, Joachim Loew

Poster!

Full name: Manuel Peter Neuer Date of birth: March 27, 1986 (age 28) Place of birth: Gelsenkirchen,West Germany Height: 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Playing position: Goalkeeper Current team: Bayern Munich

X4

Personal information

XT Exclusive EXTRATIME

Monday, December 29, 2014

X2

X7

X5

Onazi promises better 2015

X3

Unconscious Bianchi begins rehab

X2

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

EXTRATIME

AYC

Taiwo Awoniyi (right) has joined the Flying Eagles for the AYC.

Preparation key for AAG glory, says Okon

Edwin Okon

Kalmar striker Awoniyi joins Flying Eagles

Striker Taiwo Awoniyi of Swedish club Kalmar has joined Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal.

Awoniyi, 18 in August 2015, is one of nine foreign-based professionals called up by Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for the AYC, which kicks off on March 8 in Dakar.

Awoniyi has since joined the Flying

Eagles, who resumed training camp in Kaduna at the weekend.

The other foreign-based pro already with the Junior Eagles is skipper Musa Muhammed.

Flying Eagles team secretary, Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim, further disclosed he has also been in constant contact with English Premier League champions Manchester City over the release

of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali.

The other overseas stars invited by the Nigeria U20 team are Isaac Success, Musa Yahaya, Moses Simon, Kingsley Madu and Chidera Eze. Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles now train twice daily at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

They are billed to feature in an invitational tournament later in January as part of their build-up for the AYC. The Flying Eagles will begin their AYC campaign on March 8 against hosts Senegal in Dakar.

They are also drawn in Group A along with Cote d’Ivoire and Congo.

Super Falcons head coach Edwin Okon has called for adequate and early preparations ahead of the qualification matches for the 2015 All Africa Games (AAG) in Brazzaville, Congo.

The reigning African champions already have a first-leg qualifying road trip date against the Malian opponents in February.

Okon said the West African opposition are not a bad choice, but insisted that preparations will be crucial to the side’s performance in the qualifying race as well as the championship proper.

“Mali are good for us as adequate and early preparations will be quite crucial to make the job of qualification a lot easier.

“At least three or four top grade friendly matches will help us to prepare for the Malian challenge, especially as the foreign-based players are unlikely to be available as the competition is not captured in the FIFA calendar.

“Early camp resumption will help to bring the domestic players together to commence preparations and blending before the Mali tie.

“The AAG championship is the first hurdle we must cross early in the year and we must start very well to help us excel in subsequent challenges -- the 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers and the final of 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

“We want to qualify for the AAG as well as the Olympics so we’ve already told ourselves that those dreams will become a reality through hard work.

“We’re ready to work hard to achieve our targets but we need encouragement and support of everyone,” said the head coach of Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) side Rivers Angels to supersport.com.

Nigeria did not qualify for the women’s football events of the last All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, or the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

EXTRATIME

EDUOK

PASSES ESPERANCE MEDICAL D

olphins star striker Emem Eduok has passed a medical at Esperance and he is now closer to signing a contract of threeand-half years at the top Tunisian club.

“Emem has passed his medical at Esperance and he will this week sign a contract for three-and-half years pending the approval of his Nigerian club,” a reliable source said.

Esperance had earlier indicated interest in the striker, who netted a record-equaling 20 goals last season amid various denials.

Dolaphins General Manager is now expected in Tunis to finalise the transfer of the striker.

The left-footed Eduok is a hard working forward with pace and an eye for goals.

He has represented Nigeria at U-20 and ‘B’ international levels so far.

Several top Nigeria stars including Julius Aghahowa, Michael Eneramo, Garba Lawal and Obinna Nwaneri have featured for ‘The Blood and Gold’.

Emem Eduok (right) celebrates after scoring a goal for Nigeria.

X3

ONAZI PROMISES BETTER 2015 SS Lazio of Italy midfielder Eddy Ogenyi Onazi has reflected on his 2014 performance and reckons that he needs to step up his game in the New Year.

Onazi sustained an injury at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil but has reassured fans that he will strive to churn out good outings both for club and country in 2015. ”Coming back from the world cup injured, I have not been really stable for goals to start coming in because I am not hundred per cent fit. I just want my fans both in Italy and in Nigeria to continue praying for me and hopefully they will see the very best out of me again,” he

Onazi said.

Lazio has been in good form posting a superb performance so far in the first half of the season and the Stefano Pioli-tutored side hopes to come back even stronger when the Serie A restarts in January. Lazio are placed third on the log with 27 points though nine and eleven points off both Roma and Juventus which occupies the second and first positions.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION BEGINS FOR GLO-CAF AWARDS Accreditations of media men for 2014 GLO - CAF Awards has begun in earnest.

Local and International journalists are expected from different parts of the world to cover the Awards, an annual soccer event that celebrates the best of African football including footballers, coaches and administrators who have distinguished themselves in playing or managing the game during the year under review.

Sources close to Globacom said that the accreditation exercise which is coordinated from CAF headquarters in Cairo opened on Monday, December 21 and will close on January 2, 2015.

The GLO-CAF Awards is a media event. As it was in the past editions, top journalists and media houses worldwide have indicated interest in gracing and covering the award ceremony

which comes up at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria on January 8, 2015.

CAF recently released the list of 3 short-listed players for the African Player of the Year Award.

The winner will be announced at Gala night in Lagos.

The award categories include African Player of the Year (Based in Africa); National Team of the Year; Club of the Year; and Coach of the Year.

Other categories are Women’s National Team of the Year; Women’s Footballer of the Year; Most Promising Talent; Referee of the Year; Legend of the year; Fair Play Award; Platinum Award (which has only one nominee); and Africa Finest XI. According to CAF “Successful applicants will be notified and provided with further information on the collection of their tags.”

X4

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

EXTRATIME

“Manuel Neuer has the same technical skills as the others, he could play in the midfield, he also has great awareness and that’s why we are happy for him to take these risks, and that’s why he’s so valuable. He can basically be a player behind the defence.”

Germany boss, Joachim Loew

“He is the world’s best keeper. At his age I wasn’t close to that. I only started to become a decent keeper at 30.”

Oliver Kahn

“The way he plays as a goalkeeper and his technique are extraordinary. Not just in possession, but mainly how he parries and catches shots. Someone like Oliver Kahn never had this kind of technique. Kahn was a great goalkeeper, but Germany have had better shot stoppers. Neuer is definitely better than Kahn was. I’ve known for years that he would become an impressive goalkeeper.”

Brazil hero Claudio Taffarel

1

NUMBER

Full name: Manuel Peter Neuer Date of birth: March 27, 1986 (age 28) Place of birth: Gelsenkirchen,West Germany Height: 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Playing position: Goalkeeper Current team: Bayern Munich

Personal information

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

EXTRATIME

X5

X6

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

EXTRATIME

Devastated! Emmanuel Emenike fell flat on his back after Super Eagles lost 3-2 to Congo in Calabar during the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

DAMNING VERDICT! Nigeria failed in 2014, says Kanu N

Kanu

wankwo Kanu has admitted that 2014 was a disappointing year for Nigeria but he hopes that 2015 can be “a new beginning” for the national team.

After winning their third continental crown in South Africa in 2013, Nigeria reached the second round at the World Cup in Brazil but failed to earn the right to defend their African title in Equatorial

Guinea.

And the former Super Eagles captain admits that there is much work to be done to restore the three-time champions of Africa to their former glory after a poor

NO CAF CONFED CUP FEAR FOR DOLPHINS –SUNDAY

D

olphins goalkeeper Rotimi Sunday has said his side will make its superiority count over Equatorial Guinean side Leones Vegetarianos. The 2014 Federation Cup runnersup will be the guests of the Central African side at the Estadio de Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in middle of February in Africa’s second tier club competition, the CAF Confederation Cup. Sunday said his side’s wealth of experience and deep knowledge of their opponents will greatly make the challenge a bit softer for them when football hostilities start.

“The Equatorial Guinean side are a good side, but the fact that we know them quite well gives us some advantages over them.

“We overcame their opposition at the same stage of the competition in the immediate past season, we hope to

work on that edge to ensure we qualify to the next stage of the competition.

“We didn’t do well in the last edition of the competition as we painfully exited in the second round, we’re determined to make amends this time around.

“We’ve learnt our lessons the hard way so we want to fight our way to the final and eventually win the title.

“Our sole ambition is to win the CAF Confederation Cup trophy for our supporters as compensation for our inability to win any title in the past season.

“I’m confident with hard work, dedication and the support of everyone the challenge of winning the Confederation Cup title will be quite easy,” said the side’s captain and former Olympic team shot stopper.

The Garden City landlords will challenge for the continent second tier club competition title together with Warri Wolves.

Sunday

12 months.

“It is quite clear and we don’t need to shy away from the fact that Nigerian football did not fare well in the outgoing year,” Kanu told Goal.

“This is as a result of the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Equatorial Guinea.

“So if we are not featuring among the best countries in Africa that would participate in the 2015 AFCON, it simply means that something went wrong with our football this year.

“We didn’t do well in the game this year, it’s just the honest truth. There is nothing good to write home about as regards the senior national team of Nigeria.

“Mind you, FIFA rates our performance based on the Super Eagles not the age grade or women national teams’ performances.

“It has been a disappointing year for Nigerian football. But

by God’s grace, 2015 would be a new beginning for us.

“I sincerely pray that everybody involved in the entire crisis and problems that bedevilled Nigerian football in the year of 2014 will sit back and look at themselves and have a rethink, have a change of mind and start working in earnest for the growth and good of the game in the country.”

Kanu earned 84 international caps during an illustrious playing career that featured a successful spell with Arsenal.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

EXTRATIME

BOXING

MOTORSPORT

Second world Guinea names final title shot for squad AFCON BRIEFS

Butler

P

Bianchi

Unconscious

Bianchi

aul Butler will attempt to become a two-weight world champion when he faces South African Zolani Tete for the IBF super-flyweight crown in March.

The undefeated fighter, 26, won the IBF Bantamweight title in June but vacated the belt to drop a weight class.

He would become the first Briton in over 100 years to win a second world title at a lower weight.

Meanwhile, WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders have been ordered to negotiate a contest.

Lee, 30, claimed his title with the surprise stoppage of Russia’s Matt Korobov on December 13, but Saunders - undefeated after beating Chris Eubank Jnr in

November - is mandatory challenger.

In a statement, the World Boxing Organisation said the pair had “30 days” from the date of Lee’s win to negotiate an agreement for a bout.

Any agreement would likely set a date after Butler’s March 6 meeting with Tete at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, who claimed the vacant IBF super-fl weight crown in July.

Tete, 26, has three defeats in 22 matches and claimed the vacant IBF super-flyweight crown in July, but has never fought in the UK. Butler, of Ellesmere Port, beat compatriot Stuart Hall to win his first world title and has not tasted defeat in 17 outings, winning eight times inside the distance.

begins rehab J

ules Bianchi remains unconscious in a French hospital following his horrific crash at October’s Japanese Grand Prix, but the Formula One driver has begun a program of rehabilitation therapy, according to a statement released by his family on Tuesday.

Bianchi, who suffered a head injury while driving for the now defunct Marussia team, skidded off the track in wet conditions and collided with a recovery vehicle.

The Frenchman sustained a “diffuse axonal injury” which causes widespread tearing of nerve fibers across the whole of the brain, according to UK brain charity, Headway.

He returned to France last month and was treated at the intensive care unit of Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU) before moving on to the rehabilitation center.

“As we reach the conclusion of a difficult year for our family, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide a further update regarding Jules’ medical situation, per our pledge to communicate continued information, when appropriate, to

his many fans,” said the driver’s parents, Philippe and Christine in a statement.

“It was a significant and very comforting step for us to be able to bring Jules home to France last month, to continue his rehabilitation surrounded by his family and friends. This is very important for Jules and also for us.

“Jules’ neurological status remains unchanged; he is unconscious but able to breathe unaided. Whilst there is no significant information to report, we take a great deal of comfort from the fact that Jules continues to fight, as we knew he would, and this has enabled the medical professionals caring for him to commence the planned, but very painstaking, program of rehabilitation therapy.”

Bianchi’s parents say they will continue to provide updates of their son’s progress and thanked the public for their ongoing support.

The update on the French driver’s condition comes a day after the first anniversary of Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident.

X7

Paul Butler (left) of Ellesmere Port battles with Anwar Alfadi of Sheffield in their Super-Flyweight bout during the Frank Warren 30 Years anniversary show at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.

Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer announced his final 23-player squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

Despite his strained relationship with the Guinea’s football association, Syli’s star Kévin Constant has been included in the list, as well as Angers’ striker Abdoul Razzagui Camara.

FC Metz’s midfielder Bouna Sarr and SC Bastia’s striker François Kamano received their first international call-up for the occasion, while Dussuyer decided to leave out Lass Bangoura, Ismaël Bangoura and Guy Michel Landel.

Guinea will kick off their continental campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Malabo on January 20, before facing Cameroon and Mali in their Group D.

Injured Waris doubtful for Black Stars Trabzonspor striker Abdul Majeed Waris is an injury doubt for the AFCON after hobbling off in Monday’s Turkish Super Lig match at home against Eskisehirspor.

The Ghana international came off the bench to replace Algerian Essaid Belkalem on 27 minutes but after the 57th minute he was held off the pitch.

His position was taken over by Mali striker Mustapha Yatabare as Trabzonspor went on to lose 4-1 in front of their fans.

Waris underwent scans on Tuesday to ascertain the severity of the injury and see if he would be ruled out of the Nations Cup which begins on January 17, in Equatorial Guinea.

CRICKET

Indian captain Dhoni quits Test cricket India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has retired from Test cricket. The 33-year-old, who made his debut in 2005 and was captain for 60 of his 90 Tests, quit after India drew the third Test against Australia on Tuesday.

Dhoni has retired from Tests “in order to concentrate” on the 50 over and Twenty20 formats, with India’s one-day World Cup defence starting in February.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) called Dhoni “one of India’s greatest Test captains”.

The statement added: “BCCI, while respecting the decision of MS Dhoni, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test cricket and the lau-

Dhoni

rels that he has brought to India.”

Dhoni, rated by Forbes earlier this year as the fifth richest sportsman in the world with an annual brand value of £12.9 million, took over as Test captain from Anil Kumble in 2008 after leading India to the inaugural World Twenty20 title in 2007.

India lost only one of Dhoni’s first 13 Test series in charge, winning eight - a run that saw them top the world rankings from late 2009 until the summer of 2011, a period in which Dhoni also led his team to victory in the one-day World Cup on home soil.

X8

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME Cesc Fabregas was booked for diving by the referee.

INSET: Fabregas went round Matt Targett before falling to the ground in the box.

MILAN

STUNS REAL 4-2 IN DUBAI FRIENDLY Banned!

CAS dismisses Barca’s transfer ban appeal Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as AC Milan defeated Real Madrid 4-2 in Tuesday’s midseason friendly in Dubai.

The Italy international netted once in each half as the Serie A giants overcame their La Liga counterparts in an entertaining encounter.

Both sides named strong starting XIs for the clash, with Real coach Carlo Ancelotti coming up

Barcelona will be unable to make any signings in 2015 after their appeal against a two-window transfer ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The Catalan giants were handed the initial ban by Fifa after being found guilty of signing underage players from outside of Spain.

And CAS has returned its verdict on Tuesday explaining that they found no grounds to overturn Fifa’s decision, thereby confirming Barca’s ban.

“CAS has dismissed the appeal filed

by FC Barcelona against Fifa regarding the decision issued by the Fifa Appeals Committee on August 19, 2014,” said a CAS statement.

“The panel found in particular that

FC Barcelona had breached the rules regarding the protection of minors and the registration of minors attending football academies... Accordingly, the Fifa decision is confirmed in full and the sanction remains in force.”

Barca’s appeal to CAS forced a delay of the initial ban and allowed them to sign Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Alen Halilovic and others during the 2014 summer transfer window.

But CAS’ decision is the final word on the ban, with Europe’s highest sporting judiciary deciding that the suspension of activity will now be in effect during the January window and the summer spending period.

Barcelona will only now be allowed to add to their squad from January 2016.

Ambrose wishes for injury-free 2015

Ambrose

As his side prepares to take on Patrick Thistle on New Year’s Day, Nigerian defender Efe Ambrose says the most important thing for him ahead of the tie is to remain fit. Efe whose form may have dipped a little in 2014 revealed that he hopes to reflect and correct mistakes made in 2014.

against his former employers.

Jeremy Menez opened the scoring for Milan, taking advantage of a poor error from Real defender Nacho to coolly convert.

El Shaarawy produced a fine finish to add to that lead, before Ballon d’Or frontrunner Cristiano Ronaldo claimed his almost obligatory goal to pull one back for Ancelotti’s men.

The La Liga leaders created

FA suspends Newcastle’s Cisse for violent conduct

Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been banned for three games after accepting a Football Association charge of violent conduct.

The Senegal striker clashed with Seamus Coleman during Newcastle’s 3-2 win over Everton at St James’ Park on Sunday and appeared to elbow the Toffees defender in the face as they tussled at a corner.

However, the referee issued no punishment to Cisse and

Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa (right) fights for the ball with AC Milan’s Stephan El Shaarawy during their friendly soccer match in Dubai Dec. 30, 2014. (Reuters)

he went on to score as the home side picked up all three points.

The FA subsequently took retrospective action against the forward, and he will serve a three-match ban after choosing not to appeal the decision, starting with Burnley’s visit to Tyneside on New Year’s Day. Cisse, who has scored nine goals this season, will also be suspended for the club’s FA Cup clash with Leicester City and the visit to Chelsea on January 10.

several chances in the second half, but Milan looked equally dangerous and further goals from El Shaaraway and Giampaolo Pazzini made for a convincing 4-2 victory, despite Karim Benzema’s late penalty.

Real came into the game on the back of a 23-match winning streak in competitive matches, and Ancelotti will expect an improved showing when they return to Liga action at Valencia on Sunday.

TRANSFER BRIEFS

Bale will never leave Real Madrid –Perez

Gareth Bale will “never leave” Real Madrid, according to the La Liga club’s president Florentino Perez. Welshman Bale, 25, joined Real from Tottenham for £85.3m in 2013 and has been linked with a move back to the Premier League with Manchester United.

Liverpool close in on Berahino

Liverpool are close to completing the signing of West Brom striker Saido Berahino in a deal worth £23.5 million.

The Reds are keen to wrap up a deal for the England Under-21 international quickly, with the forward eager to move to Anfield.

Arsenal ready £20m Carvalho bid Arsenal are continuing to step up their pursuit of Sporting midfielder William Carvalho and are ready to submit a formal bid of £20 million for the Portugal international, with Arsene Wenger keen to add a more defenceminded player to his squad.

Cisse