Binder1 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Falae released, says I was sleeping on floor

Police, navy collaborate in fighting piracy

Akure group deplores kidnap

Vol. 5 N0. 1208

terday regained his freedom from his abductors. He was said to have been

ormer Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Oluyemisi Falae, yes-

OJO OYEWAMIDE AND KEMI OLAITAN

Friday, September 25, 2015

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

P.5

Arase

National Mirror Online

N150

@NationalMirror

717 killed in Saudi Arabia Hajj stampede A WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

bout 717 people performing this year’s Holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia yesterday lost their lives in a stampede in Minna.

Saraki stoned at Eid ground, denies attack

Saudi Arabian officials said another 863 people were also injured during the incident, which occurred when about two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj’s last major rite. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

APC hails ECOWAS, Buhari on reinstatement of interim govt in Burkina Faso

P.6

FG approved 90 contracts from January to June –BPP Report A man conveying his children for prayers during the Eid el-Kabir celebration in Bauchi, yesterday.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS

TEL: 0700FLYMEDVIEW Email: info@medviewairline.com http://www.medviewairline.com

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VL2102

1355

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VL0204

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VL2117

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VL0203

0715

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VL2116

1600

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VL2108

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Updated Sept 9, 2015

News

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

717 killed in Saudi Arabia Hajj stampede CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

They converge on Minna to throw stones at pillars representing the devil. Preparations for the Hajj were marred when a crane collapsed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque this month, killing 109 people. It is the deadliest incident to occur during the Hajj in 25 years. Pilgrims travel to Minna,

a large valley about 5km (3 miles) from Mecca, during the Hajj to throw seven stones at pillars called Jamarat, which represent the devil. The pillars stand at three spots where Satan is believed to have tempted the Prophet Abraham. Nigerians, Nigeriens, Chadians and Senegalese among other nationals

were among the casualties. Saudi civil defence directorate said in a statement that the stampede occurred at around 09:00 local time (06:00 GMT) at the junction of Street 204 and Street 223. The pilgrims were walking towards the five-storey structure, which surrounds the pillars, known as the Jamarat Bridge. The incident happened

when there was a “sudden increase” in the number of pilgrims heading towards the pillars, the statement said. This “resulted in a stampede among the pilgrims and the collapse of a large number of them,” it added. Security personnel and the Saudi Red Crescent were “immediately” deployed to prevent more

said. Meanwhile, Akure Division Renewal Group has deplored the abduction of Chief Falae. The group stated that the kidnap was a gross violation of the desire of leading Nigerian nationalists for the peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups in the country. This was made known in a statement signed by the group’s President and Vice President, Professors Abiodun Fayose and Olu Aderounmu respectively, after a visit to Falae’s home. According to the group, it was inconceivable that a man of Falae’s political and nationalism pedigree should be the one to be held captive by kidnappers identified to be Fulani herds-

hospitals in the area by the more than 220 rescue vehicles sent to the scene. Amateur video and photographs posted on social media showed the bodies of dozens of pilgrims on the ground. They were all dressed in the simple white garments worn during the Hajj. The civil defence directorate said the victims were of “different nationalities”, without providing details. Iran’s state news agency, Irna, said at least 43 Iranians were among the dead. UK Foreign Office said it was in contact with the local authorities and was urgently seeking more information about whether British nationals were involved. Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV reported that the head of the central Hajj committee, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, had blamed the stampede on “some pilgrims with African nationalities.” But the head of Iran’s Hajj organisation, Said Ohadi, told Irna that two paths close to the scene of the incident had been inexplicably closed off by the Saudi authorities, resulting in the build-up in pilgrims. The Saudi authorities have spent billions of dollars on improving transport and other infrastructure in the area in an attempt to try to prevent such incidents. The Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is the journey that every ablebodied adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it. Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia has always been accompanied with tragedies. In 1987, 402 pilgrims died when security forces break up anti-US demonstrations by Iranian delegation to the Holy land. In 1990, 1,426 pilgrims, mainly Asians, died in a stampede in an overcrowded tunnel leading to the holy sites. In 1994, 270 people died in a stampede during the stoning ritual, while 340 pilgrims were killed in 1997 when fire, fuelled by high winds sweeps through Mina’s tent city. The last tragedy was in 2006 when 364 pilgrims were crushed to death at the foot of Jamarat Bridge in Mina.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

people heading towards the area, the directorate said. Saudi Health Minister, Khaled al-Falih, said the crush occurred because pilgrims failed to follow directions. He said “many pilgrims move without respecting the timetables” established by authorities. The hundreds of wounded have been taken to four

L-R: Emir of Ilorin, HRH, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; Senate President Bukola Saraki and others, after prayer during Eid-el-Kabir in Ilorin, yesterday.

I was sleeping on bare floor –Falae CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

rescued at Owo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Falae arrived at his residence along Oba-Ile road at 4:13pm accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase. The former Minister of Finance was on Monday kidnapped on his Ilado farm in Akure North Local Government Area. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday directed the IGP to ensure the rescue of the elder statesman. Falae, who is the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, declined to speak with journalists. But it was learnt that he had a bitter experience in

the hands of his kidnappers. The Afenifere chieftain was said to have disclosed to his close relatives that he was made to trek from Ilado to Owo, which is a distance of about 30 kilometres. A source said: “Baba has just narrated his ordeal to some of us. His abductors made him to trek from his farm to Owo. Baba also said he was sleeping on the ground since his kidnap. “We can’t say if any ransom was paid for his release. According to Baba, when he told the kidnappers that his family only had N2m, they asked him if he thought the amount was enough for Boko Haram.” Speaking with journalists, Arase said no ransom was paid before Falae secured his freedom, adding

that policemen had been making effort to rescue the former minister since Monday. The police boss did not deny or confirm arrest of any of the kidnappers, saying he would disclose that later. He said: “Security challenges like this are new trend. They are emerging trend. It is not only localised in Nigeria. It is a global thing. We are going to devise strategies to ensure that hoodlums cannot overwhelm any state in the country. It is not possible. “We will continue to disgrace them; we will continue to catch them. Right from Monday when he was kidnapped, policemen had been working underground. No ransom was paid. I will

let you know if anybody was apprehended later.” Governor Olusegun Mimiko expressed happiness at the rescue. “We are happy he is back. We thank God he is back both safe and sound. We are just happy that he is back. I was praying he would come back safely because there could be very deep security dimensions to it. “So, we thank God he is back. Naturally, one is also worried as a Nigerian that issue of kidnapping is taking another dimension in Nigeria. “Somebody of his pedigree, he was taken away from his farm, while working on his farm. For us, these are very serious security challenges. And I think we must address this,” he

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, September 25, 2015

Photo News

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dignitaries praying during the Eid el-Kabir celebration in Daura, Katsina State, yesterday. L-R: Otaru of Auchi, Haliru Momoh; Duadu of Auchi, Aziz Momoh; Acting Chairman, Etsako West Local Government Area, Busari Yesufu and others, at the praying ground during Eid el-Kabir celebration at Auchi in Edo yesterday.

L-R: Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Immediate Past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Alhaji Femi Okunnu, at the praying ground during the Eid el-Kabir celebration in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Former member, House of Representatives, Farouq Aliyu; Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa; Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, and former Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmoud, at the praying ground during Eid el-Kabir celebration in Dutse, Jigawa, yesterday.

L-R: Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Tunde Badmus; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Bayo Salami; Baba Kekere of Osogboland, Sulaiman Olanipekun Kabir Aregbesola and others during 2015 Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Osogbo, yesterday. Olu of Warri designate, Prince Godfrey Ikenwoli Emiko (Middle) with Delta State Muslim faithfuls during a homage on the Olu designate in Warri, yesterday

Women and girls praying during the Eid el-Kabir celebration in Daura, Katsina State yesterday.

L-R: Wakilin Adamawa, Alhaji Hassan Adamu; Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo, and Governor Muhammadu Bindo, at the praying ground during Eid el-Kabir celebration in Yola yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, September 25, 2015

717 killed in Saudi Arabia Hajj stampede CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Meanwhile, worshippers said to be miscreants, disrupted Eid prayers in Ilorin yesterday throwing stones and sachet water at the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his entourage The attack was first suspected to have been carried out by angry workers, who were unhappy over their unpaid salaries but the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ajayi Okasanmi said the eight people that were eventually arrested were not civil servants but miscreants. Also, Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede alleged that the attack was carried out by politically sponsored miscreants. The miscreants were said to have pounced on the Senate President as soon as he arrived the Eid praying ground with his entourage shortly after the Emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari had taken his seat. The alleged miscreants, including women and children abandoned their prayers and started pelting Saraki with the satchel water, damaging vehicles in his convoy in the process. Police had a hectic time trying to bring the wild protest under control, as the crowd defiled several warning shots and tear gas canisters. Many vehicles were badly damaged in the disturbance, including a Toyota Coaster bus marked FGN

V50 and one of the decorated ceremonial horses of the Emir. The protesters were eventually subdued by the combined efforts of the police, soldiers and security personnel attached to the Senate President. The pandemonium, which made worshippers to run helter-skelter, held back the traditional two ‘rakat prayers’, until normalcy was returned. Reacting to the incident, Media Office of the Senate President Senate President, denied the allegedly attacked at the Eid Prayer Ground during the prayers to mark the Eid-el-Kabir in Ilorin. The Senate President arrived at the venue this morning without any incident, prayed with other Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ali Ahmad and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore, among others. Before the Senate President left the prayer ground, he spoke to reporters who had asked him about his message for Nigerians to mark the Eid-el-Kabir. We want to say that nothing can be further from the truth as the Senate President was never attacked nor was there any attempt made on his life to warrant him being ‘whisked away’ as

I was sleeping on bare floor –Falae CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

men. “Chief Falae has played dominant roles as a political icon who served the country selflessly as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and as presidential aspirant. “He has friends and political associates from across the country and has been known to be a nationalist of the first order. “It is thus inconceivable that a man of such astute pedigree should be the one that herdsmen would find worthy of their evil kidnapping intention,” the group said. It said Falae, who is also the traditional head

of Ilu-Abo, presides over a village that is known to be a refuge for virtually all tribes of Nigerians where they have been living and eking their daily living for several decades. “Ilu-Abo is known to be a refuge for all tribes in Nigeria. What that means in essence is that Chief Falae is head of virtual all tribes in Nigeria. It is in Ilu-Abo where they find their daily bread. “We are thus shocked that a nationalist like Falae could fall prey to the antics of some evil men who did not respect his nationalism and political pedigree,” the group added.

reported by a section of the media. We however observe that there was a protest allegedly staged by local government employees over purported non-payment of salaries which hoodlums attempted to hijacked but this development was immediately curtailed by security agents. Therefore, to say that the Senate President was attacked at the venue of the prayers is totally false and a figment of the imagination

of those behind the story because the protest was never targeted at him, neither was any missile hurled at him. The Kwara State Government has since issued a statement in which it stated that majority of the workers in the state have received their salaries and that those yet to receive theirs will do so on Monday as Thursday and Friday of this week are public holidays.

The police, which had earlier in the week confirmed having information about a possible clash at the Eid praying ground and had drafted men and officers to the venue to maintain peace. Akorede said the sponsors of the violence were bent on causing disharmony in the state. According to him, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was away in Share, his home country

where he observed the Sallah prayers. This, he said, was an indication that “no one was fighting over unpaid salaries.” Okasanmi said police was still investigating the matter. He said the miscreants were traditionally beggars, who had the style of milling around dignitaries, particularly Saraki to beg for Sallah gifts.

Rescue workers in orange and yellow vests comb at the scene of Mecca stampede, placing victims on stretchers and desperately trying to resuscitate others.

Police, navy collaborate in fighting piracy OMEIZA AJAYI

he Nigeria Police Force has entered into a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Navy to curtail the activities of pirates in the nation’s seaways. To this end, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase have met to fine-tune grey areas in the arrangement. In his message to the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Naval Staff said, he appreciates the existing cooperation between the police and the navy, saying, this synergy

becomes imperative as both organisations are involved in the protection of lives and property on land and sea. He further requested for capacity building of officers and men of the two agencies on exchange programme, while soliciting for speedy prosecution of maritime cases. Responding, the IGP said he intends to re-brand the marine police so as to checkmate crimes at sea. He also said he was delighted at the visit of the naval number one man, thanking him for the suggestions of assisting the police in reducing piracy on the nation’s waterways. Arase promised his naval counterpart that the

police will assist the navy in training its officers in civil law relating to their duties as well as assisting the organisation in any capacity. In another development, the IGP has reiterated the unalloyed commitment of the Force to actively sustain the fight against insurgency in the country. Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, in a statement, said the police boss stated this while hosting a delegation from the United States Embassy led by Ambassador Daniel Mozena in his office at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. The head of the delegation commended the ef-

forts of the police for upholding professionalism and the rules of engagement in the on-going fight against insurgency in the North East. “Ambassador Daniel Mozena also offered to help the Force in handling terror suspects that may lay down their arms. “In his response, IGP Arase appreciated the supports gained from the US. Embassy in Nigeria and further disclosed that a Deputy Commissioner of Police is deployed to the Operation Command centre in Maiduguri, adding that 4,000 operational policemen are working in partnership with the military to end insurgency in the North East,” she said.

News

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Group wants Buhari to unveil economic blueprint, appoint finance minister Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA

n Abuja-based social advocacy group, Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately unveil his economic blueprint in order to stave off terrible crisis in the nation’s financial sector. CSJ also charged the President to urgently appoint a Minister of Finance as well as constitute his economic team as a way of boosting investors’ confidence. Lead director of the centre, Eze Onyekpere, in his evaluation of the communiqué issued by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, after its last meeting, said the economy could slip into a recession in 2016 if proactive steps are not taken to revive growth in key sectors of the economy. According to him, the absence of synergy between monetary and fiscal policy remains one of the most potent obstacles to sustainable growth. In the light of the foregoing, CSJ urged the President and other relevant authorities to take immediate and urgent steps instead of waiting until the economy finally slips into recession before acting. “The recommended steps are in the following areas: To immediately appoint federal ministers especially, the minister responsible for finance and economic management and to constitute the economic management team of the Federal Government. “To unveil the economic agenda of the administration while giving Nigerians the opportunity to make inputs in its modification and fine-tuning. Public and private stakeholders cannot continue groping in the dark and imagining the content of government’s economic agenda. The unveiling of a holistic framework has become a matter of urgent national importance. “To address the nation on October 1, 2015 on the state of nation especially focusing on the economy; the administration’s achieve-

ment so far and what is to be done in the short and medium term to revive the economy. Thereafter, the President should start the quarterly media briefings on his administration.” Onyekpere also urged the government to create synergy between fiscal and monetary policy, unveil the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper 2016-2019 as required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and open up public dialogue on macro-economic policies for the medium term, adding that the MTEF should have been ready by the end of June 2015. He also urged the President to take steps to cut down the cost of governance, including the allowances and overhead costs of running the bureaucracy across all arms of government. This will free resources for national development. CSJ and other CSOs have recently concluded policy briefs on the practical ways of cutting down these costs. Other measures he enumerated include the President taking steps to release resources for investment in capital projects, considering that no funds have been released for the implementation of the entire 2015 federal capital budget. This will facilitate and attract private sector investments and help kick-start economic revival. “To critically review the continued subsidy on imported petroleum products. As an alternative, it should design a subsidy regime that will encourage local refining and value addition in the petroleum sector. The government is invited to consider the complete removal of petroleum subsidy as from the 2016 federal budget. “CBN should take steps to further reduce the CRR to not more than 10 per cent while closely monitoring the sources of demand pressure on the foreign exchange market to ensure that funds are not diverted to demands for foreign exchange but applied to specific growthenhancing and asset creation lending by banks,” he concluced.

L-R: Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem; Lagos State sector commander, Hyginus Omeje and Zonal Head of Operations, Lagos zone, Godwin Ngwekwu, during Eid-el-kabir special patrols in Lagos, yesterday.

APC hails ECOWAS, Buhari on reinstatement of interim govt in B’Faso

Ebere Ndukwu

conomic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has been commended by Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, for its leadership role in restoring a transitional order in Burkina Faso. APC, in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the regional bloc’s insistence on strict adherence to its protocol on democracy and good governance, which has zero tolerance for power obtained by un-

constitutional means, is a positive development for democracy, peace and stability in West Africa. The party also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for adding another feather to his diplomatic cap by hosting the extraordinary summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that took the unequivocal decision to reinstate interim President Michel Kafando, who was ousted by his country’s presidential guards. ‘’In condemning the coup d’etat in Burkina Faso, President Buhari left no one in doubt about Nigeria’s stance. He made it clear, in the statement that was issued on September

18, 2015, that Nigeria will ‘give the fullest possible support to efforts by the ECOWAS mediatory team of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to quickly restore Burkina Faso to the path of order, democracy and constitutionalism.’ ‘’Also in that statement, President Buhari urged the people of Burkina Faso to remain calm and steadfast in support of the transitional order, elections and democratic governance with the full assurance that Nigeria, ECOWAS and the international community will uphold their right to peace, freedom,

democracy and good governance. ‘’This very impressive role by President Buhari has gone a long way in restoring Nigeria’s ebbing leadership role in the West African sub-region in particular and the African region in general,’’ APC said. The party described as victory for peace and democracy the reinstatement of the interim government of Burkina Faso and the relinquishing of power by the putschists without a major military confrontation that would have further destabilised the fragile country and cause needless destruction and deaths.

FG approved 90 contracts from January to June –BPP Report

ederal Executive Council approved 90 contracts between January and June, the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, said in its bi-annual report. The report, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja yesterday states that the contracts would be executed over three years. It states that contracts for the supply and installation of 753,002 electricity meters under the Presidential Initiative to Nigerians were awarded through the Ministry of Power at a cost of N27.1bn. It states that 23 con-

tracts, ranging from the provision of solid waste collection in the Abuja Municipal Area Council to the construction of sewage facilities and management services, would be executed in the Federal Capital Territory. It adds that four of the contracts would be implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, including the rehabilitation and expansion of the Central Ogbia regional water supply in Bayelsa State. The report also states that the Ministry of Water Resources awarded contract for the construction of Irawo Earth Dam

project in Oyo State. It added that five contracts were awarded through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for the construction of the head office building complex for the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Bayelsa State. The has it that the Ministry of Works awarded contract for the expansion of the SulejaMinna phase two road in Niger State with funding from the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme 2014 appropriation. The report also states that the government awarded contract through the Ministry of

Works for the expansion of the Abuja-Keffi expressway and the expansion of Keffi-AkwangaLafia-Markudi road. It states that the Ministry of Education awarded contract for phase two of the expansion/completion of the TETFund intervention in special Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) project, educational training laboratories and workshop/equipment for 73 Nigerian public universities. The report is a routine report of the BPP to ensure an open playing field for all transactions in the public procurement domain.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, September 25, 2015

Troops dismantle terrorists’ fuel depot

roops of 3 Division, Nigerian Army, yesterday dismantled a Boko Haram fuel dump at Ladu Dumbawa ward, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. A statement from Acting Director Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the troops’ action was based on a tip-off. According to him, suspected terrorists had abducted seven persons in Gajabere and took them to Ladu Dumbawa. “Those kidnapped were three local wards heads called “Lawani” and their respective deputies, as well as the Chief Imam of the town. ”However, through sheer guts and bravery, three of them escaped and reported the mat-

ter to security operatives, which led to the rescue of the rest and discovery of the wellconcealed terrorists fuel depot that was also destroyed by troops. “The troops have further blocked the terrorists supply route that led to Babangida in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, where they mostly get the supplies. “Troops are intensifying efforts to identify and neutralise all Boko Haram logistic bases to further constrict the terrorists and hasten their total defeat. “Citizens are requested to furnish the military and security agencies with information on all known terrorist location, routes, suppliers of fuel, food, clothing and any good or service to the terrorists,” the statement said.

Apapa gridlock: Group wants trucks relocated

ssociation of Maritime Truck Owners, AMATO, has advised that trucks and other articulated vehicles be relocated to their parks, garages or Tradefair complex in Lagos State to solve the perennial problem of gridlock. Chairman of the association, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. He said the initiative would ease the problem of trucks blocking the roads and leaving other motorists to suffer long hours in traffic jam. “My ultimate goal is to achieve sanity and orderly movement of trucks in ports operation. “I suggest that all trucks on the ports access roads should relocate to their parks or garage. “Anyone without garage should go to the Trade-fair complex, which is available as park for them,” Ogungbemi said. He said that while such relocation would be ongoing, the system could be

perfected with the commencement of an electronic call-up system for the trucks. He said in that vein, synergy would be necessary among the Lagos State Government, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC). “This is when we need a synergy among the critical stakeholders; the state government, the NPA and the shippers’ council which is the economic regulator. “We have been in talks with the NPA on how to get a truck park that can hold these trucks while they wait for their turns to get into the ports. “I am sure that a lot of benefits await all parties concerned if it works out well,” Ogungbemi said. The gridlock, particularly on the port access areas, resurfaced when the trucks returned to work after a 10day strike. Efforts of the taskforce on traffic management within the port city, however, helped to ensure that the trucks left a lane free for other motorists.

L-R: Lagos State Chief of Staff, Mr. Olukunle Ojo; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode and Mrs. Aderonke Ojo during the Eid-el-Kabir Celebration organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

Kogi LG workers to receive N45bn from bailout fund

ogi State government yesterday said N45billion out of the N50.9billion bailout money would be spent on paying outstanding salaries of workers in the 21 local councils. Deputy governor Yomi Awoniyi disclosed this in Lokoja in a statement by

his Press Secretary, Mike Abu. The statement said he made the clarification during a stakeholders meeting with members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Council. It said the balance of

Three die in Oyo auto crash Kemi Olaitan, Ibadan

ragedy struck yesterday on IbadanOyo road, as two men and a woman died after a commercial Toyota Sienna space bus rammed into an articulated truck. National Mirror learnt that four others were also seriously injured in the crash. An eyewitness said the accident occurred when the driver of the truck suddenly applied the brakes in his bid to avoid a mini truck that broke down on the road. Several men of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and policemen were at the scene trying to maintain traffic. One of the FRSC officials, who pled anonymity, said the injured persons had been taken to a hospital.

The mangled body of the three passengers had not been retrieved as at the time of filing this report, while an official said special equipment would be require to free the bodies.

N5.9 billion would be used to pay the August and September salaries of workers in the state civil service. The statement said Awoniyi while confirming that the total money due to the state was N50.9bn, said the challenges facing its early release was being resolved. It appealed to workers to exercise more patience, saying they would be the greatest beneficiaries of the funds when finally released. It attributed the inability to pay workers to a

sharp drop in the allocation from the federation account and dismissed the insinuations of mismanagement being speculated in some quarters. The statement said Awoniyi used the visit to commend the people of the state’s Central Senatorial District for their mature conduct in the just-concluded governorship primary of the APC. It noted that the action had further reinforced the confidence of the leadership of the party in the people of the area.

Police begin search for Enugu couple’s killers Emmanuel Ezeh- Enugu

nugu State Police Command yesterday vowed to stop at nothing in its plan to apprehend the culprits in connection with the murder of one Mr. Marcel Abah and his wife, Jacinta, in Igboeze North Local Government Area of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a chat with journalists.

The police spokesman recalled that the married couple, residing at Amaja, a border community between Enugu and Benue states, were on September 21 attacked by unknown persons and had their throats slit while they were asleep. According to him, Marcel and Jacinta were asleep when, at about 2a.m, hoodlums invaded their home and slit their throats, adding that the dead bodies of the couple were discovered by neighbours who alerted the police later in the morning.

Amaraizu added that the couple bled to death before they were discovered. He also noted that the police would carry out an autopsy on the corpses as investigative measures. Speaking further, the PPRO noted that the police had commenced full scale investigations into the incident and stressed that the perpetrators would not go unpunished. Meanwhile, the remains of the couple had been deposited in the mortuary at Ogurute General Hospital.

South West

Friday, September 25, 2015

SALLAH CELEBRATION

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Sallah: Dickson salutes Muslim faithfuls OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

Cross section of Muslim faithfuls during prayer session at Eid-el-Kabir in Lagos, yesterday.

Dogara, deputy preach peace, tolerance TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

peaker, House of Re p r e s e n t a t iv e s , Yakubu Dogara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to pray for the progress and success of the ongoing change project of the present administration. In an Eid-el-Kabir message signed by his special

adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, Dogara also prayed that the benefits of the celebration will not elude them. “While festivities go on to mark the day, let us remember to pray for the progress and success of the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari. “On its part, the Nation-

al Assembly will continue to pass people-oriented legislation that will reform and strengthen our institutions for effective service delivery,” he said. On his part, the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Suleiman Lasun, called on Muslim faithful to use the occasion of the celebration to pray for peace and stability in Nigeria.

He urged all Nigerians to “show commitment and readiness to make sacrifice towards the development of the nation”. In a Sallah message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wole Oladimeji, Lasun urged religious leaders to teach their followers to do the right thing and not depart from the truth.

Cleric tells Buhari: Don’t negotiate with terrorists CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

hief Imam of Umuofor Oguta Central Mosque in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Sheik Abdulfatai Chimaeze Emetumah, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison the planned negotiation with the Boko Haram terrorists. Emetumah, who is also

the traditional ruler of Umuofor Autonomous Community in Oguta LGA in his Sallah message to Nigerians to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir insisted that the Qu’ran does not make room for negotiation with terrorists unless those who surrender their arms to the authority. The Chief Imam insisted that any negotiation with the terrorists group would not be in the

interest of the country, given the teaching from the fourth chapter of the scripture. On the yet-to-be released Chibok girls, the clergic called on all Nigerians to use the Sallah to pray for the abducted girls. Describing the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls as mystery, he said that Boko Haram “is Kanuri ethnic struggle covered with re-

Aregbesola seeks new system of governance B OLADALE BAMIG BOLA OSOGBO

sun State governor, Rauf Aregebsola, yesterday said the nation must chart a new course in its system of governance in order to attain the greatness it deserves. This is contained in the Eid-el Kabir message issued by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy,

Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon. Aregbesola also said the promotion of peace among diverse ethnic and religious groups in the country is critical to development. He stated that leaders as well as followers have a task to fulfill in building a strong and virile nation and averred that there should be a national rethinking on the way forward for the country.

According to him, the sallah is a better platform for Muslims to re-examine themselves with a view to mending their ways and upholding the cardinal principles of the religion which has its foundation on peace. He lamented the rising wave of violence and insurgency across the world, saying at no time in human political history has peace been this endangered.

ligion.” While commending President Buhari for his effort in ensuring rescue of the abducted girls, the chief Imam maintained that all Nigerians should pray to Allah for the girls’ freedom. He enjoined Nigerians irrespective of their religious to love one another and sacrifice resources and money to build the nation in the interest of all.

ayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, has called on Muslim faithful to use the period of Eid-el Kabir to pray for the unity, peace and stability of the country. He has also enjoined them to propagate the message of love, which remains the overriding principle and direction for adherents of every religion, including Muslims. In his message to Muslims on the occasion of Eid-el Kabir, Dickson urged them to pray to Allah to direct the leadership of the country aright at all times, especially in view of the harsh economy. According to him, the nation needs the collective prayers and unity of purpose of all to not only

forge ahead, but continue to occupy its enviable position as the giant of Africa in all its ramifications. The Bayelsa State chief executive also renewed his call for collaborative efforts in the ongoing fight against terrorism, stressing that the nation’s military needs the prayers and support of all Nigerians to finally win the war against insurgency. Describing Islam as a religion of peace, he enjoined the practitioners to follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammed that centres on tolerance, peace and brotherliness. The governor, however, expressed gratitude to Muslims in the state for their ever supportive and peaceful disposition, calling on them to maintain the existing relationship between them and practitioners of other religions.

Islamic cleric appeals to Muslims GLORIA ANAEZE ONITSHA

hief Imam of Onitsha Military Cantonment Central Mosque, Cpl. Ahmed Adamu, has appealed to all Muslims to pray for the country and President Muhammadu Buhari for God’s sustenance and wisdom to pilot the affairs of the country. The Chief Imam, who made the appeal in a special service to mark Eid-el Kibir at Military Cantonment Onitsha, noted that the day is critical in the Islamic faith. He called for tolerance among adherents of Islam, describing it is as one of the

faith’s tenets which all Muslims are supposed to abide by. Adamu also urged Muslims to always deliberate on the significance and lessons of the celebration and shun earthly quest for materialism. According to him, Eid-el Kabir is observed by Muslims all over the world, and reminds its faithful of the symbolic sacrifice which Abraham portrayed by sacrificing a ram in place of his son. He called on Nigerians to always see themselves as one, and admonished the Muslim faithful to embrace Islamic teaching and live in peace with one another.

Lagos APC urges prayers for unity

agos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday urged Islamic faithful to pray for the sustenance of peace and unity in Nigeria. Congratulating Muslims on the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir, the party’s spokesman in the state, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, noted that progress and development can only be possible in an atmosphere of love and good neighbourliness.

According to him, Muslims should take advantage of the celebration to seek the face and benevolence of Allah for good governance in the country. He reminded Nigerians that those at the helm of affair need the sacrifice of all to turn the fortune of Nigeria around and restore its glory. In a statement by Igbokwe, the party said: “The country can only move forward where there is harmony. Eid-el-Kabir is

a time to show love and imbibe the spirit of giving sacrificially. But, beyond this season, we must continue to extend love to one another and always pray for our leaders. “In the spirit of the season, our leaders deserve every support, especially on the fight against corruption and insecurity. Without the support and cooperation of the people, it will be difficult for those in government alone to win the battles.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, September 25, 2015

SALLAH CELEBRATION

Let’s team up to move Nigeria forward, Ayade charges Muslims RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

ross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has enjoined Muslims in the country to use the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir to team up with all governments in the country to take Nigeria to greater height. The governor made the call in his Eid-el-Kabir message signed by his special assistant on media and chief press secretary, Mr. Christian Ita. The message reads: “While I congratulate all my Muslim brothers and sisters across the country on this year’s Eid-El-Kabir, made possible by the Almighty Allah, I want to appeal for your collective support to government so that we can pull through our current challenges. “As devout faithful, let us harness our creative energies, our love for one

another towards the development of the country by aligning with our President, Muhammadu Buhari, to help realise the dream of the founding fathers for a better Nigeria. “As we celebrate, we must be mindful of the lessons of Eid -el-Kabir, which are sacrifice, peace and love for our neighbours. “You have always demonstrated good examples by exhibiting the true teachings of Islam. I want to, however, urge the Muslim community in our state to continue to join hands with people of other faith to sustain the prevailing atmosphere which has made our state the most peaceful in the country and the best investment destination. “May the Almighty Allah fill your hearts with his love as you celebrate in peace,” Governor Ayade.

El-Rufai tasks Muslims, Christians on unity, peace AZA MSUE KADUNA

aduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-rufai, yesterday urged Muslims to visit their Christian brothers and sisters for Sallah celebration, just as he prayed that the recent flood disaster should not occur again. Speaking with journalists shortly after Eid ElKabir prayers at Alhaji Yahaya Juma’a Mosque in Kaduna, El-rufai, urged Kaduna citizens to live in peace with one another irrespective of their religion and ethnicity. The governor said though he inherited 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s bad leadership in the state, his government is committed

ational woman leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Hajiya (Dr.) Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has called on Muslim faithful across the country to use the moment of Eidel-Kabir to look inward as well as pray for God’s guidance upon the leaders to lift the country out of its present socio-eco-

to making the state a better place for all. While lamenting the flood disaster that ravaged some parts the state, El-rufai prayed that the pains some residents went through should not repeat themselves. Chief Imam of Yayaha Road Juma’a Mosque, Mallam Toro Ibrahim, charged Muslims to remain steadfast in their prayers and help the needy. Meanwhile, this year’s Sallah celebration in Kaduna State went on peacefully at the time of filling this report. Our correspondent who monitored the festivity reports that heavy security operatives were seen at prayer grounds and strategic locations.

L-R: The new Are Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola Makanjuola; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; High Chief Abdullateef Oyelade and Chief Lamidi Ajadi, observing prayer during the Eid-el Kabir festival at Agodi pray ground, Ibadan, yesterday.

Let’s remember martyrs of insurgency –Shettima INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has urged Nigerians to use the Eid el Kabir celebration to reflect on all security personnel, civilian volunteers, including members of the youth vigilante and hunters who laid their lives while defending people from Boko Haram attacks in the North East. Shettima, in a Sallah message after performing the eid prayers yester-

day, told journalists that hundreds of military, police, Department of State Security Services, DSS, Immigration, Customs personnel as well as Civilian JTF men and hunters have sacrificed their lives while defending the people of the North East against Boko Haram invasion. He said the insurgency bedeviling the North East would soon be surmounted, adding that Borno State in particular, would bounce back as a true home of peace. “I assure

the people of Borno State that very soon, the problem will be over,’ he said. He disclosed that his government would soon embark on massive reconstruction, rehabilitation and re-integration of communities destroyed by the insurgents. He appealed to the people to be patient and support the Federal Government and the military’s determination to end insurgency in the area. The governor who also visited many internally displaced persons, IDPs’

camps in Maiduguri, appealed to the victims to be patient as government and security agencies are working round the clock to ensure that they go back to their communities and continue their normal lives. He presented rams, bulls and other items to the IDPs in various camps to enable them celebrate the Sallah festivities happily, and solicited their prayers for the restoration of peace and unity in the North East and the country as a whole.

Mecca tragedy: Dankwambo condoles with victims’ families WILLIAMS ATTAH GOMBE

overnor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, yesterday condoled with families of the four persons from the state who lost their lives during the tragedy that befell some pilgrims in Mecca two weeks ago. Addressing Muslim faithful at the Government House after the two raka’at prayers to mark the fes-

tival of Eid-el-Kabir held at the Gombe eid praying ground, the governor who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Charles Iliya, said the people of the state are deeply touched by the sad incident. Earlier in his goodwill message to the people of the state, the governor had called on the citizenry to work hard towards sustaining the prevailing peaceful coexistence in the state, especially during the festive period.

He particularly tasked traditional rulers, community and religious leaders to ensure that people tolerate and live in peace within their environment. He said government on its part would remain committed toward supporting the security agencies in discharging their duties. He expressed appreciation to the citizens of Gombe State, for supporting the government in implementing viable policies

and programmes. The governor also assured the public that the government would not relent inits effort to provide socio–economic infrastructure for the transformation of the state. Dankwambo urged traditional rulers, community and religious leaders and all and sundry to sustain the prevailing peace in the state, adding that it is a prerequisite for the socio-economic development of any society.

APC leader preaches peace, good governance at Sallah nomic predicaments. Hajiiya Aliyu, while saluting Nigerians for their enduring patience in the face of economic hardship and social apathy owing to decades of political greed in high places, congratulated Muslims and Nigerians at

large for finding the will to vote in a courageous leader like President Muhammad Buhari in the last March 28, 2015 election. She noted that such a feat was not a mere display of courage, but a joint decision by millions of good Nige-

rians (Muslims and Christians alike) to take their destinies in their own hands. Said she: “What you actually did was to take your collective destinies in your hands by using your thumbs to vote out bad leadership, thereby ushering in great

leadership.” Dr. Aliyu noted that Eidel Kabir is a celebration of the willingness of man to yield to the instructions of Allah. The APC woman leader while congratulating Muslims for being alive to witness another celebration,

urged them not to lose the importance of using the season to offer prayers for the nurture and guidance of great leaders that will take the country out of the woods and create a socio-political atmosphere that is befitting of human habitation.

South-West

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ogun police arrest two cultists over armed robbery Femi Oyeweso, Abeokuta

en of the Ogun State police command have arrested two suspected members of a secret cult group for robbing some commercial motorcyclists in the Ogijo axis of Sagamu Local Government Area of the state. The two suspected cultists identified as David Abulumen and Mayowa Olajide, were arrested by police operatives attached to the Ogijo police station who were on surveillance in the area with the members of the Vigilante Services of Ogun State. A statement issued yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the duo of Abulumen and Olajide were arrested last Wednesday in Ogijo after they had successfully dispossess their victims of their motorcycles at gun point around 11.30a.m. The PPRO further stated that the robbery victim had put a distress call across to the surveillance team of the VSO and the police which eventually led to the arrest of the two suspects

allegedly known as notorious members of the Eye confraternity group. Adejobi said that items recovered from the suspects include a gun, assorted charms as well as two motorcycles allegedly snatched during their robbery operations. He added: “The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Abdulmajid Ali, has commended the police and vigilante services personnel who carried out the operation that led to the arrest of the notorious cultists who have been terrorising the innocent people of Ogijo area of the state.” He also said that the Ogun CP has directed that the matter be handed over to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, for proper investigation and prosecution. “The police boss however reiterated his determination to hunt for cultists and hoodlums who are creating security threats and fears in the minds of the good people of Ogun State, and curtain their nefarious activities accordingly,” he concluded.

Ladoja blames poverty for corruption, insecurity in Nigeria Kemi Olaitan, Ibadan

ormer governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, yesterday, blamed the insecurity and corruption in Nigeria on abject poverty in the land. The Ibadan high chief who spoke with journalists at his Bodija country home shortly after the Sallah prayer, said leaders would continue to steal if the masses continue to keep mute on the issue, adding that the security agencies and anti-graft agencies should rise up to their responsibilities. He said the Inspector General of Police, IGP, need not wait for Mr. President’s order to fish out the kidnappers of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae. According to him, government at all levels should ensure that the average Nigerian lives above poverty level “if we are truly serious about fight-

ing corruption.” He said: “It is a statement of fact that those kidnappers are living among us. The IGP needs not wait for the President’s order before Falae’s abductors are fished out. All we need to know is that there is abject poverty in the land and to avoid the trend, it is for government to ensure that people live well. “Salaries of workers are not being paid as at when due. Corruption and kidnapping are the outcome of the economic crisis facing the nation today. There is need for government to make the masses feel the impact of the change in the land. What the masses should do is to carry out their own programmes instead of dwelling on the faults of past administrations. “The masses should also be blamed because they encouraged the leaders to steal since they know they will get something from the money they steal from government,” Ladoja said.

L-R: South/West Treasurer, United Action for Democracy (UAD), Comrade Augustus Arokoyo; National Convener, Comrade Baba Aye; South/West Coordinator, Comrade Efe Bruno and General Secretary, Prince Toyin Raheem, during a media briefing on activities to commemorate the 10th Year Anniversary of the death of the former Executive Director of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Comrade Chima Ubani and former Deputy Photo Editor of the Vanguard newspapers Mr. Tunji Oyeleru, in Lagos, yesterday.

Ogun vows to eliminate malaria by 2020

gun State government has vowed to tackle malaria decisively with the use of longlasting insecticidal net, LLIN. Director, Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yusuf Quduus, disclosed this at the 2015 Multi–year Training Plan (MYTP) held at Ijako in Ado–Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state. He said the MYTP which was supported by Support for National Malaria Programme, SUNMap, would cover 2015 – 2020 on malaria elimination, adding that

the MYTP was designed to discover the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) in the past year and to further explore available opportunities for malaria elimination in the year under review. “MYTP is meant to look into the achievements and short comings in years 2009 – 2014 and recommend ways out through sensitisation and trainings with regards to the use of LLIN aimed at controlling malaria in the state,” Dr. Yusuf said. The director, in a statement signed by the ministry’s media officer, Mr.

Adeniyi Akinbobola, said Ogun State has achieved more than 90 per cent in LLIN distribution since the beginning of the year with the support of SuNMaP and other development partners. He called on more partners, non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and major stakeholders in the country to join hands with government on the crusade against malaria. Contributing, the state’s malaria elimination programme manager, Mrs. Olamide Adeyinka, said SUNMaP had been part-

nering with the state in relation to the malaria elimination programme, adding that more efforts would be geared towards the private health providers to increase the coverage in order to achieve the ultimate goal of malaria elimination in the state. She said the state Ministry of Health and stakeholders on the malaria control programme would continue to encourage people to sleep under the LLIN to prevent not only malaria, but also some other diseases caused by mosquito bite.

Oyo APC senator sued over dual citizenship Kemi Olaitan, Ibadan

ome voters resident in Oyo Central Senatorial District of Oyo State have dragged the All Progressives Congress, APC, senator representing the district, to a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for being a citizen of both the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The voters, in documents made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, sued Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, for themselves and on behalf of the electorate in the district, in an originating summons filed in the suit FHC/ABJ/ CS/760/201. While the claimants are Wahab Abiodun, Alhaji Bola Akinyemi, Chief Emmanuel Olajide, Chief Samuel Elegbede and Chief Thomas Ajao, the

APC senator and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are joined as first and second defendants respectively. National Mirror learnt that Sunmonu worked as home officer (immigration officer) with the UK government for 21 years (1989-2010), before leaving for Nigeria to join partisan politics. The claimants are asking the court to declare that Sunmonu lacks the requisite capacity to hold the office of a senator, having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of United Kingdom against the letters and spirit of Section 66 subsection 1 (a) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. It will be recalled that non-qualification to stand for the March 28 election is also one of the grounds upon which Chief Bisi Ilaka, Accord Party’s can-

didate, is challenging the declaration of Sunmonu as the winner of the election. Section 66 subsection 1 (a) of the constitution states that, “No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if: (a)…he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, has made a declaration of allegiance to such a country.” On account of Sunmonu having sworn to an oath of allegiance to the UK government, they are praying the court to declare the office vacant for non-conformity with constitutional requirement, and an order compelling INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to her. Another relief sought

from the court by the claimants through their counsel, Chief Titus Ashaolu, SAN, is an order of perpetual injunction restraining Sunmonu from parading herself as a senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district. Marked as exhibit C, among the various documents accompanying the originating summons, is a certified true copy of Sunmonu’s nomination form in which she answered ‘yes’ to questions relating to dual citizenship. The form was also accompanied by a statement on oath she swore to on December 17, wherein she declared that information provided are “true and correct and I have to the best of my knowledge fulfilled all the requirements for qualification into the office I am seeking to be elected.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Prices of foodstuff rise in Awka

rices of foodstuff recorded an increase in Awka, Anambra State, as Muslims celebrated the Eid-el-Kabir. A market survey in Awka by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday showed that there was an astronomical rise in the cost of some foodstuff, with traders attributing this to the high cost of transportation. At Eke Awka market, a basket of tomatoes, which sold for N7,000 two months ago, now sells for N13,000, while five medium-sized onions, which sold for N100 in the same period, now sells for N150. NAN also reports that a 50 kg bag of local rice, which sold for N5,000 before, now sells for N7,500, while a jute bag of beans which sold for N14,000 previously, now sells for N18,000. A bunch of yam which two weeks ago sold for N800 now sells for N1,500, while a cement bag size of sweet

South East

Friday, September 25, 2015

potatoes had gone up from N1,500 to N2,000. A trader in grains at the market, Mrs Amaka Ilomunya, blamed the development on transporters. “We were transporting a lorry load of rice and beans for N120,000 from the North, but now it takes as much as N180,000 to do this. “We have no alternative other than to hike our prices a little so as to recover our money,” she said. A trader in onions, ginger and garlic, Mr. Emeka Azike, also blamed the price increase on the cost of transportation, saying transporters also blamed the development on the high risk in getting the foodstuff to consumers in the state. “When I asked them the reason for hiking the cost of transportation, they said it has to do with the deadly risk they take getting these foodstuff through the insurgency affected territories in the North East to markets in the East,” he said.

Soroptimist Int’l moves to curb sexual harassment of young girls in Enugu

resident, Soroptimist International, Enugu State, Dr Anthonia Ekwo, has expressed concern over the increasing rate of sexual harassment of young girls in the state. Ekwo made the observation yesterday, while speaking with newsmen. She said the development was worrisome, adding that if not checked, it would take a dangerous toll on the society. The president said that the group, which is a global organisation, recognised by the United Nations, had noted with dismay reports of domestic violence tar-

geted at women and even toddlers. Ekwo, who is the Nigerian representative of the group, said the services of the club were centred on the empowerment of the girl-child and vulnerable women. “Our concentration is on women and the girl-child. We have an adult literary centre at Agbani, Enugu and have empowered no fewer than 30 women. “Our target is to reduce domestic violence and to ensure that our young girls are not sexually harassed. “We want to make sure that women are not treated like slaves and for their

voices to be heard in all spheres of life,” she said. Ekwo also frowned at the level of poverty among women in rural areas of the state, adding that a lot needed to be done by the government to alleviate the plight of such people. She said the organisation would offer free legal services to any woman whose rights were infringed upon. Also speaking, National President of the organisation, Mrs. Bona Udebiuwa, said the group had assisted women with health challenges. Udebiuwa said the group had built the capac-

ity of women across the country. “We provide free health services to women in the areas of cancer, stress and nutrition and have built and donated maternity wards to some communities around the country. “We want our presence to be felt in Enugu State and that is why the chapter has assisted some market women to get loans to start businesses,” she said. Udebiuwa called on government at all levels to cede more elective and appointive positions to women as a source of their empowerment.

Obiano donates gunboat to navy, launches water ambulance for coastal communities

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has donated a gunboat to the Nigerian Naval Outpost in Onitsha, to increase its response rate in the on-going efforts to wipe out crime in the state. The governor presented the boat to Navy Capt. Dika Kwabe, the Commander of the Naval Outpost, at Okoti Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state yesterday. Obiano also donated 15 speed boats and seven water ambulances to provide ambulatory services in the coastal communities in the state. He said the gesture was aimed at opening up the affected communities most of which had been cut off from the rest of the state by the lack of access to modern water transportation system. He said the effort was also intended to facilitate movement across the water channels in the state and bring the communities closer to the people on the mainland. According to him, the newly formed marine transport scheme will foster academic excellence for school children and their teachers who have endured extreme challenges to access quality education in those commu-

nities. Obiano said apart from the speedboats, the seven water ambulances would come in handy in cases of emergency to offer respite to medical cases that required urgent professional attention. Kwabe lauded the governor for donating a gunboat to the navy and said the vessel would assist the command better in confronting criminals, who used the water channels in the state to carry out their unlawful activities.

L-R: Permanent Secretary Abia State Ministry of Works, Mr. Richard Nwala; Director Road Maintenance, Engr. Sunday Okpara; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Deputy Governor Ude Okochukwu, during an inspection tour of Ukaegbu road in Aba, yesterday.

Umahi donates Ebonyi rice to troops, IDPs in Borno Aliuna Godwin Abakaliki

bonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has donated thousands of bags of the popular Ebonyi rice and other materials to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State. Umahi, who visited the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja stated the readiness of his administration to always provide for the displaced persons.

The governor, who was full of praises for the Nigerian Army for their gallant efforts towards ending the insurgency in the NorthEast, assured the CDS that the people of Ebonyi State would give necessary support to the Army at any time. He said: “I want to appreciate you and your wonderful team. I want to once again thank you. In the next 10 days, we will bring some quantities of rice to assist your boys and also to the governor of Borno State, to assist the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. “You have recorded tremendous success in dealing

with this sect (Boko Haram) and I want to tell you that the people of Ebonyi State are very happy about that. “Since the insurgency started, we have lost no fewer than three personnel and the same thing has happened to other sections of the country.” The governor assured the Defence chief that Ebonyians would continue to pray for the Army until the insurgents were routed. He recalled that the military played key roles in resolving past crises in Ezillo as well as those between Ebonyi State and its neigbours.

“We had issues with Cross Rivers; we had issues with Enugu and we had issues with Abia. We also had internal problems which is Ezillo. The Army played important roles and was very much instrumental to the peace we have in the state,” the governor said. Umahi noted that the partnership to establish a joint project called COMPO RATIO between the Ebonyi State Government and the Nigerian Army at the Abakaliki Cantonment was meant to provide food for military personnel and displaced persons. He solicited for quick ac-

tion by the Army to actualise the project. He told the Defence chief that his government was fully committed to rice production and therefore wanted the project to start “so that we can play our own part”. In a response, the CDS thanked Governor Umahi for the visit, promising that the Army and the state government would soon actualise the project. The governor had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, where he congratulated him for his well deserved appointment.

South South

Poor funds, rains hampering road rehabilitation in C’River —FERMA

ederal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has said that paucity of funds and rains were hampering rehabilitation work on federal roads in Cross River. The state Director of FERMA, Mr Ukpong Bassey, disclosed this on Thursday to newsmen in Calabar. “We are aware of the washout on the Odukpani road. We are going to intervene; we have made request to Abuja for prompt action and I am sure something will be done very soon. “So, we are not sleeping; we are doing our best. I am sure that very soon things will start taking proper shape. “The rains had also been very heavy; we cannot do asphalt work during the rains. Otherwise, as you leave the site, by the next day the whole work will be washed away and you will

start all over again,’’ he said. Bassey attributed the continued deterioration of federal roads in the state to their age, stressing the need for total rehabilitation. “We worked on Itu-Calabar road last year but if you look at that road, it is distressed; it has attained its age limit. “By the time you are trying to patch this portion, another portion is going bad. That road is due for total rehabilitation,” he said. The director stated that it was not the responsibility of FERMA to embark on total rehabilitation of federal roads. “It is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Works. So, when we experience failure, it is no longer our responsibility,’’ he said. The director promised that as soon as the rains subside, FERMA would begin work.

Friday, September 25, 2015

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Two robbers escape lynching in Warri TheophilusOnojeghen Warri

wo suspected armed robbers narrowly escaped mob attack yesterday after dispossessing a victim of N200,000 along DSC Expressway in Uvwie Local Government Area, near Warri, Delta State. National Mirror learnt that angry youths managed to apprehend two out of the four suspected robbers at Ugbolokposo junction, while the others escaped by

jumping into the dangerous Otokutu river. The unlucky duo were beat to stupor and worn tyres, ready to be set ablaze until their rescue by sympathisers who pled that they be handed over to security operatives. At about 9am when our correspondent visited the scene, the hoodlums were seen bleeding profusely and looking helpless. One of the suspects, who claimed to be a tricycle (Keke) operator, said he was

hired by three of the robbers to take them to undisclosed location before they were caught. The hoodlums had accosted the victim in his car, dispossessing him of undisclosed sum in hispossession. The victim, whose name could not be immediately ascertained by our reporter, raised the alarm that attracted passersby to come to his aid. Police officers including soldiers who visited the scene, it was learnt, had

immediately left the scene in disgust after being told what happened, leaving the suspects at the mercy of the mob that later freed them. However, one of the soldiers told this reporter the hoodlums might not survive the beatings. At the time our correspondent was leaving the scene,the mob was threatening to set one of the suspected robbers ablaze while the so-called Keke rider was being rushed to hospital for medical attention.

A’Ibom urged to set up Oil Producing Commission

former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Nduese Essien, has urged Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom to set up an Oil Producing Commission in the state. Essien disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Eket Local Government Area of the state. He also suggested that the 13 per cent derivation should be paid to the oil producing communities following the devastating effect they suffer from exploration and exploitation by oil companies. Essien said the non establishment of such a commission had caused untold hardship to the oil-bearing communities in the state. “When oil is produced,

Udom

the effect of its exploration and exploitation is felt more by the communities. It is necessary that the 13 per cent derivation be spent more on the communities. “Consequently, some states have established Oil Mineral Producing Areas Commission and set aside 50 per cent of the 13 per cent to be spent on such areas,’’ he said. The former minister advised the state to follow the example of the states that had established oil producing areas commission to take care of the oil bearing communities. He regretted that Akwa Ibom put the 13 per cent into the state’s coffers and spent it across board without making specific provisions for oil producing areas. He criticised the previous administrations in the state for not protecting the interest of t he oil producing communities, thereby allowing oil multi-nationals to dictate the pace of development in those communities. Essien advised the government to always give adequate attention to the oil producing communities and urged both the state government and communities to work together in the interest of the people.

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), on their arrival to attend the PDP Gubernatorial Primary Election at the Samson Siasia Sport Complex in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Osahon Julius Yenagoa

eactions have continued to trail the cancelation of the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship primary election in Bayelsa State, as some of the party delegates and concerned youths yesterday lauded the party’s national leadership for taking the right step in quashing Tuesday’s primary. The delegates and youths under the auspices of Bayelsa Youth and Student Volunteers for Progressive Change, BYSVPC, also showered encomiums on Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and his electoral committee members for standing by the truth and insisting that the right thing be done. In a communiqué on Thursday signed by national coordinator Ayere Egbetein, secretary B.J. John and publicity secretary Jonathan Okwa respectively, BYSVPC described the primary

Bayelsa APC delegates laud Oshiomhole, cancellation of primary where former governor Timipre Sylva emerged as candidate, as a sham. The group said it found the cancellation a good development for the APC, stressing that those who desired to get to power through the back door had been taught a lesson of their lives. It condemned in strong term the intimidation and physical attacks on delegates and persons believed to be loyal to former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe, at the venue of the botched primary. The group said the attacks were barbaric and despicable, adding that the old order of things Bayelsans and the youths were clamouring to change were still there. The BYSVPC therefore recommended to the APC

national leadership that the rescheduled primary be moved to a neutral ground outside Bayelsa to forestall breakdown of law and order. It said, “We suggest that the rescheduled primary election be moved to a neutral ground outside the state. This will ensure safety and bring about credible elections or in the alternative, we pray the leadership of the party to overhaul the security apparatus at the venue of the rescheduled date to boost delegates’ confidence, public participation and build confidence in APC. “The party should work out a more credible process of accreditation of authentic delegates and where possible collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy more of its staff

on identification of cloned PVCs to avoid impersonation and pseudo delegates. “As youths and students, we are the worst hit in the emergence of any bad government. As people at the grassroots, we can only commend Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the national leadership of APC for taking the right step. “ It urged the delegates to remain calm and committed to the process and not give in to threats and intimidation. It called on the teeming members and Bayelsans to stand by the candidate that can help APC to succeed in the December 5 governorship election. The group urged delegates to vote for Alaibe, whom they said remained calm and unmoved despite attacks on his person by some hired thugs.

Friday, September 25, 2015

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Politics

Igbo should play politics of realignment –Onyewuchi

13 political parties adopt Dickson as candidate Osahon Julius, Yenagoa

he chances of the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, in the December 5 governorship poll yesterday received a boost as 13 political parties in the state adopted him as their sole governorship candidate. The political parties under the auspices of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, announced the adoption of Dickson in Yenagoa on Thursday. The political parties include the African Democratic Congress, ADC, KOWA, Progressive People’s Alliance, PPA, Action Alliance, AA, Accord Party, AP, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Hope Democratic Party, HDP, YDP, Independent Democrat; ACPN and NNPP. Treasurer of IPAC and state chairman of New Nigerian Peoples Democratic Party NNPP, Inko Namatebe, explained that the parties adopted Dickson because of his sterling leadership qualities. He said with Dickson securing second tenure, the state would remain in safe hands, stating that, the governor had performed very well in his first tenure and it was only necessary that he should be allowed to continue in office for another term. “One of the things that Governor Dickson has delivered on is security. He has put in place a framework for data gathering in an organized and empirical manner in crime”, he said. Namatebe listed other areas in which Dickson had made modest

achievements to include, education, infrastructure, diversification of the state economy, tourism, health and human capacity development. Others, he said are promotion of good governance, judiciary, transport, agriculture, power and sport development. “If one person in a single administration is able to achieve these developmental strides, what else do Bayelsans want if not to return our governor for second term? We urge all and sundry to support Governor Dickson for a second term in office because Bayelsa will remain in safe hands,” he said.

Sylva replies Oshiomole says, ‘you are liar, mischief maker’ Osahon Julius, Yenagoa

ormer governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva has dismissed as a deliberate “act of mischief” and “lies,” the claims by the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole that he truncated the electoral process during the All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries in Bayelsa on Tuesday. According to Sylva, though the Edo State governor was the chairman of the Election Committee and had left the venue of the primaries, the election which led to his emergence as the standard bearer of the party was free, fair and without violence as claimed by Oshiomole.

According to the statement issued yesterday by Sylva, through his Media Adviser, Doifie Bukoribo, he said: “It is unfortunate that people like Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo State and former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who pretend to be incorruptible, would conduct himself in the manner in which he did in relation to the Bayelsa State governorship primary. It was clear that Oshiomhole never wanted to conduct the primary as scheduled.” Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who had led the seven- man committee to conduct the governorship primary in Bayelsa State, had accused former Governor Sylva of

invading the venue with suspected thugs to disrupt the exercise in what he described as total disregard to the party’s guideline for conducting primaries. Oshiomhole, who addressed newsmen in Benin, after his escape from the melee at the Samson Siasia stadium, said members of his committee were held hostage for several hours by political thugs loyal to Sylva who threatened that they must conduct the primaries in spite of the fact that some delegates were arrested with cloned cards. He explained that all the aspirants in the primaries agreed that proper accreditations of all delegates must be done in accordance with the party’s guiding rules but was shocked that

L-R: President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mr Emeka Unachukwu; Vice Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers Concil, Mrs. Uche Agbam, and Chairman, Federated Correspondents Chapel, Rivers NUJ, Mr Ernest Chinwo, during a forum on the 100 days in office of Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Fayemi greets Muslims at Sallah

he immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of the Eid- el- Kabir, urging them to uphold the lessons of love, loyalty and sacrifice which the festival teaches. Fayemi, in a goodwill message signed by his chief

press secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said the Eid el-Kabir festival also offers another opportunity for sober reflection, soul searching and spiritual renewal which Allah demands from the faithful. He advised that the lessons of sacrifice and loyalty, which Eid-el-Kabir teaches should not be lost to the pomp and ceremony

that accompany the festival. According to him, Allah brought victory and joy to Prophet Ibrahim and his son, Ismail, after the duo demonstrated uncommon sense of sacrifice in fulfilling his will. Fayemi, while urging Nigerians to continue to pray and work for peace in the country, urged the Muslim faithful and adherents of

other faiths to make peaceful coexistence and harmony their watchwords in the quest for a greater and more prosperous Nigeria. “It is only through the fear of God, love for one another and commitment to peaceful living, that we can collectively confront our challenges as a nation and build the Nigeria of our dreams”, Fayemi added.

only the former governor declined, adding that, at that ,it was glaring that he was not ready for the primaries. The governor who narrated his ordeal said, when thugs invaded the Samson Siasia stadium, venue of the election, he was whisked away by military and was later flew in a chopper to Benin as thugs loyal to Sylva threatened to unleash mayhem on the members of the committee if they fail to conduct the primary. But reacting to the claim, Sylva said, “First, on his request, the primary was shifted from its earlier date of Saturday, September19 to Tuesday, September 22. The grouse of the delegates was that the primaries had been shifted once on Oshiomhole’s request. That shift caused enough hardship already. The ‘comrade’ was again shifting the goal post, without giving consideration to these hapless delegates. It was that frustration that we were managing. It is so sad that the governor did not appreciate our effort.” “Second, as chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Oshiomhole knew full well that accreditation of delegates was to begin at 8am on Tuesday, September 22, but he came to the venue of the programme well past 12 noon. After he arrived at that late hour, he proceeded with a meeting with the committee members and another meeting with the aspirants. He clearly had preconceived plans about the Bayelsa APC governorship primary.” “Third, Oshiomhole cannot really say anything about the primary election because he had left the venue at the time voting commenced. Oshiomhole set the process in motion for voting to commence before he excused himself on the grounds that he was going to eat, and he mandated other members of the committee to carry on without him.”

Politics

There is hue and cry about the recent appointments of President Muhammadu Buhari particularly as it affects the South East. Is it regrettable voting All Progressives Congress, APC, to power? No, it is not regrettable because APC is the only party that will give us the desired change that can drive this country to greater height. The only problem we have as Igbo is that we are short-sighted on political issues. That is why when we were crying telling our Igbo brothers and sisters to vote for APC, they gave deaf ears. That is exactly what we are reaping now. So, I don’t blame Buhari much. I blame our people because if they had the foresight just like the Yoruba nation and other nations in Nigeria, followed the moving train and voted enmass for Buhari, things wouldn’t have been the same now. But all the same, President Buhari has promised that the Igbo will be given their due but they will not expect that their due will be same like other zones that participated and gave him their supports. Just imagine the whole of South East not producing an APC senator that alone deprived us the position of Senate President. However, I know that appointments are still not yet over; we will still get our due and maybe learn our lesson.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Igbo should play politics of realignment –Onyewuchi In this interview with CHRIS NJOKU, Hon. Victor Onyewuchi (Ikonne), the lawmaker representing Owerri West State constituency, blames Ndigbo’s short-sightedness’ in the last general election as being responsible for the travails that befell them in the recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying politics is all about alignment and realignment. hospital, we did not see one single doctor or nurse on duty. We now recall how much we pay some of these doctors and nurses. Some of the nurses receive N500, 000 a month while some of the doctors earn up to N1 million every month because health sector has different salary scale. Ironically, all of them have their private hospitals. The nurses who are matrons have their maternity homes. So, if you now check, we pay these personnel at the Mbaitoli Hospital close to N15million every month. Just imagine how much money you will make every day if you are a medical doctor and every month they give you just N2million to manage a hospital. We have young doctors just graduating, looking for jobs everywhere. These are some of the wrongs we want to get right.

Should people be punished because they voted to exercise their franchise or candidate of their choice? It is not a punishment par-se, President Buhari has the right to choose whoever he feels can help him deliver. The only area we are talking is what the federal character says, that appointments should spread according to states not according to nation. But even at that, there are still some that are not appointment like the Senate President, Speaker etc, these are elective positions guided by the rules. What we are talking about is federal character in appointments and that he will surely do because that’s what the constitution demanded. What we are saying is that if Igbo had participated fully in voting in APC in elective positions, they would have given us concession. It is not that we will not get something but it may not be as we expect it. So, I don’t think it is punishment. What we are saying is that our people should have fore-sight, be dynamic because politics is all about alignment and realignment. There is one thing bothering Imo indigenes, their lawmakers are now rubber stamp of the executive, abandoning their oversight functions to chase contracts. What is your take on this? In the first place I don’t think any lawmaker will be handling contracts, it is even against the law. Do you want us to mention names? You may think they are the ones doing it, it is not true. As soon as you are elected you must submit all your companies, transfer them either to your managing director or anybody, you no longer handle any contract until you finish your tenure because it is against the Code of Conduct. So, calling lawmakers rubber stamp, I think it is sabotage because no lawmaker would want to go against the law knowing the implications once one is indicted. The masses are kicking against the issue of privatisation of government agencies because the previous attempt did not work. What is your view on this? You know most times people say something as if it is public opinion while it is their selfish opinion; otherwise the truth of the matter is that it is almost impossible for the government to drive development alone. It is usually either private sector driven or public-private driven, that is government in partnership with private sector. That is the only way you can drive the economy forward. Let me give you practical example. Imo State Water Board, ISWB, has totally collapsed. Do you know that every month the state government puts in N5 million to see it work yet no water in the state. Now let me tell you, as a private person, if the government gives you N2 million, you will be able to provide water in the whole of Owerri. Let me give you another example. Before my assumption as lawmaker, I was a board member in the Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC. Do you know that our salary strength there was about N18 million every month while the company generates about N2.5 million every month? Now take their counterpart say Hot FM radio, owned by Senator Chris Anyanwu, it may surprise you that Hot FM don’t spend more

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Onyewuchi

What we are saying is that our people should have foresight, be

dynamic because politics is all about alignment and realignment

than N2 million every month still they are always on air but IBC sometimes are not always on air. This thing is crippling the economy of the state. Even Concorde Hotel, government does not manage hotels, it is either you sell it or you lease it out and use the money on some other things that will be beneficial to our people. When you do that you will find out that they will give you the best performance. We want Imo economy to be vibrant hence the need to concession moribund agencies. The government is always talking about assets not the liability just like Concorde. What happens to the workers? The workers may be downsized. But the government will establish a pension scheme where they would now be paid their pension once. Those sacked would be paid. Why did the House and even the Speaker deny knowledge of the move to privatise these government agencies? What I will say is that the Bill is of good intention. Let me give an example of the hospitals. The governor took us on inspect tour to some of these hospitals in the local government areas like that of Mbaitoli. When we visited the

What is the position of the House on salary cut of the workers? Actually the House has not taken any position on that but we know that it is not all the sectors that are affected. I know that the House Assembly, health and judiciary are affected. Like that of the judiciary, the governor is saying that they have gone round the whole states of the federation no state pays the same thing like Imo pays its judicial workers. For instance, if you are a lawyer employed by the state government, you are employed on grade level nine or 10; you will also be paid logistics if you go to represent the government outside the state including N350, 000 allowance. So, the governor is saying that it is not done in other states, what they do in other states is that apart from your normal salary and grade level, some give N100,000 as impress, some others give N80,000 while some give N120,000, the governor said he pays N150,000 impress including the salary and logistics. That of our workers, in the House, they are saying the government should pay them apart from their salary, legislative hazards, though they have a case because of the nature of our job they can stay here till 6pm to 8pm when it is necessary, the governor said he would not pay. All these things are peculiar. It is not like the government wants to cut workers salaries, they only want to look into allowances being paid to workers. How best do you think the state can generate revenue to assist in infrastructural development? Going by statistics, Imo State Internal Generated Revenue, IGR, is about the lowest in the country. We blame it somehow on the executive and the attitude of Governor Rochas Okorocha on the people. He does not always want to be harsh on them. But right now, the situation will change. There are so many revenue bills now pending on the floor of the House and by the time we finished those bills, we will have a radical approach to revenue generation in the state. We want to be ranked among the highest states in revenue generation. We want to make sure that IGR of Imo State is boosted into billions like Lagos and Enugu states against the paltry sum of N500 million we generate as revenue every month. There are a lot of areas to be harnessed including taxes; in fact, Imo is a free state, everybody comes in here to do anything they like. All these will stop very soon. Entire people of your constituency are suffering due to bad roads. What have you been able to do in this regard? The major problem of Owerri West Local Government Area is bad roads. The area has not benefitted much in terms of road construction compare to other CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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Politics

Friday, September 25, 2015

Oni felicitates with Muslims

he Deputy National Chairman for the All Progressives Congress, APC (South) Asiwaju Segun Oni has felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of the Idel-Kabir which signifies hope and faith. In a Sallah message signed by Oni’s Special Assistant, Mr. Ben Ogun-

tuase, he said Id-el-Kabir is a reminder that God’s promise would always be fulfilled and urged Muslims to always keep faith. He reminded Muslims that the essence of the sacrifice is to allow for a spiritual rebirth and deep reflections while having unshakeable faith in Almighty Allah.

This period should not only be for festivities but the lessons of perseverance, steadfastness, trust and fulfillment of promises should be learnt. Prophet Ibrahim demonstrated an uncommon courage to Allah by showing that promise is a debt and Allah in turn gave him victory and relief by

exchanging a ram for his son, Ismail for sacrifice. “As Prophet Ibrahim fulfilled his promise to Almighty Allah so shall the Buhari-led Federal government fulfil his promise to make life meaningful and worthwhile to Nigerians and we are beginning to see this happen”, Oni added.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima distributing apples to Internally Displaced children taking refuge at Government Girls College Maiduguri, when he visited them on Eid-el Kabir day. PHOTO: INUSA NDAHI

PDP delegates assert Dickson’s second term bid Osahon Julius YENAGOA

elegates from the eight local government areas of Bayelsa state, led by the immediate past President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday unanimously elected Governor Seriake Dickson as the party’s standard bearer. Dickson polled a total of 447 votes, out of 452 accredited delegates to emerge the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for December 5 governorship election in the state. The voting exercise was declared open by the chairman of the 5-member National Electoral Panel and governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose. Assuring the delegates of his readiness to conduct peaceful and credible primaries, Fayose said, “the PDP primaries is not like that of other parties that always end in chaos and rancor,” adding that he would allow Dr. Jonathan cast his vote first to be followed by the incumbent Governor Dickson and his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah rtd. After the exercise that

lasted for close to two hours, the chairman of the panel announced Governor Dickson as the standard bearer of the PDP in the forthcoming election. He disclosed that the total number of delegates were 476, voided votes five, while the total number of delegates absent were 24. In his acceptance speech, Governor Dickson expressed gratitude to the support of all the party members, particularly the chairman of the panel, whom he observed did not abandon a critical exercise mid way. The governor, who was also full of praises for Dr. Jonathan for his unwavering solidarity in spite of what he described as a few machinations from the opposition, announced his deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), as his running mate. Describing members of the PDP as law-abiding citizens, the governor however, condemned the attack on citizens of the state in last Tuesday’s All Progressives Congress, APC, congress in Bayelsa, stressing that despite differences in political ideologies, they did not deserve to be humiliated.

Eid-el-Kabir: Kwara deputy Speaker promises better days ahead Dare Akogun

wara State House of Assembly deputy Speaker, Hon. Mathew Okedare has urged Kwarans to imbibe

the spirit of Prophets Ibrahim and Muhammed which was full of sacrifice and selflessness. The lawmaker representing Lanwa/Ejidongari state constituency enjoined Kwarans to

intensify prayer soliciting God’s blessing and favour for the country. He however promised better days ahead, adding that the various developmental programmes of the government will soon

materialise and Kwarans “will start enjoying dividends of democracy.” He equally enjoined them to show faith in the administration of Governor Ahmed AbdulFatai and President

Muhammed Buhari, saying that with mutual respect, love, tolerance and fear of Allah, abundant resources will be harnessed collectively . He urged Muslims to continue to pray for the

government, the military and other agencies in the fight against insurgency, adding that the peace and socio-economic development of our nation remain paramount.

Igbo should play politics of realignment –Onyewuchi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 local governments in the state. That is one of my major challenges as lawmaker who wants to deliver dividend of democracy to his people. However, we are combating it and you know it is barely two-three months we assumed office and rainy season also is compounding the problem but, we are trying to lobby the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to commence work on the Nekede road that is about cutting the autonomous community into two. I have moved a motion, which has been passed, I have also taken all honourable members of the House to visit the site for on the spot assessment of the problem, I have even taken the governor to the spot and today work has started fully. But that is not the end of it. There are a lot of rural roads in Owerri West that has not been

done, like that of World Bank to Umuguma road, that place is nearly impassable. We talked about it on the floor of the House and the governor has promised to do something about them including other rural roads as soon as rain stops. It may interest you also to know that the state government has constituted a Joint Assessment Committee to assess all the roads in the local government areas, assess the schools to be rehabilitated, assess courts that will be rehabilitated including hospitals and I am the chairman of the committee in my local government area. As the chairman I will make sure that every road in fact all the infrastructural facilities that need attention in Owerri West will be given due attention. I want to tell you that we are not keeping quiet; from now till December a lot of positive development in terms of

infrastructural development will be felt in Owerri West.

Are you aware that one of the reasons these roads are dilapidated is as result of sand excavators. Do you plan to raise a motion against it? Yes, we have condemned it totally because you don’t dredge without a license and government has not licensed anybody to dredge in the area. Dredging is like mining, you don’t dredge without license. It is also truism that dredging on Otamiri River is part of the problems on that road; we have invited the police to prosecute whoever that is seen dredging sand around the Otamiri River. That place is supposed to be converted to a resort centre not where you dredge sand. There is also problem of indiscriminate refuse dump in Owerri West. What are

you doing to solve the problem of dumping refuse along the roads and undesignated refuse dump sites? It is another serious problem. There is a bill now on the floor of the House to convert refuse into wealth. That bill has passed the second reading. It is a Waste Management Bill. When completed the revenue of the state government could be boosted through waste management. As I speak to you, we have entered into negotiation with the consultant. When they saw the waste dump site in the area, they were in jubilation because it is money spinning business, that is why I no longer want to remove that dump site from Nekede to any other place because factories will be constructed around the place to recycle the wastes and when the company starts operation, our people will be gainfully employed.

Editorial

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR PUBLISHER

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR OBIORA IFOH ACTING ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Marilyn Ogar: Lest we forget

arilyn Ogar, a Deputy Director in the Department of State Services (DSS), hitherto in charge of Public Relations was early in the month sent on compulsory retirement alongside over 40 senior officers of the security outfit. Reports suggested she was booted out of service over her alleged corrupt exploits as well as perceivable partisan roles, especially before and during the last general elections. Ogar, who was promoted last March with about 44 others, contrary to DSS’s policy on promotion, according to reports, equally lost her elevated position following President Muhammadu Buhari’s cancellation of the promotion exercise. One of the tides that worked against Ogar was the claim, as was reported by an online medium, ‘Premium Times’ last March, that she was enmeshed in professional misconduct and bribery scam involving the lifting of several trucks of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). Likewise fingered was her obvious political sympathy for the defeated, erstwhile ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly during some state governorship polls that preceded the last general elections and thereafter. Instances often cited included her role during the governorship election in Osun State last year, when All Progressives Congress’ (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

was arrested and detained for alleged ‘wandering’, an offence that had since been struck out from the nation’s statute books; and her zealous, yet suspicious defence of the allegation of cloning of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) levelled against the APC, the incumbent ruling party, which before the general polls was accused of plotting to rig the presidential election. Reports indicated that the new DSS Director-General, Lawal Daura, empanelled a body headed by a retired director of training to investigate the allegations against Ogar and other staff of the agency accused of various errant conducts; which examined the claims and confirmed that the ex-DSS spokesperson indulged in roles that ridiculed the security agency before the Nigerian public. This, if true, implies that due process was followed in easing Ogar and her colleagues out of service, contrary to the impression in some quarters that they might have been sent packing arbitrarily and were probably not given fair hearing before they were kicked out. Unfortunately, Ogar has not been forthcoming with her own side of the story. We believe institutions are meant to serve the corporate interest of the nation, not that of any political party or government in power. It is also their responsibility to concern themselves strictly with the responsibilities for which they were estab-

THE MAJOR LESSON TO BE TAKEN AWAY

OGAR AND OTHERS’ EXPERIENCES, THEREFORE, IS THAT FROM THE

INSTITUTIONS SHOULD STRIVE TO CONFINE THEMSELVES TO THEIR BRIEFS lished. The major duties of the DSS, also known as the State Security Service (SSS), since its formation in 1986 under the military, include the protection and defence of the nation against domestic threats; uphold and enforce criminal laws of the land; provide leadership and criminal justice services to both federal and state law-enforcement organs; protection of the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, state governors, et cetera. Evolving security challenges in the country have, nonetheless, made it necessary for the agency to add the fight against terrorism and insurgency to its workload. It successful accomplishments would include, among others, the arrest of the Egyptian bomber, Omar Mohammed Ali Rezaq, in 1993 while he was trying to enter Nigeria through the Nigeria-Benin

ON THIS DAY September 25, 1969 The charter establishing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was signed. The OIC is an international organisation consisting of 57 member-states. The organisation describes itself as “the collective voice of the Muslim world”; and works to “safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony”. The OIC has a permanent delegation to the United Nations.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

September 25, 1978 Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182, a Boeing 727-214, collided in mid-air with a Cessna 172 and crashed in San Diego, California, United States, resulting in the deaths of 144 people. Both aircraft crashed into North Park, a San Diego neighborhood, killing all 137 people on both aircraft and seven people on the ground. Until the crash of American Airlines Flight 191, the crash was the deadliest in US aviation history.

Republic border. Rezaq was wanted by the United States for leading the bombing of an Egypt Air plane for the Abu Nidal terrorist group in 1985. He was subsequently handed over to the US after an official request by the State Department. In October 2010, the SSS intercepted a large cache of arms and ammunition originating from Iran at the Apapa Port in Lagos, at a time when a United Nations arms embargo on Iran was in place. But its penchant for repressing the opposition is legendary and too numerous to catalogue here. Because of its closeness to power and those wielding it, the DSS often views popular agitations against official rights’ violations, repressive public policies or opposing political positions and the vocal media as veritable local threats that must be suppressed. The major lesson to be taken away from the Ogar and others’ experiences, therefore, is that institutions should strive to confine themselves to their briefs. They risk the consequences of riding on the tiger’s back when they get carried away by politics, especially when what goes around comes around, as it is now the fate of the PDP and Ogar. Had the DSS before the new dispensation acted professionally and with restraint, the turn of events might not have arisen. Hopefully, too, the current headship of the DSS is listening.

x September 25, 2009 United States’ President, Barack Obama; British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown; and French President, Nicolas Sarkozy; in a joint TV appearance for a G-20 summit, accused Iran of building a secret nuclear enrichment facility. But Iran’s leadership said its goal in developing the nuclear programme was to generate electricity without dipping hand into the oil supply it prefers to sell abroad; and to provide fuel for medical reactors.

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Friday, September 25, 2015

Diverse mechanisms for checkmating Boko Haram Counter-terrorism Tips With

Ethelbert Oney ethelbertoney@zissltd.com, 08029929121 (sms only)

errorism inherently does not have any winners in the end. To some extent, every party is a looser, because each side bears an enormous amount of losses in human lives, money, freedom and territory. Boko Haram may still prove difficult to be completely overwhelmed by military actions alone, because any war on terrorism will succeed only in accordance with counterterrorism precedents, and international norms and rules. Terrorism acts have already taken place practically on every continent of the world, but the struggle against it has never been won alone on the battlefield, because the terrorists always have supporters. We in Nigeria need more diverse efforts to safeguard our sovereignty and guarantee success in the fight against Boko Haram. International action is required to stop transfer of arms and funds to the terrorist organisation because the arms used by it are sourced outside Nigeria. The fundamental issue here is that BH’s supporters from inception are now trying to meet their ends through the

use of force, which may neither be plausible nor helpful. I condemn individuals or groups for adopting double standards to secure their interests through terrorism. They have to acknowledge that a moderate terrorist group cannot be stopped by suppression. Further suppression results in harsher extremism; and that has been the situation since 2009. In the current critical juncture, we should think of taking steps through intra-regional action which constitutes the most significant condition for a peaceful coexistence. Securing a comprehensive agreement means the other party too showing the political will and mutual readiness for peace, so that the historical opportunity the Federal Government is planning now will not be in vain. Although every country in the world agrees that violence cannot be disregarded, some may have differences in the ways to go about it. On a professional point of view, ending our current terrorism challenge precedes the idea of proving to the world how our military might have been improved. Had military might been the ultimate solution to counterterrorism, surely countries like Israel, Yemen or even the USA would be free from such anomalies. If we can succeed in one or more issues of cooperation with countries that have shrugged off terrorism through the widely accepted and effective strategies, the view of our na-

TERRORISM MAYBE DEFEATED BY THE USE OF FORCE, BUT FANATICISM NEEDS A DIFFERENT APPROACH tion will change and new conditions will emerge. We must learn how to manage our issues and express our views within the ambit of laws. The conflicts confronting nations around the world are an everyday occurrence in a modern life; war covers large number of people. More often, it arises because of the requirement of the person to operate and cause much more global destructions, and it does not influence separate people any more, but the whole society. War on terror as a phenomenon cannot be eradicated expressly as many anticipate, because the deployment of terrorism and desire for power promote the development of war. Killing and harming innocent citizens obviously feed the hatred of extremists on both sides, thus perpetuating the cycle of violence. Collective punishment is a policy failure, or at worst, a short-term political move to establish legitimacy. It is right for us to remove the BH menace, but much better if we recognise that force cannot be the only policy if we are to find permanent peace. Shoot-to-kill is an effective policy against terrorists in general,

provided of course you know where to point the guns, which in itself is a function of tactical intelligence. If quality intelligence exists, it can be a great short-term blow against Boko Haram, but if intelligence is flawed, then we continue to hand them great propaganda victory. Defeating them in a long-term is a slow battle of trends, which include reducing their support base by enabling economic prosperity, isolating fanatics, using detained suspects to reach their commanders and sponsors. Arguably, force is just one aspect of political activity. On its own, force is unlikely to stop martyred mindset terrorists. A right strategy is needed to educate the younger generation in a proper perspective. The offensive mechanism has only prolonged BH terrorists’ acts and may still continue to do so irrespective of any short term success, if the root cause of their grievances is not looked into. Obviously, some of them cannot be agreed to. Terrorism maybe defeated by the use of force, but fanaticism needs a different approach, as it only creates martyrs. Short term success or offensive approach is like cutting off the head, arms and legs of members of the BH sect, but they are still left with a beating heart. This is where we have to bring in the experts that can kill their hearts permanently. We perhaps, need to pause a bit and implement actions that turn the focus away from us to what changes their mindsets.

That attack on Yola IDPs camp ALEX O. ATAWA-AKPODIETE

s I was leaving for America, I was greeted by the sad news of bomb blast at the camp for internally displace persons (IDPs) in Yola, Adamawa State, which claimed the lives of four staff of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and three of the refugees. About nine of the IDPs were hospitalized. Although Boko Haram had not then claimed responsibility for the attack, it matched its modus operandi. Interestingly, the refugees were mostly from Borno State, where the sect has been very active. Though police officers assigned to the IDPs camp claimed that everyone was screened before allowed in, obviously one person was not thoroughly screened. For sure, there was a fatal security breach. All the nation’s security agencies are under the control of the executive branch of government headed by the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. With the change in government at the centre, the expectations of Nigerians on the new government capacity to curb the spate of violence in the country have increased. This is particularly so in the four states in the North East region that were placed under state of emergency rule by former President Goodluck Jonathan. We have also witnessed change of guard at the nation’s armed forces with the appointment of new service chiefs; more importantly, new and sophisticated arms and equipment have been purchased for the military. Additionally, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has brought a renewed

THE DONU KOGBARA KIDNAPPING AND

YOLA IDPS BOMBING HAVE FURTHER AFFIRMED THAT INSECURITY ANYWHERE IS INSECURITY EVERYWHERE vigour into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). In civilized climes, the police are in charge of internal security, while the military handle external threats to the nation. Our current precarious security challenges have necessitated a combined military and police effort combined with the use of Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF). Now it should be clear to everyone that Boko Haram problem should not be politicized anymore. We need bipartisan approach in the fight against insurgency and the Federal Government’s anti-terrorism efforts. The hydra-headed monster can only be defeated through combined efforts of all Nigerians. Of course, security is the primary responsibility of the government. Though Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”, it must be strongly stated that the mantra “security is everyone’s business”, is very true. It has been long established that Boko Haram terrorists are not operating alone. Some of their “successes” buttress this point. The

abduction of 276 students from a Government Girls College, Chibok, Borno State, using about 15 Toyota Hilux trucks; detonating improvised explosive devices (IED) at a busy motor park in Nyanyan, a suburb of Abuja; bombing of UN Headquarters in Abuja; Kano luxurious bus park attack; dastardly attack on police stations and JTF checkpoints; bombings in Suleja church; killings in churches and mosques, etc are brazen acts that reveal the “power” backing the insurgent.” Boko Haram is confident because they are backed up by powerful and wealthy people. The bombing of the IDPs camp shows the senseless nature of the Boko Haram sect. Such people lack the capacity for logical reasoning. In fact, when Boko Haran was allegedly offered amnesty in 2013 by the Jonathan administration and rejected it, it showed negotiating with the sect would be a waste of time; an all out onslaught leading to their total annihilation appear the preferred option. There can no longer be propaganda that killing members of Boko Haram is attempted genocide against the north. Nonetheless, a holistic solution to the Boko Haram menace (and other security problems) requires that the military approach must also be combined with enlightenment of the citizenry; outright condemnation of Boko Haram by northern traditional rulers, Islamic religious leaders and northern politicians must also be undertaken; community policing strengthened. Above all, promotion of social justice; mass education programme; good governance; improved standard of living; job creation; and poverty eradication programmes must be

given priority by the federal and state governments.

Donu Kogbara free at last!

On a mixed positive note, it was good to hear of the release of Vanguard columnist, Donu Kogbara, from the hands of her kidnappers, after almost two weeks. She was apparently abducted outside her house on Sunday, August 30, 2015 as she was preparing to leave for church. Although the Rivers State Police Commissioner commented about his team closing in on the abductors, it was still another reflection of our porous national security. We grieve with Donu Kogbara and her young son. She was visibly shaken by the experience, as will be expected. Kidnapping and insecurity must be stopped nationally. The Donu Kogbara kidnapping and Yola IDPs bombing have further affirmed that insecurity anywhere is insecurity everywhere. Let me repeat what I said last year in my article on Boko Haram’s brazen attacks, “We are inextricably linked together as Nigerians and have a common destiny. The brazen actions of Boko Haram cannot be overlooked or handled with kid gloves. Now is the time to stop them.” Rev. (Prof.) Atawa-Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst, wrote via Profatawa@ gmail.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Significance of first 100 days in office

I Accounting information and decision making process

ecision making is a crucial and necessary part of every organization, and it is supported by a very fundamental type of information, which is accounting information. According to Alan J. Collier, “managers need financial and non-financial information to develop and implement strategy by planning for the future (budgeting); making decisions about products, services, prices and what costs to incur and ensuring that plans are put into action and are achieved (control). This function is called management accounting”. The role of accounting information in decision making of the management of every corporation or business cannot be over emphasized as it is a fundamental element for policy effectiveness and efficiency in the operations of an organization, and for also ensuring that the objectives of the organization are reached. This is because in the business and economic environment today, accounting information, both quantitative and non-quantitative, is one of the major footings for any decision being made, whether it is about the price, or quantity, or the optimal price mix, quantity of sale, which are fundamental types of accounting information used in organizations. Accounting information include quantitative, qualitative, financial and non-financial information as accounting information is simply facts or records provided which provide a useful basis for accounting. Accountants play a very important role in providing information to management to make economic and financial decisions. Management relies on economic and financial information gathered in management accounting during the decision making process. Managers should, therefore, be very careful with decision making as it is very vital to the successful performance of the organization. Miss Adenike Pearl Aladegbaye, Lagos.

Letters to the Editor

n efforts to excel in any endeavor people generate ideas that become innovation, historic milestones and corporate practices like the first three months of a government in office. Put differently it is asking what an executive can do; or rather how fast can solutions to contemporary problems that endear them to the electorate be reasliseable. When American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created this idea, it was during global economic recession of the1930s. It was recorded that in his first 100 days in office, 15 executive bills including the ‘New Deal’ legislation had

been passed into law, leading to economic recovery. President Barack Obama’s administration was almost sharing the similarities of the 1930s when you consider that as at January 2009 the world conglomerates, corporations and industry giants had gone flat. There is no doubt that the enactment of American Recovery Reinvestment Act was the tonic needed for corporate America to get the bailout that stopped retrenchment and ignited the economy. It was during this period that America’s foreign relations improved tremendously; in-

cluding Nigerians that raised unclaimed fund during his campaign. In the case of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), he does not paint a picture of a president who believes in or want to be judged by the first hundred days in office. But as a soldier, he is deemed to know the significance of this. Like the chameleon that does not change its gait even when surrounded by an inferno, PMB’s first 100 days were all for preparation that did not produce a cabinet of 37 ministers! It is probably unfair to assess his government’s progress by its achievements in

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC: Fans of Tu Face Idibia locked out of arena during a musical show in Lagos, recently. PHOTO ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Taming the corruption monster

ince the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, there has been a renewed onslaught against looters of the treasury by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies. It is not unexpected though, given the fact that corruption has eaten so deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society. In fact, it has almost become the norm nowadays. This is evident in the way and manner the system has allowed most people in public service to corruptly enrich themselves.

ir, I have heard about how hoodlums and robber used the thick bush and shrubberies on the median that divide Magboro-Arepo Long Bridge as hideout and getaway after robbing commuters of their lives and properties. For most of us living close to the bridge, we have wondered when this menace would end. I was surprised when last week I saw that the shrubberies had disappeared. From my inqui-

My greatest worry, however, is that most of the people who have been found to have corruptly enriched themselves are seen to be receiving a pat on the back, a situation that implies a travesty of justice. In other words, the system itself, from all indications, encourages corruption so much so that the basic foundation of the society is being threatened. In situations where workers are not paid salaries for upward of nine months, how do you expect them to resist the temptation of corrupt practices? Besides, corruption thrives

Kudos to Amosun ries, I found out they were excavated by Ogun State Ministry of Environment on the governor Amosun’s instruction. I’m certain this development will deter robbers from operating on the Long Bridge as there is no more hiding place for them. I appreciate Amosun for this gesture. Segun Aliu, Ibafo, Ogun State.

in any society where people literally worship materialism. For instance, one of the popular axioms in our society is, ‘‘Let them eat; it may be your turn to eat tomorrow.” But this must be discouraged in every way possible. To correct this menace, public offices must be made to be less lucrative, while the culture of hard work must be encouraged. More than ever before, the EFCC must begin to bite harder and smoke out corrupt public officials. Thank God we now have in place a government headed by a leader who has not hidden his disgust for corruption. However, one only hopes that the Federal Government will provide an enabling environment for the EFCC to carry out its duties. In addition, there is also the need to expand the activities and range of instruments available to the Commission. Above all, it is important to focus on the genesis of corruption and find a lasting solution to it; otherwise, the corruption that we are trying to kill will kill us eventually (God forbid). Omowunmi Alice, Ile Ife, Osun State.

just 100 days. On planning, Peter Drucker, a management expert says: “Long-range planning does not deal with the future decisions, but with the future of present decisions.” To be fair, PMB’s assessment would have been acceptable if his government commenced simultaneously with the appointment of ministers. After all, the cumulative sum of these non-appointed ministers would have added up to what has been achieved by PMB with his present structure. This deduction draws support from Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that vests executive powers of the federation on the president, and such powers are exerciseable through his vice-president, ministers and aides. Since he was not in a hurry to be assessed by the first 100 days, he probably elected to apply Peter Drucker’s injunction that effective leaders check their performances and choose first those decisions that would achieve desired results. Until about a year, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France was unable to implement his cardinal campaign promises of constitutional reforms when critics expected that earlier. Some of PMB’s critics felt that he should not have been too careful on who to appoint since his power and prerogative to appoint and remove derives from the constitution. Of course, one of the exceptions experienced by former President Goodluck Jonathan was, perhaps the imbroglio that led to the exit of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), because the approval of the appointment came from the Senate. However, he exercised the power to suspend which amounted to removal and the federation paid dearly for it. However, on domestic front, his appointments, whether there is distinction between his powers to appoint personal aides and ministers, left many feeling disappointed. S.43 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is a provision that assuages complaints of marginalization and imbalance in appointments. It is unlikely that PMB would be able to remedy the political damage done to the APC, since they say first impression matters. Iyke Ozemena, Lagos.

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Lagos partners Danny Glover on Ebola film Ngozi Emedolibe

Inside FCT P. 24

Arty

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said the state government will explore the potentials that abound in the entertainment and arts industry as a viable platform to create jobs for the teeming youths in the state. The Governor spoke when some members of cast and crew of ’93 Days’, a film which chronicles how Lagos was able to effectively contain the Ebola Virus Disease last year, paid a courtesy visit to him at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. He assured the team, led by veteran Hollywood actor, Mr. Danny Glover, that his government will give the necessary support to project the ideals of the film, stressing that the collective feat recorded will remain a milestone in the history of the state “Clearly, what you have done to join hands with our people in Nollywood is to celebrate one of the major successes of Lagos State”. “Our government will support this project. No story can be told better than in graphic from, and once you are turning this story to a movie, it means that every other part of achievement that we can put together, it’s going to be something historic, it’s happening for the very first time, apart from the fact that it is showing the way government has been able to respond to issues that relate to the society, we are also showcasing what Lagos stands for”. The Governor while thanking the crew for deeming it fit to use the film to retell the Ebola success story in Lagos, also seized the opportunity to name Mr. Glover as Brand Ambassador for Lagos, saying that his wealth of experience will benefit the entertainment industry in the state immensely. “I can say that this is a platform to rebrand Lagos and for that reason, we would support this film and everything that has to do with it. Like I said, we would be looking forward to the premiere and I’ve told Danny that he has to be part of it and bring his experience and social-capital into it and he’ll be coming with other world class actors to do that, we would

Danny Glover

Gov Ambode

join in promoting this also”. “That means a lot to us and it would also mean a lot to the entertainment industry. It would be part of the legacies that you would be leaving to us here because as much as we look forward to all the great things that you have achieved, we believe also that this would also be part the celebration for your 70th birthday next year”, he said. “As we move forward, in 2017, Lagos will be 50 years, so, Lagos at 50 is something that we are planning and the planning must start from now and it has so much to do with entertainment and things that are actually monumental and iconic. I’ve also extended invitation to Danny Glover and he would be part of that celebration come 2017”, the Gover-

nor said. He said his administration will continue to support the strides of Nollywood industry, expressing optimism that aside providing entertainment to the eyes, the industry has the capacity to stimulate job creation for youths in the state. Earlier, Glover said the film ’93 Days’ acknowledged the efforts of the state government in curtailing

Daddy Fresh, Olu Maintain for Old Skool Fiesta eteran Dj. Mas Kendy is set to rattle Lagos showbiz in-crowd with his yearly Old Skool Fiesta series 5, 2015 billed to hold this Sunday at the Union Bank Sports Club, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere , Lagos between 5 – 11 pm. The annual event according to its packager, Kendy will be headlined by top acts Like Daddy Fresh Olu Maintain, Baba Frayo and some other frontline Djs Like Metro Fm Dj Abbas, ventral Dj Grand Master Lee, Classic Fm Dj Benj and Rhythm Fm Dj KLM. All of them, we scooped are rearing to let loose for the sake of Mas Kendy. The past editions of this melting point jamz were graced by heavy weight like Ras Kimono and Late Fatai Rolling Dollars.

the Ebola Virus Disease adding that it was not a mean feat. He welcomed his nomination as brand Ambassador for the state, saying he shares the vision of Governor Ambode to further project Lagos as a Centre of Excellence. He also pledged to engage in works that will encourage upcoming artist to fully actualize their potentials.

Earlier, Glover said the film ’93 Days’ acknowledged the efforts of the state government in curtailing the

Disease

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Friday, September 25, 2015

Flavour

Ariya Friday Session

ome and relax and let your hair down and join us every Friday for the Ariya Sessions with Ciroc. take advantage of this buy one and get one free from 18:00 to 20:00 on they Signature Ciroc Cocktails. Date and time Fri Sep 25 2015 at 06:00 pm, place InterContinental Lagos, 52A, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Ebola Virus

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Artman In The House

Friday, September 25, 2015

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Secular music more prominent

Delectable Gospel songstress, Princess Ann Inyang who is a multiple award winner and United Nations Peace Ambassador shares her story with NGOZI EMEDOLIBE and VICTOR UDOH Excerpts:

Ann

hat’s the story behind the hit song Akanam Nkwe?

When my song ‘Akanam Nkwe’ was released in 1996, people thought it was a South African song because they hadn’t heard a “Calabar” song with a calypso rhythm before. Usually, songs from that side would come with the “ekombi” rhythm, besides, there were very few songs from that region then because my people used to be ashamed of speaking their language. Even when you greet them in Ibibio, they would answer you in English (laughs). Anyway, things have changed now, we are proudly “Akwa Ibomites” thanks to people like us who blazed the trail of singing gospel music in our local language and introducing cultural dressing and dancing into the video. Thanks also to our dynamic Chief Godswill Akpabio (CON0 who emphasizes the need to teach children to communicate in their local dialect and for people to be proud of their language. What brought about the song “Akanam Nkwe”? When it was first released, but my fans renamed it Akanam Nkwe so I flowed along with them). What actually gave birth to it was the break-up of my first marriage. The morning the song formed in my spirit was after reading the Bible 1st Corinthians 13 which enumerates the qualities of real love. I couldn’t help but compare what I was passing through with God’s kind of love. God’s love never ends. I am fond of the exclamation “woyo” or “sai” which you could translate “ehyaah, ewo and ha!, so after reading that scripture, I exclaimed “sai”, because indeed, there is no comparison! It was during the day while driving in Surulere, that the song started to form in my spirit. The chorus line simply means “I have never seen, I

have never heard the love that can compare with God’s love”. Then I expanded the body of the song to enumerate the qualities of God’s love which includes the fact that “it is unconditional, endless, full of compassion, not self-seeking, does not select who to love, does not love because of money, beauty, ability to bear children, good character etc”. Today, the song has become an all-time favourite of the church, both locally and internationally. A fan of mine, who is a Praise/Worship leader in his church, told me that when he observes that the atmosphere of praise is dull, he would immediately bring in the song “Akanam Nkwe” to charge it; because when the people hear “woyoooo….” They are ready to shout “saiiiii” (she chuckles). Princess, what are the challenges facing the existence of gospel music in Nigeria? The major thing I see as a challenge to gospel music is its relegation to the background by some radio and television stations in Nigeria, because it is played majorly on Sundays. As a result, secular music now dominates the airwaves. Gospel music is not enjoying sufficient airplay in this country as it should unlike other African countries. I don’t know if this is a directive from Government or what? The result is that secular music is given more prominence on both radio and television and that automatically becomes the more “acceptable” music. When you keep listening to one type of music, pretty soon, you will find yourself singing along. Our children have no choice than to sing songs

that have no moral contents and they feel that is the order of the day because they have no other options. Music videos are embalmed with hyper sexuality visuals with the guys fully clothed and the ladies with bra and pant – skimpily dressed, and lyrical contents reduced to vulgarity in most cases. Children are products of their environment, so when they begin to practice what they hear on radio and watch on television at very tender age whose fault is it? On Children’s Day this year, I was invited by a TV station to perform for the children who were between 5 to 12 years of age, I watched in amazement as the younger female children between 5 and 6 years, were wriggling their waists to the songs played by the DJ before I performed – just the way they see it on television. Don’t get me wrong, I do listen to secular music (of course that is the major music on air so I have no choice but to listen to it), but I have a choice to touch the dial of my television set and switch to something else if I do not like it. Same thing goes to the radio. So, why can’t gospel music and even Muslim music be played on a daily basis, let the people make their choice? Has the relegation of gospel music prevented the religious crisis in this country? One thing people do know is that a good song is a good song, anybody would buy it whether they are Christians or not. A lot of people bought the album of Midnight Crew because of the track “Igwe”, same thing with Frank Edward’s track “Mma Mma e” and “Oghene Do”. Up till today, exactly 30 years after I wrote the song “Things are getting better”, people still use it as a song of consolation and in the church, a song of praise. Same thing goes to my evergreen song “Akanam Nkwe” – a good song remains a good song! The second reason is that the Gospel Artiste in Nigeria is not as well paid as the Secular Artiste but, we have more platforms than the Secular Artistes. There are more churches than you can imagine both home and abroad, and most of them organize one programme or the other; so all things being equal, the Gospel Artiste has weekly engagements, depending on how popular he/ she is, and you know what?…. at all, at all naim bad! However, I believe things would change for the better soon and our churches will treat us the same way they treat the foreign gospel artistes. You have graced many international stages with several Gospel

acts, did you know you will go this far when you started? For where? God is just amazing! I never even had any inkling that I would be a gospel singer. I am what you call grace personified! I had the most husky voice you can think of when I was a child. That was the major reason I loved singing jazz then because I listened more to jazz music when I was living with my aunt, so, even when I begun to perform in a Club, I did jazz music. This went on until I had an encounter with Jesus as a teenager in 1984! When I say encounter, I mean real encounter where He appeared to me and showed me what he would use me to do if I give my life to him. Today, I have been to about 16 States in America including Hawaii, England, Germany, Poland, South Africa, DRC, Ghana, and almost all the major churches and upcoming ones in Nigeria, to minister in songs. I have also performed in many corporate events and State events in Nigeria including Nigerian Navy annual get together, American Embassy Jazz

God’s love never ends. I am fond of the exclamation “woyo” or “sai” which you could translate “ehyaah, ewo and ha” Performing

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Artman In The House

Friday, September 25, 2015

on radio –Ann Inyang night with Jazz Ambassadors, Cross River State Carnival music nights, annual Akwa Ibom State Carol nights, Rivers State Women’s events, annual Aso Villa thanksgiving to name a few. How is it like managing your band, Saints Music Crew? I have a 9-man band and a Manager. Some of them have been with me for almost 15 years because I treat them with respect and pay them well. That is what they do for a living. I pay them according to how much we are paid as a Band. I am not one of those sound track Musicians, in fact, I hate singing with sound track because it does not allow one to flow easily with the crowd. We get regular invitations to minister within and outside Nigeria. Not only in church o (laughs). Yes o! What has been the most challenging moment of your career? Majorly, it is my inability to get sponsors for my concerts. No one wants to sponsor gospel! I also still struggle to promote and market my works in this country because it is so expensive to promote. If you do not promote effectively, marketers would not accept to market your work. I am trusting God for the promotion of my latest work. I want my albums to reach people and I cannot only make sales only when I have a ministration somewhere. I have also had a lot of challenges which caused some setbacks on my finances. One of it is my building at Alpha Beach, Lekki which was destroyed during that flood of 10th July 2011. I call it “Lagos tsunami” because it affected the whole of Lagos but worse at the beach areas. I had my studio there and I could not remove a pin when it happened, including my cars. I thank God that I had travelled abroad when it happened, otherwise, who knows if my life would have gone with the house as well. It took three weeks after the incident, before I could gain access to the street where my house was because everywhere in that axis was still flooded. You are a United Nations Peace Ambassador, what has the experience been like?

I cannot begin to tell you how privileged and honoured I felt when I was nominated for that award. When I got the letter, I felt it was all these 419 people telling me I was nominated for the award, so I ignored it until one of the officials called. Imagine people addressing me as “Your Excellency”, (she laughs) the thing never enter body, that is why I use the title sparingly. I am writing a peace song which will be released next year by God’s grace. What project are you working on now? I have been shooting my videos and will begin to promote my new tracks “Nyafun Nyafun” and “Cannot Stop” this month as the Lord helps me. So fans should watch out for them. You decided to go into Gospel music full time, when it was obscure and unlucrative, how was it then trying to be a ‘revolutionist’, changing the face of Gospel music in Nigeria? Well, then I went into it because God called me to go all the way. I know I have a calling to Pastor but this was my first call. I could not have left a well paid job in First Bank to go into the unknown if I did not have an inward leading. Remember, I have been doing music from my teens, so naturally I continued when I was working in the bank but it didn’t work out. Banking hours were tedious and I could not combine work and music so, one had to give way. I recall in those days when we had invitations to minister, I would go with my band (then we were 13) and 12 dancers. At the end of the day, no one would pay us. I had to be funding the band with my salary. Of course, you know that I could not keep up with that for long. My eyes opened when I travelled abroad and started relating with other gospel music artistes who taught me how to administer the Lord’s business. Today, the story is different. The payment is still not up to our expectation and yes there are still those who feel that we should not charge fees because “it is a free gift”. I tell them the word of God is free but you have to buy a bible to read it. The gift of music is free, but the channel to communicate the gift to the world is very expensive. I know how much I pay to shoot just one video, not to talk about producing a full album. Now I have nine albums in all. In your long years of ministering to people, which incidence really “wowed” your imaginations? Several - one was when I travelled with a friend who is the Managing Partner of our NGO, Opal Awards to Poland for World Dancing Competition with children to represent Nigeria, and we happened to bump into some Nigerian student Doctors who invited us to their church the Sunday after the show, as it was African day. I was invited to sing and I sang some English songs. This was not even an English speaking church. Suddenly, the Pastor asked if I could sing in our native dialect, and I felt, it would be too much for them to handle. I said, “well, I have a popular

Ann

song in Nigeria which I wrote titled, Akanam nkwe”, to my amazement, they starting clapping and telling me that they knew it. To prove a point, one of the white people sang it in the best way she could and I was like “wow”. Another one happened in South Africa where 10 armed teenagers entered a church I was ministering in at night in Port Elizabeth. It’s a long story, but they came to rob us at gun point, but the power of God hit them and they ended up giving their lives to Christ. I will not ever forget that incidence. Then I have also recorded a lot of healings taking place when I minister, that is why I know that there is power in anointed music. Music is much more than just singing, when it is spiritual music, you release the power of God. With all you have achieved, are you totally fulfilled, are there still dreams you wish to fulfill? I thank God for bringing me this far but I feel I haven’t really achieved much. I have unfulfilled dreams which I pray God to help me achieve. My major hindrance is finance or sponsorship, for the kind of projects I have in mind,

but I believe that when there is life, there is hope. Apart from music, what do you do? I love fashion a lot and I am hoping to start my own clothing line soon. I also run a food delivery service – majorly our “Calabar” food. I am a very good cook. It started when people would come to my house in South Africa to eat, then they would wish they had such food in the refrigerator. I volunteered to cook for them at a cost. During the world cup in South Africa a lot of Nigerians enjoyed my cooking. When I came back to Nigeria, I continued. We have orders weekly but I look forward to when I could start a proper restaurant. Also, I write…..I have some unfinished books. Are any of your children taking after you musically? Yes, my son Richard is a great dancer. He has a group known as M.A.D-X Dance Crew. They have even featured in Nigeria’s Got Talent and perform annually in the Calabar Carnival. They also minister in dance in churches.

Wedding day

I love fashion a lot and I am hoping to start my own clothing line soon. I also run a food delivery service

Critics

BOOK

Friday, September 25, 2015

Dissecting corruption in Nigeria

Abdullahi Shehu, by virtue of professional and academic pursuits knows the trends of corruption in Africa like the palm of his hands, which is why his book, ‘Nigeria, The Way Through Corruption to the Well-Being of the People’ is an authoritative compilation. Tunbosun Ogundare

ith the various problems Nigeria is facing being heaped on corruption, a book like this written by Abdullahi Shehu, comes handy to bridge the gap in the war against graft. This becomes more pertinent with the mantra of change and transparency adopted by the few-monthsold administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, so many lessons are there for all of us to learn from this 426-page account penned by none other than a man, Abdullahi Shehu, a doctoral degree holder in Criminology with specialisation in Anti Corruption and Anti-money

FILM

laundering, who has worked closely with the major anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, where he was once the Director General at the EFCC Training Institute in Abuja. Far from his academic preparedness, he has also been exposed to the workings of major anti graft institutions like the United Nations Office on Drugs And Crime, UNODC and Inter-Governmental Agency Against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, a regional platform being administered by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. Before delving into the contents of the ten chapters making up this publication, it is pertinent to identify what spurred Shehu to avail the Nigerian reading public this compilation. According to him, it all started at the Daily Trust lecture event which held in January 2015. There, he met renowned jurist, Mustapha Akanbi, whose efforts in anti corruption are equally outstanding. It was he, who encouraged the author to come up with this. While it is frank for the author to disclose this, it would have sounded somewhat awkward that a resource like this was lost to ‘hindsight’. The book opens with the first chap-

ter on Background to Nigeria, which chronicles the structure of the nation, detailing the multiethnic nature on one hand and refreshing the minds of readers on what constitutes the legal system in the country. The essence of this chapter is that it highlighted the intrinsic relationship that exists between the structure of the country and the scourge of corruption. In chapter two, the author opened his vista on corruption by attempting to define it as well as outline the patterns and trends of the scourge in the country. While this chapter is detailed in the manner he portrayed it, he took time to mention some instances, which are of course, some of the notorious examples plaguing the nation. In chapter three, the writer opens the lid on another important aspect of the problem, which is how the funds so looted are laundered. He took time to identify the sources, stages, methods and the links that constitute the business of laundering looted funds. Readers will find Chapter 5, very interesting because this is the portion of the book that outlined the effects of the problem being discussed. In details, the author showed how corruption has

Lord Have Mercy

Some film directors in the quest to say something overlook some vital aspects of the film. ‘Lord Have Mercy’, about youth corpers, by Emeka Jonathan is a classic example. Ogah Ocheche

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ord Have Mercy is not the typical Nollywood movie that parades a galaxy of stars, too recycled for their typical roles. It is not about exotic cars and sprawling homes. It is also not about a glossy film jacket. It is about a story that touches our society, something everyone would relate with: story of the

menace of National Youth Service Corps members. T h e movie tells the story of four N Y S C members split on both divides of the moral scale, who are posted to a t y p i cal Nigerian village for their primary assignment, which is teaching. While Mike and Usman are bent on doing their assignment diligently, James and Benson see it as an opportunity to sow their wild oats. They engage some of the students left in their care in their immoral ways, and regrettably, James lures Perpetual (Rita Yua) to bed after drugging her. She gets pregnant and tries to get an abortion which complicates her matter, heralding a period of

unhappiness for the hitherto promising Perpetual. Worst hit is Perpetual’s father, who in the quest to find solutions to his daughter’s problems, falls victim to a syndicate of conmen, camouflaging as prophets. But the matter is resolved when it gets reported to the police and then the school principal. In an era when movie-making is driven by commercial interest, the flick comes clean with the intention to drive home the advantages of morals, which is commendable. The menace of male members of the National Youth Service Corps is obviously a re-occurring one in Nigeria, and has left many unsuspecting girls emergency mothers, further heightening the poverty in the system. What the movie has also achieved is setting apart a character called Mike, who believes that he could have a passion for what he does and sees his job as a service to the nation. People like that who are few in our modern day Nigeria, should have been rewarded in the story to make this movie complete. But this did not take anything away from the movie. Although the lean budget which the movie was shot with is obvious, the artistic director was able to get the best from the actors. James (Stanley Kings), did his

While the essence of every movie is to attract attention ‘Lord Have Mercy’ (by title and sleeve design) brought in a lot of Catholicism, perhaps to create a marketing niche, which is wise

stunted development, economy and of course, how it has rubbed off negatively on our concept of the rule of law. Chapter Seven should make so much sense to policy makers in Nigeria, because it takes the readers through the

‘bad boy’ role very convincingly, much like other characters in the film, and this could have resulted from long rehearsals. But certain aspects of the movie will raise a lot of questions. Technically, the director left a lot of holes in narrating his story. On several instances, he ignored the use of Cut Away shots. A typical example is the scene where the youth corpers were drinking and suddenly some school girls walk past to the admiration of the boys. They were described as beautiful, and the audience would have had a better understanding by being shown who the youth corpers were talking about. So many instances like that abound in the movie. The audience would also find disgusting the fact that an enlightened Perpetual’s father would seek the help of a spiritualist in unraveling a medical condition like pregnancy. Perhaps it was a leeway for the director to exert his special effects, which Nollywood hypes mostly in their trailers. In Lord Have Mercy, it was unnecessary. Other issues about the film include some cases of bad English, having only seven pupils in their classrooms, allowing the sound man come into shot, and the flagrant display of Bob Marley’s notable song, ‘One Love’ as a ring tone in the movie, thereby violating his rights. While the essence of every movie is to attract attention ‘Lord Have Mercy’ (by title and sleeve design) brought in a lot of Catholicism, perhaps to create a marketing niche, which is wise. However this work typically reminds one of a rickety car running on a very sound engine. The engine in this case is the story, while the chassis is the packaging of the work.

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Critics

Friday, September 25, 2015

Shehu has written a book, that does not look cheap; which is why efforts should be intensified to provide

MUSIC

Olumide’s Lagos Boys

it in an electronic form that will make it more available to the masses of

Nigeria

journey of the war against corruption in the country. The author mentioned all the laws and efforts through the successive regimes. For the younger readers, there was Decree 5 of 1966 promulgated under Yakubu Gowon, through the era of Murtala Mohammed to Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonatahan and to the present efforts by Buhari. Why is this Chapter Seven good for the policy makers? It will arm them with the notes to understand why the scourge has festered in spite of the successive efforts to curb the ugly trend through the years. Although, the book has ten chapters, Chapter Nine is also great in that it devoted a lot of efforts on solutions, which is great because, having identified that there is a problem, it also rests on the author to avail solutions and this, he has tried to do with the ninth chapter. So for our policy makers, this chapter serves a good purpose, if the fight against graft is not ‘mere lip service’. With the content of a book, it is great to note that the packaging and presentation make it worthwhile. Although, the cover of the book gives it the seriousness it deserves, the writer employed tables and graphs to drive home some of the data he collected in the course of his research for the book, which is commendable. Equally commendable is the simplicity of language, which also got a boost by his effort to avail a portion that defined some of the technical terms some lay readers would encounter in course of reading the book. For the average reader, what would leave an impression is the standard of proof-reading deployed to the production of this work. While it is top-notch, the writer’s decision to outsource the editing of the book (which is probably responsible for the quality inherent therein) may also cast a doubt about his belief in the Nigeria he professes to love. Are there no good editors who can deliver top-notch editing like the book portrays? This is doubtful. Another aspect with issues is the writer’s concept of corruption. The book specifically hinges corruption on the door steps of public officers, but the ‘little’ being done by private individuals ought to have been highlighted with equal fierceness, to avail the projection that it is a fight for everyone. Lastly, Abdullahi Shehu, has written a book, that does not look cheap; which is why efforts should be intensified to provide it in an electronic form that will make it more available to the masses of Nigeria; because this work ought to be seen by a greater number of the population.

Lagos Boys is a sermon about a city that will maintain Olamide’s stardom Imoleayo Fatunase

hen it comes to feeding the people in the city and in the grassroots with the appropriate song, Olamide popularly called “Baddo Sneh” knows how best to thrill and entertain them. Following his hit single, “Shakiti Bobo” that waves way for a new dance step in the streets of the Nigeria cities, the starting point of the video is adorable as it shows Olamide alighting from a helicopter to a helipad then a beautiful Yatch and from there to the evening party ground. The YBNL’s Chairman has a very good taste when it comes to choosing costumes,

The original indigene of Ogun state, born in Bariga area of Lagos, has found Lagos to be home, and preaches the

‘praises of a city’ that raised him

in this video the choice of the white Agbadas and multi color suits is really classy and top-notched, this video has shown that Olamide never relent to bring out another hit banger to the dance floor of his music fans to party. ‘Lagos boys’ as the song is been titled defines the identity of a social milieu like the city of Lagos, The video defines the level in which Lagos Inhabitants spend their time thrilling and enjoying themselves, it identify the level of highlife that they live an also summarizes the Lagosians spirit of hustling. In this video, Olamide went deep to discuss the bright lights and people of Lagos with urban languages which those unities the people, the song goes deep to create interest in the high rollers mind and brought the highly diverse people of Lagos together with one song. The original indigene of Ogun state born in Bariga area of Lagos who has found Lagos to be home preaches the praises of a city that raised him from a pauper to one of the Lagos big boys as they are popularly called. Lagos Boys fit in the spirit of the city and culture, due to the distinctive sounds and themes in the music. The video is very classy and good for the eyes even though the song doesn’t really contains the best lyrics, He always find a means to remind his fans of the streets that he came out of and his present status, I think this song has really been the best definition so far “They call

me Alagbe oh, ema le mi jade oh/I just want to party oh, egbe dollar jade”. In Nigeria music, I think Olamide should be awarded as the best ‘slang originator’, one single; new slang that’s the rule. The new slang from Lagos boys now is ‘sneh’, Even though we can even read or associate any meaning to it but everyone now associates Sneh with their names mostly on social Medias and it has become the major slang that you hear from majorly everyone both young and old. The song was expressed through a blend of traditional sounds and Hip-Hop, Olamide Adedeji as his original name started music far back since year 2000, having up to more than twenty singles and five albums like Rapsodi, Ybnl, street OT and others, he has also collected series of awards both locally and intentionally. The video showcase the all white dressed party on a beautiful Yatch having people like Dj Enimoney, Adekunle Gold, 2Kriss, Lil Kesh, Viktoh and the popular the instagram celeb; Porsche Cayana to mention of few at the Owambe Yatch party. The video is not really detailed and meaningful like the audio but it was very classy in setting, dances and performances. Due to the tastefulness of the video, it has now become an exemplary work for video directors to look up to, the video was directed by UNLIMITED L.A and produced by M S A Y C.

Inside FCT

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Prices of livestock, foodstuff stain Eid-el-Kabir in FCT Joel Ajayi

he annual Sallah celebration is here again, Muslims around the world today celebrates EId-elKabir, the Islamic festival of sacrifice, to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son. Sallah festive period is also a time to unite with family, renew love of friends and engage in sumptuous feasting. However, the mood of this time informs the resolve of many faithful Muslims to consider it most promising to reflect on their faith and review their obedience to the will and injunctions of Almighty Allah. To many Nigerian Muslims, the Sallah celebration is not just about family but sharing gifts with neighbours, giving out to the needy and generally putting smiles on the faces of others. But I doubt, if many Muslim faithful will be able to act according to Allah’s injuctiuon as country is battling with series of challenges as strictness as well as high prices of foodstuffs and livestock are witnessed while many are facing so much difficulty in getting their foodstuffs others stuff for the celebration. A Visits to many markets in Abuja metropolis and other FCT satellites towns by Inside FCTshowed clearly that sales are very poor and nothing to write home about, even as parents and guardians are lamenting the high cost of living in the territory. Facts gathered from a credible source made it known that as early September, the tempo of activities at Wuse market, Garki market, Utako market in FCT had already risen as food stuff has also increased beyond the human imagination. Not only that, a short trip by inside FCT to some local markets; such as Goza market along Airport road Zuba

Livestock market

Wuse market

market amongst other; market believed to be place where you can get food stuff at cheaper rate, but situation are not the same as some resident met the disappointment of their life as the food stuff at those market are on astonishing prize. According to Muhamed Sani, a beans seller at Garki market FCT: “attributed the increase in the price of beans to the ongoing planting season as well as insecurity that have ravaged some part of the North. “Farmers are not harvesting but planting now, and that is the reason why beans prices keep increasing in the market”. Sani said. As for Hajia Aminat Muriana a buyer who spoke with inside FCT at Wuse market, one of the most popular markets in the FCT: “groaned and asked where we are heading to in this coun-

Facts gathered from a credible source made it known that as early September, the tempo of activities at Wuse market, Garki market, Utako market in FCT had already risen try? I think the fun of Salah is fading away due to high cost of food stuff.” “With this hike, many Muslim faithful may not be able to fulfill their Islamic obligation as everybody believes that Salah time happen to be the time to love sharing, giving to the needy, putting smile on the faces of some less-privileged Nigerians. “But now tell me how can I fulfill all those things we were been thought to do in the holy Quran when prices of food stuff are inflated owing to high demand I can never get all needed for my household, how would I give to needy? I doubt

if common citizen will be able to put food on their children’s table during this year Sallah celebration? She asked. Mrs Mariam Oladejo a buyer at Goza market along Airport road in the FCT said the rate of the increase in price of fresh tomatoes is alarming. “Items such as Pad, tin tomatoes, beverages, yam, plantain prices have gone up. Fresh peppers, tomatoes, Garri have reduced in quantity and are very expensive. The only prices of some stuff that haven’t changed yet are oil, leaves, periwinkles She stated that as at last month she still bought a small size basket of tomatoes for N400 but now it is N1,200. So if food stuffs are costly at local market like this what will be the faith of people living in the city.” She stated. A trader who trades livestock in Zuba Market, Mr Sulieman Azeez, said: “honestly everything is cost in the market; I must confess to you the insecurity in the Northern part of the country as the sole cause of this hike. “Ram is the major livestock used for the Sallah celebration and due to the insecurity in the land it has been difficult to get it, from neighbouring countries, such as Niger Republic without increase in their prices “Many residents that used to rear goats, rams have been displaced by insurgent. The prize of ram ranges from N50, 000 to N100,000, but the prize of cow is higher, ranging from N100,000 to N200,000 depending on the size. It is a bit more costly this year. But you know, it is something we cannot do without this festive period. Hopefully next year thing will get better.” sAzeez said.

Friday, September 25, 2015 11 Thul-Hijjah 1436

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Call to Worship

On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

Practices wherewith a state cannot survive

ne of the swiftest ways of destroying a state is to give preference to one particular tribe over another, or to show favour to one group of people rather than another, and draw near those who should be kept away and keep away those who should be drawn near. A ruler was asked, after he had lost his throne, “What brought your rule to an end?” He replied, “Being intransigent in my views and neglecting to seek advice.” Other practices (destructive to sovereignty) are arrogance and conceit which take away virtues. There are six qualities which cannot be tolerated in a leader: lying, envy, breach of promise, sharpness of temper, miserliness and cowardice. Another is the seclusion of the leader from his people, because when the oppressor is sure that the oppressed person will not have access to the leader, he become even more oppressive. The people keep loyal to only one ruler so long they have access to him, but when he secludes himself, there come into being many (other) rulers. O leader, you have kept yourself secluded from your subjects, by means of chamberlains and doors and you have set up high mountains before then while God’s door is open to petitioners; there is neither chamberlain nor door-keeper there. A kingdom can endure with unbelief but it cannot endure with injustice.’ God he said: ‘And when we desire to destroy a city, we command its men who live in ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, then the World (of doom) is proved true of it, and we destroy it utterly. It is stated in Diya’ al-khulafa’: ‘When God desire to destroy a state, He hand its affairs over to the extravagant sons of the rulers whose ambition is to magnify the status of state power, to obtain their desires and indulge in sins. A man was once asked why the rule of the Sasanid dynasty had degenerated to the extent it had. He said that was because they had appointed low men to high posts. Concerning this, the sages said that the death of one thousand men of high rank is less serious than one man of low rank being elevated (above the station he is fitted for); and it is a proverbial saying that states decline through giving preference to men of low rank. Al-Shafi said, “He who wrongs himself most is the base man. When he rises in status, he shuns his relations, ignores his acquaintances, fails to respect the nobles and displays arrogance towards the distin-

After Eidul-Adha, what next? 27

guished.” A certain ruler was once asked, after he had been deprived of sovereignty, “What caused you to be deprived of your leadership?” He said, “Our pleasures kept us too busy to attend to our important tasks; we put confidence in the competent men among us but they gave preference over us to their personal conveniences and governors oppressed our subjects who then wished to be relieved of us.” I warn you to avoid oppression, wanton damage, spilling of blood without the sanction of Law and nepotism, b e cause if you i n dulge i n partiality and c l a s s distinction, your authority would be broken, and this would destroy satisfaction, understanding, and good relations

Knowledge and Governance A man without learning is like a country without inhabitants. The finest (qualities) in a leader, in particular, and in people in general, are the love of learning, the desire to listen to it and holding the bearer of knowledge in great respect-this is in fact the surest way for a leader to be beloved of his people. One the other hand, if the leader is devoid of learning, he follows his whims and leads his subjects astray, like a riding beast with no halter, wandering off the path and perhaps spoiling what it passes over. Thus, the upper classes have

Tribute to a dear brother: Prof. AbdulHakeem Mobolaji 28

greater need for association with scholars, for having friendship with the learned and the study of books of learning and wise sayings and reading the anthologies of the learned and the biographies of sages. For a leader has set up himself to deal with people’s natures, to settle their disputes and to undertake their government. All that requires outstanding learning, keen insight and extensive study. How would he get on if he had not made the necessary preparations and made himself ready for these matters? Other people do not lack those who oppose them, point out their shortcomings and hold contrary views. That helps a man to train himself and learn where the right way lies. A leader, on the other hand, does not encounter any of these things because his high position cuts him off from them, since the only people w h o associate with him are those who glorify his status, conceal his drawbacks and praise him for what he does not possess. Their only reply to him is, ‘The leader is right.’ Leaders should always be craving for the company of religious scholars and be intent on listening to their advice. He must beware of the evil scholars who are greedy for wordly things. Such people will praise you, glorify you and seek to propitiate you by hoping to satisfy their greedy out of what you posses of the dross of this world and ill-gotten gains, so that they may obtain some of it through double-dealing and trickery. The pious learned man is the only who does not covet the wealth you posses. He will address you with honesty in preaching and discourse in much the same way as did

Shaqiq al-Balkhi, may Allah have mercy on him. He is said to have called one day upon Harun al-Rashid who said to him, “Are you Shaqiq the ascetic?” He replied: I am Shaqiq but not ascetic. Harun then said: “Tell me a word of advice.” So Shaqiq said to him, “Allah the Most High has caused you to sit in the place of (Abubakar) al-Siddiq and He seek from you his style of trustworthiness. He has granted you the position of Umar b. al-Khattab, al-Faruq (lit. he who distinguishes truth from falsehood) and he seeks from you the same differentiation between right and wrong. He has put you in the position of (Usman) Dhu I-Nurayn and He requires from you his modesty and generosity. He has put you in the place of Ali b. Abi Talib and He seeks from you knowledge and justice, just as He sought it from him.”…… If the leader does not keep the company of good learned men and listen to their advice, and instead takes evil scholars as his companies, they may possibly draw him along their own way, or make people think so. For surely a man follows the creed of his close friends, as the wise saying indicates: Allah has tested me with a burdensome trust responsibility for his honourable community and catering to its needs. For guidance in the successful execution of the trust, I needed to have recourse to the fundamental of matters and set aside the surface appearance of jurisprudence. This had to be done for the sake of protecting the interests of the community. The advocate of truth is nowadays exposed to danger because of the extinction of the learned and the triumph of ignorance……… knowledge survives only on paper but is absent from the hearts of men. (Hence) the ignorant are allowed to rule and they all claim knowledge of that which they know nothing about. Instead (of confessing his shortcomings) each lets loose his tongue and release his hand is writing on what he thinks is knowledge.. Quoted from: Principles of Leadership According to the Founding Fathers of the Sokoto Caliphate Collated and edited by Hamid Bobboyi with the Compliments of His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar mni, CFR, LLD, Sultan of Sokoto

Block all leakages of state revenues –The Companion 29

Call to Worship

11 Thul-Hijjah 1436 Friday, September 25, 2015

Judging drug users, families E T , id Mubarak to all Muslims! May Allah count us among those who will witness more celebrations on earth, Aamin. As we continue to celebrate the Eid today, let us remember in our prayers, a dear brother and one of his sons that we lost in an accident along Lagos-Ibadan express road on Sunday. It is a very painful occurrence. The professor of Econometrics died along with his 14-yearold son, Muhammad. He left for Ibadan after a meeting in Lagos in his black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with two of his sons, the late Muhammad and AbdulHafiz and a friend, Mr. AbdulRasheed Attah, a lawyer. One stupid and reckless bus driver was reported to have rammed into the late Mobolajiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SUV after overtaking another vehicle on the partitioned narrow road, killing six people on the spot. What an unfortunate

ruly it is high time we start

seeing drug use as health issue rather than a criminal case in other to rehabilitate those who are drug dependence

already.

Public perceptions

about rehabilitation of drugaddicts and their families must change incidence? And this brings us to the issue of drug use by many Nigerians including these commercial bus drivers. Even among very young Nigerians now, it is a common thing to see our teenagers getting addicted to Indian hemp, marijua-

na, cocaine among others taken in various forms. It is a serious case if nothing is done urgently to stem the tide as we are sitting on a keg of gun-powder. When you found yourself in any of our motor garages or some notorious areas in Lagos, one will understand the grav-

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Sekinah Lawal t: 08055102994 e: sakinah207@yahoo.com ity of the risk regarding drug addiction. That is part of what has been causing many needless accidents on many of our roads. Truly, it is high time we start seeing drug use as health issue rather than a criminal case in other to rehabilitate those who are drug dependence already. Public perceptions about rehabilitation of drug-addicts and their families must change. This is because there is no quick and simple solution to this systemic problem. It is a serious societal, psychological and health condition that requires time to correct. Studies have shown that many interventions aimed at preventing initiation of drug use if we can address poverty,

Cross section of participants listening to Consultant Gary Reid, at the meeting on sensitization on drugs and drug prevention, treatment and care organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, in Lagos on Tuesday

create needed sensitization and awareness on drug use and other system problems of individualsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; health and environmental factors. Based on available data presented to key stakeholders at a meeting on sensitization on drugs and drug prevention, treatment and care organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, in Lagos on Tuesday by Mr. Gary Reid, it shows that there is a dire need for multi-sectoral response to the challenges posed by drug-dependence. We must also note that the problem is impacting negatively on peace, security and development. Research has shown that an estimated 187,100 drug-related deaths occurred in 2013 with only one out of six problem drug users has access to treatment worldwide while one out of three drug users globally is a woman, only one out of five drug users in treatment is a woman. A very pathetic situation was painted of the cases of women drug users in Katsina State. As rightly stated by Ms. HarshethKaurVirk, Project Officer (Drug Demand Reduction) Project Office, UNODC, at the meeting, there is need for serious determination and commitment from Nigerian governments at all levels as well as other key stakeholders like the media, civil society groups, NDLEA, religious leaders, ministries and some agencies in tackling the problem of drugdependence. It must be noted that misuse or abuse of drugs, taking them other than exactly as instructed by a doctor and for the purposes prescribed, can lead to addiction and even, in some cases, death.

Faces at the fitness walk and blood donation exercise organized by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni, UMA, in Lagos recently.

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After Eidul-Adha, what next?

e have once again been reminded of the lessons of life. We have slaughtered millions of rams and cows. We can never restore these animals to life. Only Allah (SWT) can tell how many cows or rams were killed yesterday. Imagine it was the other way, that the animals are the one killing human beings for food. All these animals were killed with sharp objects. It was painful for them to die. But they had no choice than to bow to the sharpened knives of man. Do we also bow to the laws of the Lord that created us? Do we submit our lives to Him? Do we reflect on that time when it shall be our turn to die? Human blood today is shed for no just cause. The wars in the world are making a mockery of human existence. Man today derives pleasure or progress in killing fellow man for rituals, money, etc. The super powers sell ammunitions to engineer and perpetuate wars for material and power gains. Most people travelled to villages or other places to celebrate the eid but have all returned or

Call to Worship

Friday, September 25, 2015 11 Thul-Hijjah 1436

returning to their destinations now. This reminds us of the inevitable return to the grave and to Allah (SWT) from whom we came to this earth. Our sleep and wakeup signify resurrection. Leaves fall from trees after greenness. So, shall the son of man fall into grave after enjoying this life. The once black hair becoming gray or white and the once fine face becoming wrinkled are all harbingers of imminent death from which there is no escape. Grave lies in wait for all men. It does not matter where and how you die, you will return to it. It will accommodate you. You will be ushered in by earthworms and maggots. You will give back to the earth all that you have consumed while your soul would be taken to account. This life is not a permanent place to dwell. The rich and the poor shall all die but may feel differently at the point of death. All that we possess or acquire lawfully or unlawfully shall end whether we share them with people or not. If the value of reward is in the bigness of the ram or cow, then

Meanwhile, we get lost into it and we forget about our time, we

forget about our death and we forget about our graves we are almost done with the eating. But it is not in that save in the piety behind the killing. Our lives are only well spent and worthy of continuity if we sincerely devote them to Allah (SWT) in worship. There are many windows through which you can see this world. There is this analogy about life in a book. It goes thus: “Once a man saw in his dream, that a lion

IN HIS LIGHT with

USTAZ

A. ZAFARAN e-mail: zatabumuneeb@yahoo.com was chasing him! The man ran to a tree, climbed on to it and sat on a branch. He looked down and saw that the lion was still there waiting for him. The man then looked to his side where the branch he was sitting on was attached to the tree and saw that two rats were circling around and eating the branch. One rat was black and the other one was white. The branch would fall on the ground very soon. The man then looked below again with fear and discovered that a big black snake had come and settled directly under him. The snake opened its mouth right under the man so that he will fall into it. The man then looked up to see if there was anything that he could hold on to. He saw another branch with a honeycomb. Drops of honey were falling from it. The man wanted to taste one of the drops. So, he put his tongue out and tasted one of the fallen drops of honey. The honey was amazing in taste. So, he wanted to taste another drop. As he did, he got lost into the sweetness of the Honey.

Meanwhile, he forgot about the two rats eating his branch away, the lion on the ground and the snake that is sitting right under him. After a while, he woke up from his sleep. To get the meaning behind this dream, the man went to a pious scholar of Islam. The scholar said: The lion you saw is your death. It always chases you and goes wherever you go. The two rats, one black and one white, are the night and the day. Black one is the night and the white one is the day. They circle around, coming one after another, to eat your time as they take you closer to death. The big black snake with a dark mouth is your grave. It’s there, just waiting for you to fall into it. The honeycomb is this world and the sweet honey is the luxuries of this world. We like to taste a drop of the luxuries of this world but it’s very sweet. Then we taste another drop and yet another. Meanwhile, we get lost into it and we forget about our time, we forget about our death and we forget about our graves.

Dignitaries at the Distinguished Guest Lecture Series, organised by the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University in honour of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State in Lagos, recently.

Call to Worship

11 Thul-Hijjah 1436 Friday, September 25, 2015

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Tribute to a dear brother: Prof. AbdulHakeem Mobolaji

t is indeed very painful but as believers, we cannot query Allah, the Most-High. Hearing about the death of Ustadh AbdulHakeem Mobolaji along with one of his sons, drew tears from my eyes. It’s been a while I cried because somebody died, I just could not hold back the tears. Words cannot describe my feelings. Below are some of the tributes to a great mind. We learn reality of life momentarily. We remain unperturbed by its lessons. We feel for others and remain filled with our obsession for the world. I remember how we met at UI in 1988. I remember how we lived together in the same hall and room - A/Semii Husayn, Zafaran Adeniyi and you. I remember how we cooked, ate and slept in the same room. I remember how he was the Imam in Independence hall and I as his successor. I remember how he paddled the ship of Oyo state Area Unit MSSN almost like a ONE man cabinet. I remember his soft, inspiring, passionate, convincing, emotional lectures; always filled with quotes from the Qur’an. I remember how we lived in the same compound, house, flat; he lived downstairs, I occupied the upper flat. Abu Hassan lived in the same premises in the other flat. I remember how we moved with Da‘wah of Islam from masjid to masjid in Ibadan and its environ. I remember how he trained and moulded brothers and sisters for Islam. What will he be remembered for? Allah knows best. But as a mortal he will ever be remembered for]: Constant Tahajjud with his special voice As the imam of several mosques As one who is never oblivious of all voluntary fasts (I have not found out but he is not unlikely to be fasting when he died, unless he has a constraint) As one who never misses his Tilaawah As one who makes friend easily. As one who values Salat in congregation. As one who did Usra online with his family (bahjatuliqaa). As one who is clearly convinced of his mission in life. As one in the midst of abundance but still indifferent to the world. As one who worked with Federal Inland Revenue, National Assembly, etc but was never tempted to be corrupt. As somebody who had several opportunities but never for once allow it to derail him. As one who consults on almost all issues and populates opinion. As a lively, friendly, fatherly and missionary personality. As one who had PSR for Islamic mission and all work

his iconic figure is many things to different people. I share with you his profile from his resume sent to me recently in connect with aproject to be executed in Fountain University for the purpose of uplifting the university selflessly. He wrote the resume himself, not knowing he was bequeathing to upcoming generation his milestones and accomplishments. Mobolaji came to the world as a Muslim activist; he worked tirelessly for Islam; he was honoured by Allah with good health and brilliant thoughts. He was honoured by men who entrusted him with sensitive assignments; his brothers entrusted him with herculean tasks; he excelled to the limit of his capacities and potentials. His interest is not pecuniary benefits that many run after, but how Islam and the Ummah would be uplifted intellectually, ideologically and economically in order for the Ummah to be able to fulfil its mandate in Nigeria and beyond. I got the message of his death shocked! I cannot sleep because we are close. I visited him recently in Fountain. We have unfinished assignments and tall dreams on

I remember how he trained and moulded brothers and sisters for Islam.

What

will he be remembered

for?

Allah knows best.

But as a mortal he will ever be remembered for]: Constant Tahajjud... As one who is never oblivious of all voluntary fasts

have not found out but he is not unlikely to be fasting when he died

life. He was there when Abu Hassan died; he was there when Engr. Popoola and others died, he has been a witness to several other deaths of his brothers and sisters. It was now time for him to die too and he has died on the path of his mission. His trip to Lagos was not for something personal but for Islam and the Ummah. He never knew that that Sunday will be the last when he set out that morning; he never knew that he will never return to his house, now he has gone to the grave; he never knew he will not meet his wives Mujiddah (Umm Abdulazeez) and Tayyibah (Umm Aaisha) again; he never knew he will not have time with and for the children again, the like of Abdul Azeez, Zaynab (who has just completed her secondary school and made her result), Abdul Hameed (just in ss3) , Habeebah (just admitted into Vangaurds), and others. He never knew he will never meet Uztaz Shafii whom he loved so much again, and icon brothers like Abu Asmau, Abu Umar, Ibn Sadiq, Abu Ruqayyah, etc who gave him the appellation OMO ALHAJA. Now omo Alhaja is gone. Fountain University has lost a restructurer; he left the UNILORIN as a highly placed senior lecturer to help develop the nascent Muslim University, it was a decision based on shurah for the Ummah. Al-Baraka Micro Finance has lost the only specialist on Islamic banking so far in its team. Vanguards Academy has lost for life one of the brains for its establishment. Mobolaji travelled to UK but never died there; he travelled to Saudi Arabia, he never died there; he travelled to Abuja but never died there; he died on the road which he plied most of his life for the sake of Islam (LagosIbadan). He had travelled on this road a thousand of times but that day’s own marks the final trip. So is life and such is it. We all testify to your devotion to the DEEN oh our dear brother PROF. ABDULHAKEEM MOBOLAJI ISHOLA. No amount of tears can bring you back. No amount of encomiums can resuscitate you. No amount of sorrow can change what has happened. For ever you have gone we hope to meet in the garden of Firdaws. Your death further opens our eyes to the vanity of the world. It makes us retrospect into where we began. It makes us realize that we should do the right thing before our turn for DEATH. My brothers and sisters, our tears should be for ourselves and not for Mobolaji. Are we what we should be as missionaries? Are we sincere with Allah? Are we sure of dying on the path of Allah? Written by Dr. Zafaran Adeniyi

how to benefit humanity. These tall dreams and unfinished assignments may lie fallow until Allah raises the like of Omo Alhaja. He was born an activist; he lived as activist; he was on activism assignment and he died the death of true activist along with his activist son. He would insha Allah be raised among the activists on the day of Judgement, amin.

He was born an activist; he lived as activist; he was on activism assignment and he died the death of true activist along with his activist son

Till we meet insha Allah on the day of judgement.I pray as follows:Allaahum-maghfirlahu warhamhu, wa ‘aafihi, wa’fu ‘anhu, wa ‘akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi’mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bilmaa’i waththalji walbaradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataayaakamaa naqqaytath-thawbal-’abyadha minad-danasi, wa ‘abdilhu daaran khayran mindaarihi, wa ‘ahlan khayran min ‘ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa’adkhilhul-jannata, wa. ‘a’ithhu min ‘athaabilqabri[wa ‘athaabin-naar]. O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him and cause his entrance to be wide and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give him an abode better than his home, and a family better than his family and a wife better than his wife. Take him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave [and from the punishment of Hell-fire] . Allahuma ighfirlahu, warhamhu. Written by TMC Amir Dr. Lukmon Rahmeen

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Friday, September 25, 2015 11 Thul-Hijjah 1436

Block all leakages of state revenues –The Companion … Pay greater attention to intelligence gathering Stories by Sekinah L awal

he Companion has called on all state governments to follow the footsteps of the Federal Government by taking steps to identify and block all loop holes and leakages of state revenues, whether federal allocation or internally generated.

This advice was contained in a Communiqué issued at the end of The Companion’s Expanded NEC meeting and signed by Barr. Musibau Oyefeso, National Amir & Chairman, NEC, The Companion at the meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State recently. The group, an association of Muslim men in business & the professions, commended the

armed forces urging the state security apparatus to pay greater attention to intelligence gathering in order to nip insurgence, bombing and other acts of criminality in the bud. The Companion also declared support for the steps taken by the Federal Government and CBN to assist the states to pay salary backlog calling on workers and labour union in the states to monitor

the money to avoid diversion. “We also call on NEMA and other allied agencies to take necessary steps to ameliorate the sufferings of Internally Displaced Persons, IDP and resettle affected families. We pray that God should intervene and help us achieve peace and progress so that we will continue as one united, strong and indivisible nation.”

Zakat Is 2.5% Of Your Total Wealth, Known As Nisab. After Having Fulfilled All obligations, pay your Dr. Abdul Gani Enahoro is the Naib Amir, Eastern Region, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria with the Jamaat’s World Leader, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad in London, United Kingdom recently.

zakat

Let’s truly emulate Abraham –Fashola Stories by Sekinah L awal

passionate appeal has gone to all Muslims to truly emulate Prophet Ibrahim, AS, in all their dealings to show that they imbibe the lessons of Eidul Kabir. This appeal was made in a Sallah message signed by the Amir of Ahmadiyya Jama’at in Nigeria; Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola. According to him, commemoration of Holy Abraham (Peace be on him) as a model of faith for all mankind; Abraham’s truthfulness, courage in defence of true faith in One God as well as strict aversion to the worship of

idols should also reflect on all Muslims. “Abraham’s complete submission to the Gracious Lord, whose Grace encompasses all, in the sense of selflessly serving the interest of all creation with equity as opposed to the pursuit of self-interest, ethnicity, racism, and all kinds of discrimination, for such is the way of the Devil, declared in the Holy Qur’an as a Rebel to the Gracious (“Oh my father, do not worship the Devil, for the Devil is indeed a Rebel to the Gracious” Q.19: /.-46); being a Rebel to the Gracious, the Devil opposes all actions that graciously and equitably benefit all creation, that unite all mankind,

that uphold equality, justice and fairplay; rather, the Devil supports and promotes inequality, injustice, inhumanity, disorder, discrimination, disharmony, and disunity.” He said that steadfastness in the face of extreme persecution with unflinching faith as well as enduring all trials in the Way of Allah; great concern for divine guidance, moral and spiritual wellbeing of future generations should be of great concern to all. “Abraham’s legacy implies that we must promote the wellbeing of all and ensure a social system that gives equal rights and opportunities to all without any discrimination whatsoever for that is the

import of submissiveness to the Gracious, Whose Grace excludes none. Any social, political or economic programme that benefits only those who are well connected to political office holders or other influential members of society is of the Devil and rebellious to the Gracious. The legacy of Abraham requires that we pursue truth, justice, and anticorruption policy first before any other issue. Those who downplay the anti-corruption crusade but emphasise the economy should be reminded that it is necessary to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness, before we can make headway with the economy.

US, Israel should correct crimes against Muslims- Ali Khamenei Sekinah L awal

eader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called on the US and Israel to correct all mischievous policies adopted by the US and the crimes committed by the Israeli regime constituting problems facing Muslims. Ayatollah Khamenei made the remark in a message to the Hajj pilgrims where he congratulated the blissful pilgrims who have succeeded in responding positive to the divine call and are taking advantage of this bountiful occasion. He urged those who have benefited from the rich and meaningful obligation to continue in the lasting training and unforgettable lessons of Hajj by regulating their life plans on its basis. “Learning this great lesson and acting upon it is the same blessed spring which can impart vivacity and liveliness and dynamism to the lives of Muslims and relieve them from the problems with which they are grappling – both at this time and in all [other] times.” “We must all do away with idol of vanity and lust, the idol of seeking dominance over others and idol of the global arrogance.” “Brethren and sisters who are performing the Hajj pilgrimage, from any nation and any country, think about this wise divine word and through a painstaking approach to problems facing the Islamic world, especially in West Asia and North Africa, define for yourself, in view of your personal and environmental capacities and potentialities, a duty and responsibility and [then] strive toward [fulfilling] it.” According to him, the mischievous policies of America in this region, which are the source of war and bloodshed and devastation and homelessness as well as poverty and backwardness and ethnic and religious differences, on the one hand, and crimes [committed] by the Zionist regime, which has taken its usurping behavior in the country of Palestine to the ultimate degree of ruthlessness and evilness, in addition to repeat-

ed violations of the sacred sanctuary of the al-Aqsa Mosque and trampling on the lives and property of the oppressed Palestinians, on the other hand, are the foremost problem for all Muslims, about which they must think and in the face of which they must know their Islamic obligation. “Religious scholars, political and cultural elites shoulder a much heavier responsibility, which is unfortunately ignored by them most of the time. The ulema, instead of fanning the flames of religious discord, and the politicians, instead of passivity in the face of the enemy, and the cultural elite, instead of being preoccupied with marginal issues, [must try to] know the great ailment of the Islamic world and accept their mission, which they are responsible to fulfill before God, and try to cope with it. The regretful incidents in the region, [including] in Iraq and the Levant and Yemen and Bahrain, and in the West Bank and Gaza, and in some other Asian and African countries, are major problems of the Islamic Ummah in which the plotting hands of the global arrogance must be seen and for which a remedy must be sought. Nations must demand this from their governments and governments must remain loyal to their heavy responsibility.” He reminded all that Hajj and its glorious gatherings are the loftiest place for the rise and exchange of this historic obligation. Commiserating with the Ummah on the devastating incident of Masjid alHaram, he assured all that those who passed away in this incident, went to meet their God while saying prayers and going around [Ka’aba] and worshipping [God], have achieved great bliss and are, God willing, resting in the sanctuary of divine safety and observance and mercy, and this could be a great source of consolation for their families, but this [issue] cannot reduce the heaviness of the responsibility of those people who are committed to [providing] security for the guests of the Beneficent God. Acting upon this commitment and fulfilling this responsibility is our ultimate demand.

Call to Worship

11 Thul-Hijjah 1436 Friday, September 25, 2015

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Hajj: Make best use of compensation –NACOMYO Stories by Sekinah L awal

amilies of the victims of Hajj accident have been advised to make best use of the Saudi Arabia’s offer of compensation to the victims of the recent crane crash in Makkah saying

it is a noteworthy gesture which symbolizes the beauty of Sharia law and Islam. Giving the advice was the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO), in a release signed by its President, Alhaji Kamal’ddin Akintunde, the group urged beneficiary-fami-

lies to ensure judicious utilization of the funds which are in millions, stating that a cautious feasibility study for investment of the funds will guarantee an enduring economic survival and comfort of bereaved families. Relatedly, NACOMYO commended the Emir of

Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi for his rapport with the Jeddah based Islamic Development Bank (IDB), resulting into IDB’s investment of 19.5 billion naira on educational initiatives which include bilingual education in 9 states, building of 30 modern schools of 720 classrooms, 30 ICT

laboratories, provision of N1.7 million textbooks and capacity building programme for 1800 teachers among other benefits. Similarly, NACOMYO asked Imams and scholars to utilize their sermons and educate faithful domiciled in vulnerable flood communities to vacate the water ways.

Keep praying for our leaders –MURIC, UMA

Dr. Sa’eed Timehin, Chief Imam of Oposuru Central Mosque, Alhaji Dhikrulahi Oladokun and another guest at the occasion.

2015 Graduands of Nasirullahi Quranic and Islamic Study Centre, cutting the cake at the Ameenul Qur’an Graduation held recently.

Imbibe lessons of Eid –Oyefeso

he Companion has called on Muslims to ensure that the lessons of Eid are imbibed to guide their daily conduct individually and collectively. In a release signed by Barr. Musibau Oyefeso, National Amir of The Companion, he also lauded WAEC for admitting error and correcting its earlier timetable to hold some of the exams

at Jumat times on Fridays and Eid days, calling on WAEC, NECO, JAMB, and other professional examining bodies to familiarize themselves with the Hijra calendar and avoid needless friction with Muslims on account of fixing public exams on Eid days and Jumat prayer time. The group prayed for restoration of peace to all troubled lands all over the world and called on world

leaders to unite against forces of destabilizations, misrule which tend to keep people down perpetually in poverty and misery. “We also commend the federal government for the fight against corruption. We call on all citizens and governments at lower levels to join hands with the federal government in this fight. In particular we call on members of the bar and the bench to re-

strain from manipulation of the system through the use of technicalities to delay quick dispensation of litigation on corruption matters. The National Assembly and other relevant agencies of government should also take necessary steps to amend the laws to promote quick dispensation of corruption cases.” Also enjoined Muslims to live peacefully with their neighbours.

NACOMYO also enjoined various state governments to make good/ judicious use of the N700 billion presidential relief packages and to ensure that workers’ welfare is given priority while calling for concerted efforts through aggressive revenue drive by states.

he Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC and the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni, UMA, have called on Muslims to keep praying for enduring peace, political stability and rapid economic development for the nation. In a release sign by MURIC’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola prayed that Almighty Allah directs the minds of our leaders as well as those of the followership to change their bad habits, to sacrifice their ego in the interest of the nation and to swallow their monstrous taste for materialism. MURIC also condemned the phenomenom of rape of students and admission seekers by lecturers. “It is shameful and indefensible. We denounce the rampant cases of parents assisting their children and wards to influence the outcome of examination results. We frown upon the long throat syndrome among legislators who reject pay cuts in this era of austerity.” “The ongoing case of alleged declaration of false assets against the Senate President calls for urgent attention in this regard. We are saddened by the ignominous show of solidarity by fellow Senators who followed Senator Saraki to the tribunal. What message are these politicians trying to pass across to Nigerians and the young ones in particular? Are they trying to tell us that a single Nigerian is above the law? Is Saraki above the law? Where were these law-

makers when a poor man was jailed two months for allegedly stealing two tubers of yam? Where were they when an Abuja court jailed a housemaid for allegedly stealing her mistress’ underwears just a few days ago? When will a Daniel come to justice in Nigeria? What is wrong if we witness change in this country and a serving senator is arraigned for committing a crime? We put it to the ‘escort senators’ that they are not only celebrating graft but also attempting to intimidate the judiciary. We call on Nigerian judges to stand firm. They must not surrender to blackmail. These Senators are not supporting Saraki because they love him. They are hobnobbing with him out of self-interest. It is a marriage of convenience between a senator under suspicion of graft and an assembly of likeminds. Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. MURIC urged the ‘escort senators’ to allow the change mantra to manifest properly. “Nigerians voted for change. Our senators must not subvert the will of the Nigerian electorate. Corruption is a cancerous tumour which has eaten deep into the anatomy of our country and no good surgeon will hesitate to amputate a cancer-ridden limb in order to save the rest of the body. Kleptomaniacs among Nigerian politicians must be dealt with in order to act as deterrent to others. It is the only way to clean up the system.”

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Friday, September 25, 2015 11 Thul-Hijjah 1436

Call to Worship

Government should not promote existence of any sacred cow –Enahoro What is your take on the ongoing fight against corruption? Nigerians must cooperate with the President to deal with corruption very firmly. It is the greatest fight for our survival as a nation today. Corruption has permeated all our national lives, Civil Service, Public Service, Private Sector especially the Multinational Companies, Professions, Religious bodiesMosques and Churches. Even the operators of established Government structures that were meant to fight corruption became corrupt themselves. Despite the huge rot, I see President Buhari succeeding in laying a very good foundation for the campaign against corruption in this country, because of the broad spectrum enthusiasm of the downtrodden and the inability of the elites to stain his obvious spartan life, no matter how hard they have tried. No scandal has ever been exposed in the President’s name, despite the highly vitriolic campaigns of calumny that heralded his election. It is a second time calling really, we have done it with him before in 1983, when as Military Head-of -State, he declared War Against Indiscipline, WAI. People were afraid to steal, they adopted the queuing culture, became neat and did not litter the streets with rubbish and pedestrians faithfully used the bridges built for them. At that time, no one was sure how much policing the next man standing could do. Nigeria was looking promising until General Babangida overthrew their government and laughed his way into destroying all the gains of that WAI. Now, we have a second rare chance again, through the same man, President Muhammadu Buhari and we must not allow the corrupt and heartless among the elites to fool us into believing otherwise. These few evil people sponsor a lot of noise, and are capable of fighting back very strongly, because they know that once corruption is dealt with, Nigeria would become better to live in for everyone. How will you access the new administration of President Buhari so far? Buhari’s administration in the strict sense has not started unfolding its real characters. Even though it is just a little above 100 days, there is nothing critical to access yet. The President has not spoken much, except on his promises to eradicate corruption in Nigeria and route insurgency in the North East. We can only evaluate his efforts in these regards. However, when all the Ministers are appointed, they would definitely do the talking and reveal the mandates and directions in which the ship of state would be steered. This is the negative side of the delay in appointing Ministers. President Muhammadu Buhari is still very busy taking stock of what was left in each Ministry and Parastatal that form the Federal Civil Service. This is a very good strategy because it would enable everyone to properly measure his achievements over time. He is like a student in the examination hall, who is meticulously outlining possible answers roughly on the question paper rather than inside the answer sheets. He may eventually become better organized and score higher grades than another student who rushed into answering directly into the answer booklet at the blow of the whistle. Therefore, it would be unfair to hurriedly pass a judgement that the President has done well or has not done well in this circumstance. Having said that, if we must score him on the definite promises already being worked on publicly, then it is obvious enough to everyone that the security strategies for decimating insurgency is much more effective and reassuring since the inauguration of this administration than in the past. He made war against insurgency, a key issue in his campaigns and he has so far made very commendable moves in that respect, by rejuvenating the military hierarchy and initiating extensive talks with our neighbours in Niger, Chad, Cameroun and other countries that could play key roles in bringing the insurgents to their knees. How can parents, religious bodies help in the fight against terrorism and corruption considering the increase in cultism activities among our youths? Parents are the first natural role models for their kids and they should constantly act that role for the good of the

Dr. Abdul Gani Enahoro is the Naib Amir, Eastern Region, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria and also the Vice President, African Veterinary Association, AVA, as well as immediate Past National President, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA, in this interview with SEKINAH LAWAL, speaks on national issues, the UK conference of the jamaat, its centenary celebration among others. ing, drinking together and sharing modest camp accommodation without resentment to anyone for several days. This is actually the beauty of Islam in its pristine value, demonstrating true brotherhood, hospitality, good neighborliness, humility, tolerance, sacrifice, selflessness, love and cheerful volunteerism. The programmes are carefully designed, and the highest echelons of political leaders, including Presidents from several countries participate and leave for their countries with a completely positive impression of what Islam is all about. The blessing of attendance is innumerable.

Enahoro

Nigerian Muslims must begin to increase their efforts in financial sacrifices future generation. All scriptures scream that a rotten tree bears no good fruit. It is bad parenting to allow any child to be wrongly indoctrinated by another depraved person, citing religion. In Africa, terrorism is a product of failure of the communal system, peculiar to us, where people act as their brother’s keepers. Recently, it was the order of the day to do bad and be honoured for it. Every good society must punish its wrong doers while rewarding appropriately those who do good and are deserving of it. As long as the society tolerates & corruptly pardons evil and wrong doers, there would never be lessons for the future generation. Government should not promote the existence of any sacred cow, whoever breaches the law must be made to face it. There should not be any front row seat allowed for corrupt or suspiciously corrupt persons in our religious worship places, even when they make donations solicited or unsolicited. The real change mantra of the present government would be accessed by how many and how well were wrong doers punished at the end of the day. How will you access the just-concluded UK Jalsa in terms of spiritual fulfilment and general organisation? UK Jalsa Salana is the annual conference, organized by Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in the United Kingdom. It is international and one unique Muslim gathering that has no equal anywhere in the world, considering the fact that it is held in a dominantly non-Muslim country. It has the multi-religious flavor that is exemplary, giving room for various shades of opinion about our understanding of religion and its usefulness in bringing peace to the world. It really cannot be fully explained except when experienced. The doors of Islam is thrown open to everyone, not minding the faith they profess and all these people mingle freely with others of other faith in a very convivial environment, eat-

What lessons would you want the Nigerian Jamaat to learn? There are so many areas from which we must learn, and have learned. Generally speaking, Nigerian Muslims must begin to increase their efforts in financial sacrifices. The attitude of most of our brothers is weak in spending for the course of advancing the true teachings of Islam, and perhaps that is why it is so easy for innocent and unguarded children to be indoctrinated negatively by some depraved religious leaders who preach hate sentiments in worship centers. In any case, Ahmadiyya Jamaat in Nigeria would commemorate its centenary jubilee next year, and that is a sufficient milestone to count our blessings. We may not be able to measure up with the standards of International Jalsa or conference in UK, but we would bring various experiences from across the world to bear on our planning. We have good stories to tell In sha Allah. The Jamaat leaders were fully in attendance during the UK Conference. I was privileged to be there as well and I was also in the United States a week earlier and fully participated in the various activities of USA Jalsa (Conference) that was held at Harrisburg, the capital city of Pennsylvania. There is no doubt that our exposures to how others do things right would rub off on the way we shall host Jamaat members, non-members, invited and international guests during our centenary celebrations next year in sha Allah. How do we ensure peace and attain justice in Nigeria and the world at large? Peace and Justice are certainly the two sides of a coin. They are inseparable. Our political leaders have the greatest responsibility in achieving national and global peace by the way they lead us and by the speech they make. When leaders are truthful, justice would prevail and the followers always know. But whenever leaders are corrupt in thoughts and with our commonwealth, the followers do also know and they would use every available means to agitate against the state and resent the leaders. Unfortunately, the larger and helpless masses suffer the outcome of these protestations. The spiraling unemployment figure is a direct recipe for future troubles, especially when it is obvious that incompetence, nepotism and corrupt leadership are the reasons. Politicians must not hide their failures in whipping up religious or tribal sentiments. Leaders of various faiths should unite and hold regular inter-faith peace symposium for their followers, not just among themselves. It is wicked for religious leaders of different faiths and beliefs to wine, dine and properly fraternize at their highest levels amongst themselves, while promoting hate between their followers and those of other faiths. Security agencies should reveal and prosecute persons who make hate speeches on the altar of preaching. The Jamaat worldwide and recently in Nigeria has consistently sponsored interfaith peace symposia since last year. Warri, Delta State hosted the 2014 edition and in May 2015, we all witnessed the Abuja version at the International Conference Centre.

Call to Worship

11 Thul-Hijjah 1436 Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

Khalifatul Masih II: Pearls of Wisdom

od sent the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) for revival of faith in the current age in subservience of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He showed us the pristine form of faith and advised us to give up harmful and erroneous innovations in religion. In this age he is indeed the true example of the teachings and the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and in this regard his example is also a beacon of light for us. We are fortunate that our forefathers and other companions related traditions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which reached us. Many of the long term Ahmadis would have directly heard accounts of the Promised Messiah from their elders. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has stated the significance of these traditions in his unique style and has derived counsel and much about the teachings of Islam from even apparently minor, ordinary accounts. Many of these companions lived during the time of Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) and he advised them or their families to collect and collate these accounts because these accounts would provide advice and solutions of many issues for generations to come. In light of a problem that arose within the Jama’at, Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) drew attention to the importance of collating these accounts. He called even withholding minor accounts of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as communal betrayal. And explained that minor accounts are at times most significant because huge conclusions can be drawn from them. A hadith relates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) eagerly ate gourd/squash pieces cooked in broth and said what a fine thing gourd was. This apparently minor account may be of no significance even to some Ahmadis. However, there was a time when Hindu culture had influenced Muslims in many ways and one of which was that only those were considered pious who did not eat good food. On the contrary if they saw any holy person eating good food they would remark what sort of a holy person would do that! Likewise, once a Hindu resident of Qadian asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) that he had heard that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) ate pilao (rice dish cooked with meat) and used almond oil. He went on to ask if it was warrantable

to eat pilao and use almond oil. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) told him it was warrantable in his faith (Islam). The man then said he meant if it was even alright for ascetics and holy people. He was told that yes, in Islam it was warrantable even for ascetics and holy persons. The man went quiet. Imagine the man came up with this great objection that how could one be the Promised Messiah if one ate pilao and used almond oil! Had Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) not mentioned the gourd account a very important matter would have been left unsaid. Another hadith relates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) wore a fine robe to Friday Prayers. If someone was to say that not wearing fine clothes is a sign of a holy person we can present this hadith to them. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was so keen on cleanliness that some Sufi saints, like Hazrat Shah Wali Ullah changed his clothes every day. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) was very simple of nature and due to his very busy schedule sometimes he forgot to bathe and change clothes for Friday Prayers. Hazrat Musleh Maud says that one day when he was going to study Bukhhri (book of hadith) from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I the Promised Messiah asked him where was he off to. When he explained the Promised Messiah said he should put one question to Maulawi Sahib from him as well. He said to put to him if it was stated anywhere in Bukhari that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) bathed and wore fresh clothes on Friday; but nowadays saintliness is inferred from being unkempt. Islamic Shariah strongly recommends bathing on many occasions and using perfume and forbids to eat food with strong odour before going to the mosque. In short the world has been benefitting from the accounts of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and will continue to benefit. The world will also benefit from the accounts of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). It is our duty to get them on record. A young man once said that he was a child during the lifetime of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and his only memory was that he once held the Promised Messiah’s hand who kept holding his hand but after a while he had to attend to something, so he let go of the child’s hand to do what was needed. On the face of it this is minor account but big conclusions can be drawn from it.

L-R: Publication and Publicity Secretary Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Qasim Akinreti; Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Dr. Masshood Adenrele Fashola; Principal, Mahmood Ahmadiyya College Ijede; Alhaji I. T. A. Ogunmola; and Alhaji Lakunle Bello at Press Conference to commemorate 21st Anniversary Mahmood Ahmadiyya College Abule-Eko Ijede, Lagos Statae.

Principal, Mahmood Ahmadiyya College Ijede; Alhaji I.T. A.; and Alhaji at Press Conference to commemorate 21st Aniversary Mahmood Ahmadiyya College Abule-Eko Ijede, Lagos State.

Sallah: Sacrifice for positive change –Obasa

he Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has urged Muslims and people of other faiths to step up their sacrificial efforts in ensuring that real change in the running of the government is established in Nigeria. Obasa in his Sallah message enjoined Muslims and other Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of the Eid-il-Adha by praying and sacrificing personal

resources in order to entrench solid democratic governance in the country. He appealed to Nigerians to live together in peace and let Islam play vital roles in their daily activities, noting that if the people adhere to the teachings of the religions, society would be a better place to live in. The Speaker, who was optimistic of the survival of democracy in the country, however cautioned that all hands must be on

‘Abide by Islam tenets’ Tunbosun Ogundare

resident of Jamaat-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria, Arc. Taofiq Olawunmi Agbaje has called on Muslims to imbibe the teachings of Islam, which include sacrifice, piety, love and total obedience to the will of Allah in their ways of life. He made the call in his sallah message, saying, “This period of Eid is for Muslims to reflect on their ways of lives if in agree-

ment with the tenets of Islam and adjust if in anyway contrary. It is not about killing and eating of ram per se but the spirit behind the act. “Let us totally submit to His will by being honest, transparent, truthful, living peacefully with others, help the needy, and do other right things and acceptable to Him and to fellow human beings.” He also asked Muslims to pray more for peace and unity in the land urging political leaders at all levels to consider them-

deck, saying that government at all levels and the people must pay their roles very well. According to him, Nigerian people have suffered enough and should not be subjected to another round of bad governance. He admonished Muslims to be moderate in their celebration and urged wealthy Muslims to extend their philanthropic gestures to the people, especially the less-privileged in the society.

selves as servants of the people and demonstrate love, fairness and equity in all their dealings while followers should always pray for God to guide the leaders towards good governance. While condemning in totality Boko Haram insurgents and their activities, Agbaje appealed to members to lay down their arms and stop wasting lives and property, noting that Islam forbids in totality the killing of innocent souls without any justifiable cause as prescribed by Sharia.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, September 25, 2015

L-R: Mrs. Victoria Rotimi; Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe; the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Adedapo Adedeji Adelabu; bride’s father Ayodeji Fetuga and Groom’s mother/ Ekiti State former Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, after the wedding at the All Souls Anglican Church, Lekki Phase I, Lagos.

L-R: Presiding Bishop, United African Methodist Evangelical Church Abule Jesha, Yaba, Lagos, Rt. Revd Zaccheus Abolade Sanyaolu (JP) presenting a Bible to the retired Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (Rtd) on his conferment as the Cathedral Father,in Lagos

People In The Mirror

L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adebisi Sarah Sosan; Osun State Deputy Governor Titilayo Laoye-Tomori and Ekti States Deputy Governors Modupe Adelabu, at the wedding of Mrs Adelabu’s son, Adedapo at the All Souls Anglican Church, Kayode Animashaun Street, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos.

Foremost Chartered Accountant, Bashorun J.K. Randle (middle) presenting the Best Bank in Corporate Banking Award to Abimbola Adaramola (left) and Opeyemi Odejide (right) both of Stanbic IBTC Bank at the BusinessDay Banking Awards 2015 in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Head, Youth Segment, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Aderinokun; Regional Operations Director, Lagos Region, Airtel, Oladokun Oye; Brand Ambassador, Airtel, Tuface Idibia; One Mic winners, Jay Dreamz; Acetune with Airtel Trace Music Star winner, Jitey Peterz at the Airtel One Mic All-Stars album launch/ Tuface’s 40th birthday party in Lagos.

President/ Vice Chancellor, Babcock University (BU), Prof James Kayode Makinde (centre) flanked by other principal officers and senior officials of the University while cutting the cake to commemorate the 2015 Founders’ Day celebration of the University, at the University Stadium, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.

L-R: Chairman/Coker Chapter Sub-Province, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. John Bello; Chairperson, Apapa/Surulere Province, Pastor Goodness Eze; Youth Director, Coker Chapter, Pastor Olufemi Adeparusi and Chairman, Layeni Chapter, Rev. Godfirst Onyeaku, during the Father and Sons youth forum with the theme: “Godly Route to Fulfilment” in Lagos, recently.

L-R: President Nutrition Society Of Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Nnam; Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Gloria Elemo and Representative of awardee, Chairman/ CEO Nasco Group Nig., Mr Idris Nasreddin, during the Nutrition Society of Nigeria 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Lagos, at the weekend.

Arty News

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aduba’s second Emmy

or the second year in a row, Uzoamaka Aduba wins an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, after being upgraded from her guest starring role this year, for which she won her first Emmy, for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. The 34-year old made history by becoming the first person since Ed Asner to win Emmys in two different categories for the same character. She stars as Susanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on the award-winning Netflix television series, Orange is the New Black. Overcome with emotion, she gave the night’s best speech, according to the audience present at the award show and viewers at home. In the speech, she thanked her fellow cast members and crew of the show, Netflix, show creator Jenji Kohan, and her family. Her sister, Chioma, who was present received a special shout out, in which Uzo thanked her for her friendship and mentioned that she was humbled to be called her sister. Uzo Nwanneka Aduba was bornin Boston, Massachussetts in the US, to Nigerian parents. She studied Classical Voice at the Boston University, and began her acting career in 2003. In 2012, she auditioned for a different, smaller part in Orange is the New Black, but got the part of “Crazy Eyes”

instead. According to Jeniffer Euston, casting director for the series, Uzo’s hairstyle (knots), which is similar to that of the character that she plays, and ‘something’ with which they could connect with in the actress, made her perfect for the role. The role of Susanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren has previously garnered Aduba numerous awardsand recognition besides the Emmy, such as a Critics’ Choice Television Awards nomination for Best Supporting actress, a Screen Actors’ Guild Awards recognition which she shared with the rest of her fellow cast members, and a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards.

US partners Nollywood Imoelayo Fatunase

here are indications that the United States of America (USA) Government is set to officially partner the Nigerian film industry popularly called Nollywood particularly in the areas of co-production treaties, protection of Intellectual Property rights and distribution among others. The USA Assistant Secretary of State on Economic and Business Affairs, Ambassador Charles Rivkin, dropped this hint when he and his team met with a high-powered 6-man delegation of Nollywood earlier today (Wednesday September 9, 2015) at The George Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, to discuss the challenges and eco-

nomic prospects of Nollywood and how the USA government can begin to officially partner the third largest film-making nation in the world. According to Rivkin who was a former US Ambassador to France, his visit is to find a common ground between Nigeria and the USA in various sectors, including Nollywood, pointing out that the US was very much concerned about the issue of piracy and Intellectual Property protection in the sector. “My visit today is one of a long line of engagements with U.S. in coming years and there will be other opportunities to collaborate on mutual interests. We will look at the issue of co-production treaties between our countries, getting

your country to ratify and domesticate relevant World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties for the protection of Intellectual Properties especially online; getting big US production studios to invest in Nollywood particularly in the areas of cinemas and other forms of distribution in conjunction with bodies like Netflix among other symbiotic relationship”, Rivkin stated. Ambassador Rivkin who was in Nigeria for a 3-day state visit had earlier met with the Presidency, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Trademark, Patents and Designs Registry (TPDR), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Elder O hosts O’jez Independence Show

Aduba

‘My Christian belief forbids promotion of obscenity’ eneath her good looks, lies a modest disposition and discipline which go with success in any venture. These qualities may have prepared Chinyere Dim, Managing Director, Sonic Luxuriant Lounge and Bar stationed on the bustling Oke-Afa/Ikotun Express Road, Lagos. She confessed that the running of the place had not been easy as expected but maintained that because I have prepared myself before I venture into this business hence I have been able to weather successfully the attendant stormy nature of concern The magic behind such from pretty strong indications has to do with her discerning financial disposition, is supported by the discipline expected of successful entertainment concern operators. ‘when it comes to drawing the line between entertainment and moral debasement, my christain instinct takes over. It forbids me from promoting obscenity. Hence, I

Presentation of Plaque To Ambassador Rivkin. L-R Andy Amenechi, Zik Zulu Okafor, Alex Eyengho, Ambassador Rivkin, Nobert Ajaegbu, Adeyinka Oduniyi and Igwe Gabosky.

am yet to approve of lap dancing in my club which appears to be the vogue in nite clubbing in Lagos’ , she revealed . However, Dim, and indigene of Oko in Anambra state maintained that with time she would change such policy because the atmosphere, must have been ripe to allow this integral part of today nite clubbing concern.

omedian Elder O will be hosting this year’s O’jez Sallah Niteand O’jez Independence Groove shows scheduled for September 23 and October 1 respectively at the open air section of the celebrity restaurant chain, O’jez, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos outlet. The two shows will also feature Elder O’s sidekick MC Phrymzo who is gradually making his mark in the comedy sector. Both comedians handle the weekly O’jez Weekend Jamz sessions on Friday and Sunday. The O’jez Sallah Nite on Wednesday, September 23 featured

the Evergreen Band with Elder O, MC Phrymzo and dance group Scata & Sons with resident Disc Jockey, DJ Multi on the wheels of steel. The Evergreen Band is known for its versatility in dishing out evergreen highlife songs with a full band compliment. “We celebrate with our Muslim customers when they are celebrating, that is why every year; we always hold the O’jez Sallah Nite. Don’t forget also that there is the O’jez Xmas Blast. This edition of the O’jez Sallah Nite will be as unique as last year’s and even more,” Chief Joseph Odobeatu, Chief Executive Officer, O’jez Group

Don Jazzy as brand ambassador Victor Udoh

Don Jazzy

s a way of encouraging millions of Nigerians across the country to celebrate success at every phase of life, Johnnie Walker, the foremost premium Scotch whisky in the world from the stables of Diageo Brands, today unveiled its largest ever global marketing campaign tagged “Joy Will Take You Further”. Activated in more than 50 countries simultaneously, Johnnie Walker’s “Joy Will Take You Further”

campaign will reach over 350million consumers around the world within the first weeks of launch, urging everyone to recognize and celebrate personal progress they achieve on their walk to success. Speaking at the event, the corporate affairs director Diageo Nigeria Mr. Sesan Sobowale stated that the new campaign - drawing on decades of research - challenged the conventional wisdom that success guarantees you happiness and instead celebrates the fact that happiness actually helps

said in a statement on Monday. On the oncoming O’jez Independence Groove, Odobeatu, popularly called ‘O’jez’ said it would be a night to remember as “we will make Nigeria’s 55th Independence anniversary a memorable one for our customers. Our clientele are very important to us as a chain of celebrity restaurant, so we always strive to add more value to the exquisite African, Continental and Chinese cuisine we serve them by complimenting it with top notch comedy, dance and music every Friday and Sunday and every national or religious day in our calendar.”

people achieve success. Other activities at the event included the unveiling of top music artiste, producer and CEO of Mavins Records, Michael Collins Ajereh aka Don Jazzy as the Joy Ambassador for the Campaign. Explaining the rationale behind the choice of Joy Ambassador, Head of Marketing, Diageo Brands, Adenike Adebola, said, “Don Jazzy has experienced different phases of success in his career up till now. He is a true achiever, a game changer and a model to emulate.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arty News

Friday, September 25, 2015

Was there a specific reason why you decided to leave Canada to do music in Nigeria? I do Afro beat and this is the foundation for afro beat, it is right I come back let my people know me. Why music? It’s an ability I have always had. I come from an entertainment music family. My mum used to be a lover of music, my dad sings, I have a sister that is an actress myself and my immediate elder brother we do a lot of productions. How many singles do you have? I have Okosisi, my own version of Azonto and few popular songs. I released most of them in Canada but MBA MBA is the first single I am releasing here in Nigeria.

Why I left Canada to do music –Fuge5 Victor Oji a.k.a Fuge5, bringing down his musical experience from Canada, is one afro beat artiste to watch out for. He talks about his music, aspirations and the way forward for the music industry in this Interview with REGINA OTOKPA. Excerpts.

How were your songs accepted in Canada? Very well, because of those songs I have a good following out there right now in Canada and the states. I know it would have gone way better if I had come to Nigeria which is the source of our afro beat which is why I am back home.

What inspired MBA MBA? As a storyteller, I was feeling to tell a little bit of a story. It is like a unity song I spoke pidgin, Igbo, English and a little bit of Yoruba the only language missing is Hausa which the pidgin took care of. What message are you passing across? Keep pushing keep going no matter what. Some people might want to hold you down at some point but regardless of opinions just keep going, believe in yourself and something will happen as far as you put your mind in it. Where do you draw your inspirations from? I draw my inspiration from things happening around my environment and experience. Aside Afro beat are you looking at deviating mush later? I am a mix of afro beat hip hop, I do a little bit of RnB so there will always be something different. I am working on an album that would be released sometime next year and it will be a combination of every genre in it where I will show case my afro beat How did you come about your stage name ‘Fuge5’? Fudge 5 has always been there, it was a name given to me by my mates when I was

the issue of greasing People’s hands especially when you are upcoming people expect you to have millions because the last person came with millions forgetting that you might not be doing the same thing that person is doing to be getting that money. Relationship building is very key but some people do not care about that but I have been lucky enough, people have been helpful to me, I guess it’s because they believe in my music Who do you look up to in the music industry? Jay Z, he is an icon looking at where he came from and where he is now helping others is a blessing. Lucky Dube his soul rest in peace I still love him he is an inspiration to me. P Square they came in when there was nothing in the industry made it and paved way for us, MI.

When did you start music professionally? I started going to the studio about three years ago and ever since then I have been promoting those. I took a year off because I lost my mum and I had to do some other things like work but I decided working is not for me right now let me do this music thing and see what comes out. How would you compare the studio sessions in Nigeria and Canada? It depends on the music I do some hip hop too as well but with afro beats and most of it, I am more excited recording here in Nigeria because here we have all the elements in place. The mix engineers knows the sound the audience wants to hear its’ just that back there things are more organized. If they tell you that you will get your music in two days you will get it in two days but here in Nigeria if they tell you in two days, it might be two years but its better here.

Where do you see your music in the next five years? I would be more than a house hold name, have mediums and platforms of my own where upcoming artistes can thrive, I will have a system that works for me and still pushing and working everyday like am still upcoming even when I have become an international artiste.

Talent takes you far, but it is not the end of the world

in high school, 5 came because it is my favorite number, I am the fifth kid in my family. I did some research on fuge itself and I found out it is a German word, it is a key in the German piano and without that key when you are composing German music, the music is not complete. Do we have a video for MBA MBA? Yes, MBA MBA video is in the works, I should be shooting in less than a week in Lagos

push us. Lagos is not doing anything extraordinary, they are just supporting their own and pushing their artistes out through the media and they make more business for themselves so we need Abuja media to support and wax us let Lagos hear and run down here, let’s put Abuja on the map. The artistes on their part should stay consistent and hardworking.

What is the difference between the performance in Lagos and Abuja? I noticed Lagos is more receptive to music and performances, Abuja might be a little lay back but still I would say both places they are doing good, they are open to the whole idea of our music.

How can the government help upcoming artistes blossom? Fighting piracy is going to be difficult especially Nigeria where we do not have a data base but every structure they can put in place would help because these things are ripple effects. Regulatory boards should be put in place and regulatory bodies should also be regulated for things to work. With all the things that we go through in Nigeria, artistes and our music seems to keep us going, it is something we always hold on to, to keep us happy regardless of the negative things happening around us, we play a vital role and any support we can get from the government will be good.

Given your experience from Canada, how do you think we can develop and redefine music in Abuja? We need the media to support us regardless, if you see an artiste that is promising and doing his work properly show support. It is so sad that in Nigeria everything boils down to money but we need the media to

What challenges have you encountered as an artiste in Nigeria? Power, sometimes you have an inspiration and you want to record and there is no light the light goes off and you have to go queue for fuel that is not there sometimes. Timeliness is another issue, you have a set time you want to do something and someone might delay, also

Why the choice of Lagos? It is an afro beat and I want to get a little bit of the core elements. Lagos is also the central district of afro music in Nigeria and a place for everybody.

How active are you on the social media? I have a strong presence on all social media platforms and I can be reached on both Instagram and twitter @ fuge5 and on Facebook, fuge oj. What advice do you have for upcoming artistes? Talents takes you far but it is not the end of the world, this music thing does not last forever, yes you can make all the money there are so many people out there who did that but if you make all the money and you do not know how to invest, what is the use and there is no guarantee you might make the money so I advise every artiste have a strong educational background so they will always be something to fall back on. Education is key, it is important, it opens doors. Could you throw more light on your educational background? I had my primary and secondary education in Nigeria, I went to Ghana to study economy and I have two separate degrees in economy and business from university of Virginia, Canada. Education is key even with what I am doing, the things I have learnt in school has played a major role in my life. Memorable read What is the craziest thing you have done so far as an artiste? Not sleeping for three days in a row because I had to record, perform, make an appearance and go back and record again and when I wanted to rest I had an opportunity to record with an artiste I wanted to record with. This was in Canada though I had to rush back to the studio again, I don’t look forward to those kind of days but last week I almost fell into the same category again I had a lot of radio interviews and lots of traveling to do.

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Volkswagen Diesel saga: Fraud takes huge toll on global brand’s reputation

n a dramatic admission of guilt, Volkswagen CEO, Martin Winterkorn resigned on Wednesday, taking responsibility for the German carmaker’s rigging of U.S. emissions tests in the biggest scandal in its 78-year history. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency had alleged that Volkswagen Jetta Clean DieselVolkswagen and Audi diesel cars built between 2009-2015 have violated US air pollution regulations through the use of a ‘defeat device’ that turns on full emissions controls only during official testing. It means cars in normal use are emitting nitrogen oxides – NOx – at up to 40 times the mandatory standard. Cars affected include: Volkswagen Beetle (2009-2015), Volkswagen Golf (2009-2005), Volkswagen Jetta (2009-2015), Volkswagen Passat (2014-2015) and Audi A3 (2009-2015.) Volkswagen faces civil penalties and other fines for the use of the defeat device, which is said to have been used on almost 500,000 Volkswagens and Audis since 2008. If found guilty, Volkswagen could face breathtaking fines of up to $18 billion (£11.5 billion): that’s because of possible fines of $37,500 for every one of the 482,000 diesels sold with the emissions defeat device fitted. “Volkswagen needs a fresh start - also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation,” Winterkorn said in a statement. He said he was shocked by events of the past few days, above all that misconduct on such a massive scale was possible at the company. A five-member executive committee had grilled Winterkorn, 68, at the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany as the company was under huge pressure to take decisive action, with its shares down more than 30 percent in value since the crisis broke, and the bad news still

coming. Earlier, Winterkorn had noted,“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public. “We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly and completely establish all of the facts of this case. “We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law.” German prosecutors said on Wednesday they were conducting a preliminary investigation into the manipulation of vehicle emission test results at Volkswagen, while French Energy Minister Segolene Royal said her country would be “extremely severe” if its investigation into the firm found any wrongdoing. U.S. authorities are planning criminal investigations after discovering that Volkswagen programmed computers in its cars to detect when they were being tested and alter the running of their diesel engines to conceal their true emissions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had urged Volkswagen to move “as quickly as possible” to restore confidence in a company held up for generations as a paragon of German engineering prowess. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Friday Volkswagen could face penalties of up to $18 billion for cheating emissions tests on some of its diesel cars. The story has sent shockwaves through the car market, with dealers in the United States reporting people holding back from buying diesel cars and “#dieselgate” trending on Twitter.

‘

Diesel engines account for less than three per cent of new cars sold in the United States but around half of cars in Europe, where governments have encouraged their use to meet fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas targets. Their biggest selling point is their fuel economy and low carbon emissions compared to standard gasoline engines. But they also emit far more nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas blamed for health problems. The suggestion that their emissions in real world conditions are worse than reported in tests could harm the whole sector and alter the future of the car industry worldwide. “The Volkswagen issue is another blackeye for the diesel engine overall,” Mike Jackson, the chief executive of the AutoNation, the largest U.S. car retailer, told CNBC, adding the “brand position” of Volkswagen was at risk in the U.S. market. Volkswagen said on Tuesday it was setting aside 6.5 billion euros ($7.3 billion) to help cover the costs of the crisis. Analysts doubt that will be enough, with the company disclosing that 11 million of its cars were fitted with Type EA 189 engines that had shown a “noticeable deviation” in emission levels between testing and road use. The U.S. Justice Department has launched a criminal probe, a source familiar with the matter said. New York and other state attorneys general are also forming a group to investigate. Environmentalists have long complained that carmakers game the testing regime to exaggerate the fuel-efficiency and emissions readings of their vehicles. European politicians on Wednesday voted to speed up rules to tighten compliance with pollution limits on cars. European car association ACEA said that so far there was “no evidence that this is an industry-wide issue”. But Societe Generale analysts said that while the uncertainty prevailed, the whole autos sector was likely to be “dead money” for a while. As the world woke up to the news this week, shares in Volk-

volkswagen needs a fresh start - also in terms of personnel. I am

‘

Amidst revelation that Volkswagen Jetta Clean DieselVolkswagen and Audi diesel cars built between 2009-2015 violated US air pollution regulations through the use of a ‘defeat device’ that turns on full emissions controls only during official testing, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn finally resigned on Wednesday, taking responsibility for the German carmaker’s biggest scandal in its 78-year history. Adejuwon Osunnuyi writes

clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation

Winterkorn

swagen went into free-fall, suffering their most dramatic plunge in almost six years. Reuters reported that Volkswagen shares fell 13 per cent to 140.95 euros by 0207 EDT, ‘the biggest one-day drop since November 2009.’ This follows a 4.5 per cent fall in New York, immediately after the announcement by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental groups such as the International Council on Clean Transportation, which first spotted VW’s diesel trickery, have warned for years that tests are being “gamed” by the industry - a view now broadly shared by the European Commission. Lax regulation in Europe, where half of cars sold are diesels, may have given VW confidence that its deception would go unnoticed in the United States. For five years, it did. Amid mounting calls for an investigation and crackdown, the European Parliament environment committee on Wednesday backed tougher new testing rules designed to resist manipulation by carmakers and dilution by governments, chiefly Germany. “The VW news is intensifying the pressure,” Green deputy Bas Eickhout told Reuters. “This has been a long time coming,” said one EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s a fine line between flexibilities and really breaking the law.” Prior to certification, new car models are hooked up to a dynamometer, or “dyno”, with their wheels resting on rollers and a hose running between test equipment and the exhaust pipe. The stationary car goes for a simulated drive - the test cycle consisting in Europe of a sedate

20-minute cruise made up of several fixed periods at different speeds averaging 34 kilometers per hour (21 mph). The standard test is both unrepresentative and intimately familiar to auto engineers, carmakers say. Pressured by evertightening limits on carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions, they tune engines to perform best on the regulator’s bench. They do so by optimizing the engine to run cleanest at the sluggish rev counts and throttle inputs typical of the test cycle, at the price of greater fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and pollution in more normal driving. “All manufacturers deliberately engineer their cars to do well in the test,” said Max Warburton, auto analyst at Bernstein, a brokerage. If anything, he added, “the risk of manufacturers playing games to hit the standards has probably increased in recent years.” The U.S. test regime differs in some details but not its predictability - which is why VW was able to go further by programming an illegal “defeat device” to spot tests and temporarily suppress NOx emissions that were otherwise up to 40 times the legal limit. VW’s secret test mode was even referred to internally as the “dyno calibration”, according to the U.S. findings, which the German firm has not contested. Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn is apologising almost daily as he fights for his job. Linked to heart disease and respiratory problems, NOx pollution is blamed for hundreds of thousands of premature deaths in the U.S. and Europe.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, September 25, 2015

Driver’s licence: Don’t fail NigeriansFRSC boss charges officials

he Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi has charged staff, especially those responsible for processing the driver’s licences across the country, on improved service delivery, saying FRSC, cannot afford to fail Nigerians. He stated this recently while declaring open a one day sensitization workshop organised for Sector Heads of Drivers’ Licence Centres from the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT. The Corps Marshal said FRSC placed much importance on staff capacity building in order to prepare them adequately for technical and administrative challenges in their work environment for enhancement of their productivity level, adding that the workshop was the fourth in the series of the training programme organized for the staff since the beginning of

Oyeyemi

the year. “It is gratifying to note that the workshops had impacted positively on the productivity of the staff,” he stated. Oyeyemi further stressed the importance of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme and the National Driver’s Licence as platforms for collating the data, unifying the process of acquisition of the licenses and stan-

dardizing the procedures with a view to ensuring the integrity of the system. He disclosed that in line with the peculiar federal system, which Nigeria operates, a tripartite arrangement between FRSC, the state Boards of Internal Revenue and Vehicle Inspection Officers were put in place to give the states full participation in the process leading to the issuance of the licences. The Corps Marshal listed some of the challenges facing the scheme as non-committal attitudes of some state governments; location of the driver’s licence centres in areas with inadequate security provision for the equipment, leading to cases of theft and disruption of production as well as parallel production of the licences. Oyeyemi urged the heads of driver’s licence centres to improve on their relationship with members of the public, warning that cases of rudeness or abuse of public trust would not be tolerated from any centre.

LASTMA reviews traffic law enforcement

nlike in the past where vehicles belonging to traffic offender are impounded on the spot thereby obstructing the free flow of traffic, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has started using holistic method of booking offenders on spot and allowing the driver continue with his journey without taking custody of the vehicle. The new approach, which kicked off at Ojota area of the state, recently, witnessed the arrest of four vehicles violating the BRT Law. The vehicles booked included two commercial buses with registration numbers AGL 109 XA, JJJ 7775 XJ, a black Honda, FST 914AX belonging to one Nike Elegbede and a blue Toyota Camry car with registration number EJ 54 KIJ driven by one Adamu Danladi. While the two private owners were able to provide valid vehicle documents on spot, the two commercial bus drivers could not provide any valid driving documents but were all allowed to go with the their vehicles in line with the new policy of the Lagos State government . The General Manager of the agency, Bashir Braimah who led other officials to the field,

megacrown1@yahoo.com 08025237926

Apple iCar to hit the road by 2019

n Apple iCar could be on the road by 2019 as the tech firm puts pedal to the metal on its automotive ambitions. The American firm has reportedly been given permission to triple the size of its 600 person car team after meeting with officials in California. This could mean an iCar will be publically available within four years, although it is unlikely to be driverless at first. The scheme is called Project Titan and has already been revving up for more than a year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Apple is understood to have been on a recruitment drive to

help speed its car project along, hiring big hitters from automobile firms like Chrysler. Apple has already built CarPlay, an in-car software platform that connects an iPhone to the car’s entertainment and navigation system. But it now appears the massive company is moving ahead with plans for an actual vehicle. Rival tech company Google is already well ahead with plans to build an autonomous car while Elon Musk’s Tesla has luxury electric cars already out in the UK market. If Apple does release an iCar, an automatic, driverless version is likely to follow.

Toyota, BMW target December for joint sports car

One of the traffic law offenders arrested and booked by LASTMA officials on BRT lane at Ojota, Lagos recently

explained that the exercise was the first after the directive of Governor Ambode on the agency’s non accommodation approach of the offenders’ vehicle after booking. He affirmed that the enforcement will send signals to recalcitrant drivers and those who engage in transportation business in the state that it’s no more business as usual as the Road Traffic Law is still valid and in existence and must be obeyed at all times. On the workability of the new holistic approach, the LASTMA boss explained that there would be no hidden place for traffic violators as the offenders are ex-

pected to make payment of their various fines within the docket of seven days and present their tickets at LASTMA offices. Braimah said any offender that fails to comply will be arrested at home after the expiration of the grace. To those without valid documents or not registered in the State, the LASTMA boss said there is a working synergy between the agency and other sister agencies across the federation, hence, no traffic offender will go unpunished. “It’s in their own interest to either fall in or fall out with this new method,” Braimah charged.

here are indications that Toyota and BMW will decide on the production of a jointly developed sports car at the end of the year. The two prominent automobile manufacturers had in November last year reached the concept phase for the vehicle after completing a technical feasibility study. The manufacturers declined to specify where the model might be built and when production would start. Toyota spokesperson at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show said, “By the end of the year, we will approve whether or not we will make it. The whole study before that, on what kind of platform, on what kind of architecture, that’s been progressing quite well. We haven’t yet decided to give the green light to the project, but it’s coming up.” According to a report on Reuters, the car would be a Z4 replacement, and most likely use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The auto manufacturers are currently working together on a number of projects including hydrogen fuel cell technology,

lightweight components, and a platform for a new sports car. Some Toyota models in Europe, including the mid-size Avensis, use BMW turbo-diesel engines. It stated, “If the sports car project gets the go-ahead, it is expected that the new architecture will be used by BMW for a Z4 replacement, while Toyota will produce a car that will be a successor to the Supra. “The current Z4 debuted at the beginning of 2009 and has soldiered on with some minor changes since then. Although it had a cult following, the Toyota Supra was discontinued in 2002 and was not replaced. In 2014, Toyota unveiled the FT-1 concept car, which provides clues as to what a future largerthan-86 coupe might look like.” With their collaboration on fuel cell and sports cars, there are also reports that the partnership would expand to other projects such as a smaller Mini. The BMW’s Chief Financial Officer,Friedrich Eichiner, said the two companies were in talks about extending their collaboration, but did not elaborate any further.

Cocktail

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities $1 million lottery ticket forgotten Oddities in mail pile for months

Michigan woman was found to be a $1 million lottery winner after her winning ticket sat forgotten in a pile of mail for nearly four months. Linda Tuttle of Kentwood told Michigan Lottery officials she purchased a ticket for the May 26 Mega Millions drawing at T&J Party Store and promptly forgot about the ticket. Tuttle said she went back to the store recently and chatted with a clerk who told her a $1 million lottery ticket had

been purchased at the store and remained unclaimed. The woman said she searched through a pile of mail at her home to retrieve the ticket, which she discovered matched the five numbers from the drawing -- 01-39-52-69-72. She said she hid the winning ticket in a chocolate tin until she traveled to Lansing to claim her prize Tuesday. Tuttle said she plans to use some of her winnings to visit Chinese exchange students she hosted at her house.

Judge rules ‘Happy Birthday’ song copyright

federal judge in California has declared Warner Music’s “Happy Birthday to You” copyright invalid, putting the ever-present song into the public domain. U.S. District Judge George H. King ruled Tuesday in favor of the plaintiffs, a group of independent filmmakers who filed the suit against Warner Music, which has collected up to $50 million in

licensing fees for the birthday song since it purchased the copyright in 1988. King said the evidence presented in the case indicated sisters Patty and Mildred Hill “did not try to obtain federal copyright protection” when they wrote the song in 1889. A copyright on the song was not filed until 1935, when the song was already in the public domain, King said.

New Pot Noodle invention stops noodles sliding off your spoon A n amateur inventor from Sheffield has fulfilled his lifelong dream of bringing an new ‘eating accessory’ to market that allows people to slurp soup and noodles at the same time. The new product, dubbed the NoodVamp, is a detachable silicon spoon cover with rubbery teeth, which can be attached to a normal spoon to minimise “those pesky slide-offspoon moments”, 31-yearold Valdis Krumins said. “I designed the NoodVamp in order to give people a simple way to eat their favourite meals without the hassle of switching between fork and spoon, and eliminating noodles spilling all over the place,” Mr Krumins said. The first prototypes were based on the “spork” design, which combines a spoon and a fork, but this failed to solve the prob-

lem. I’d initially suggested people try sporks for their noodles, but it was merely an adequate fork and an adequate spoon in one, so it was only a mediocre compromise,” said Mr Krumins. “Frustration is the biggest driver for change, so I came up with a simple rubber – now silicon – spoon

attachment that can easily fix these simple problems all noodle-eaters have experienced.” The engineer first designed the device 10 years ago but struggled to bring the invention to market. A crowdfunding campaign fell far short of its £30,000 target, receiving just £342 in backing from armchair investors.

“I didn’t have the funds to finance the production of the NoodVamp, so at the time, crowdfunding seemed like the best solution,” Mr Krumins said. “However, as I didn’t have working prototypes that could be used to support my campaign, it didn’t receive the backing I needed.”

After 10 years on the drawing board, the NoodVamp is finally entering production

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Maritime

FOB: Reviewing policy for indigenous shipping firms’ participation in oil lifting More than 50 years after the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity, Nigeria has continued to lift her exports of the commodity on the basis of Free On Board, FOB, thereby denying indigenous shipping companies from partaking in the crude-lifting business. But with the ongoing reform in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, shippers and other maritime industry stakeholders are concerned about whether or not the transformation in the Corporation could result in correcting the lopsidedness of the crude oil lifting business in the country, writes FRANCIS EZEM.

t is no longer news that successive governments in Nigeria including military and civilians have paid lip service to the trade imbalance under which Nigeria’s crude export is shipped on the basis of Free On Board FOB while imports into the country is carried on the basis of Cost, Insurance and Freight. It probably no new any longer that the country has lost billions of dollars arising from the shipment of the black gold, which has for over 50 years has been made an exclusive preserve for foreign shipping lines. What might interest Nigerians, mostly maritime stakeholders is whether the current President Muhammandu Buhari’s administration is willing to reverse this policy, which has over five decades fuelled massive unemployment in the country. The FOB is a trade term requiring the seller to deliver goods on board a vessel designated by the buyer. It implies that buyers of Nigeria’s crude determine the vessel used for the shipment. This accounts for why more than 98 per cent of crude exports from Nigeria is done using foreign vessels. Conversely, as import-dependent nation, goods imported into the country are shipped on the basis of Cost, Insurance and Freight CIF. Unlike the case of crude oil shipment, where the buyer determines the vessel, the seller determines the vessel for the shipment of goods imported into the country. Whether importing or exporting, the nation’s economy bleeds from the unending capital flight. Available statistics show that Nigeria loses over N2.2 trillion

annually, in terms of shipments of her crude oil export, which arises from the fact that all the freight components go to foreigners. This trend is even worsened by the sharp decline in the global price of crude oil from over $100 per barrel to less than $50 per barrel. It was also gathered that at $2.5 per barrel, which is the benchmark charged by these foreign shipping companies to freight the product, very little or no benefits come to Nigerians, especially given the health hazards and environ- Tanker vessel on sea ment pollution that come with the exploration of the crude oil in the issues featured in the campaign ments in the NNPC connive with promises of the president include the International Oil Companies country. It is on this basis that stakehold- fighting corruption, create jobs IOCs to scheme Nigerians out of the crude oil lifting business. ers’ expectations are high that and diversify the economy. “Reversal of the FOB policy Ihenacho, who double as chairthe reform in the NNPC and also given the change mantra of the will help in diversifying the econ- man, Integrated Oil and Gas Limcurrent administration, nothing omy because it would boost ship- ited, an independent oil marketing other than a reversal of this policy ping, create more jobs because firm, also regretted that the Cabowould be good enough for Nigeri- the indigenous shipping firms tage regime, which restrict carans. This is also given that as part would be more empowered to cre- riage of refined products within the nation’s coastal and inland reof the reforms in the NNPC, the ate jobs”, Labinjo argued. Only recently, chairman of gion to indigenous operators has Federal Government had to sack the old management, which was Genesis Worldwide Shipping, one also been hijacked by the Indians, of the few thriving indigenous Lebanese and the Greeks. believed to be corrupt. It was gathered that in a bid to The stakeholders have also shipping firm, Captain Emmanuargued that the appointment of el Ihenacho said in an interview perpetually keep Nigerian ship Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu as the that moves by indigenous opera- owners out of the business, the new Group Managing Director of tors to convince the government IOCs with this assistance of their the NNPC, who has been a major to reverse the FOB policy were Nigerian-collaborators in the player in the global oil and gas frustrated by some officials of the NNPC insist that the vessels owned by Nigerians are not fit to lift this sector with vast experience in the NNPC. According to him, some ele- product. dynamics of the business presents Nigeria with a unique opportunity to critically look at the issues on eversal of the policy their merit with a view to reviewing the policy. will help in diversifying the President of the Nigerian Indigeconomy because it would enous Ship Owners Association NISA, Captain Niyi Labinjo, who boost shipping create more reacted to these expectations, noted that apart from financial losses jobs because the indigenous arising from capital flight in the shipping firms would be more shipment of crude oil exports, Nigeria also loses in excess of 5,000, empowered to create jobs 000 jobs opportunities annually. According to him, three critical

FOB

But pioneer chairman of Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria ISAN, Chef Isaac Jolapamo, has always faulted this argument, insisting that it is part of the game plan to keep the Nigerian ship owners perpetually out of the business. According to him, acquiring and running ships is a very capital intensive venture. He also said that ships are not the kind of mobile assets you would buy off the shelf and keep somewhere to rot away. He however challenged the IOCs and their Nigerian collaborators in the NNPC to give a five year crude oil lifting contract as the case may be to an indigenous shipping firm and see if the company will not acquire brand new ships to execute the job. He insisted that a foreign shipyard or even a bank would be willing to extend facilities to an indigenous shipping company when it sees for instance that the Nigerian shipping firm has a five –contract with Mobil. This is therefore the time for the new NNPC to make a change of the FOB policy in this season of change and only then would Nigerians appreciate that it pays to embrace change.

Business Maritime

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Victimisation: NIMASA workers petition Federal Character Commission STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

ome members of staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA have petitioned the Federal Character Commission over allegations of victimization, unauthorised sack, among others targeted at a section of the Nigerian nation. In a letter dated September 3, 2015 and addressed to the chairman of the commission, by the workers under the aegis of Concerned Staff of NIMASA and entitled: ‘Demotion, Marginalisation and Victimisation of Southerners in NIMASA’ the workers accused the current management of grossly undermining the federal character policy in the proposed demotion and promotion of some staff. But in a swift reaction, Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations of the agency, Hajia Lami Tumaka, said the Federal Ministry of Transport set up a committee to look into recruitments, placements and promotions from 2010-2015, but also said that the committee has yet to submit its report, insisting that no one is being victimised. The letter reads in parts: “We write as a group of staff from the three geopolitical zones of southern Nigeria comprising of; South West, South East and South South, who are staff of NIMASA, to bring to your attention the ongoing gross disregard of the Federal Character guidelines in postings, as well as intended demotions and promotions of staff of the agency, contrary to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the principles setting up the commission”. According to the staff, on assumption of office, the acting Director General of the agency, Mr. Haruna Jauro, initiated moves to victimise members of staff of the southern extraction. The petition cited the planned case of demotion of some staff from these regions whose engagement were classified as ‘improper placement’. The petitioners said that the executive management of the agency declined to approve the setting up of a committee to verify staff employment from 2010,, which prompted the acting DG to go through the Federal Ministry of Transport to secure an approval through a memo to that effect dated September 2, 2015.

The letter alleged that the primary aim of the committee is to demote, sack and victimise professionals from a section of the country, regardless of the fact they very eminently qualified and experienced to occupy their various positions. “We are of the opinion that this will course serious disaffection in the agency as it is primarily targeted at those from a particular region of the country. In addition to that, we are particularly concerned that this may equally portray the Federal Government in bad light”, the letter also said. It was also gathered that the affected members of staff, who are core professionals, were recruited into the agency after a due processes of advertising the vacant positions, making the applicants to go through various degrees of written tests and oral interviews and became successful, given their knowledge over the years in various national and multinational organisations and countries to bring

SON decries revenue losses to poor exports packaging

he Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON, has identified poor packaging as one of the major challenges facing the nation’s nonoil exports, through which the country loses huge sums of money annually.

Director General of the organisation, Dr Joseph Odumodu, who made this known, said that the inability of the nation’s farmers to properly package and test agricultural products accounts for the low competitiveness of the products, which leads to loss of revenue. It was gathered that efforts by the relevant government and private agencies to diversify the nation’s economy through promotion of non-oil exports have not yielded the expected results due the sub-standard nature of the exports. “Nigeria like many other countries are focusing on the export of agro business in order to earn revenue, the producers of these products have failed to comply with international laws on standardisation, a development that poses great challenge to these efforts”, Odumodu said. “Lots of Nigerians are now exporting agricultural products but one of the greatest challenges

Jauro

Odumodu

that we have noticed is that most of our commodities are not easily accepted in Europe due to poor packaging arising from the failure of people to comply with international laws on standardisation”, he also said. Investigations have also revealed that these exporters send goods without testing them and once they get to Europe or other destinations, they are tested and if they fail to meet the standards, the relevant authorities would either send them back to Nigeria at the expense of the exporter or get them destroyed. While urging the relevant export promotion agencies in the country to learly define the process for exporting agricultural produce and apply some sanctions in case any one defaults, he however argued that if all the necessary processes are defined and sanctions put in place, the onus would lie on the organisation to ensure that all the commodities for exports were tested before they are exported. He also assured that SON, the nation’s apex standards bureau has a good laboratory that has the capacity to test not only agricultural produce but also other complex products.

their cognate experience to grow the Nigerian maritime industry. The workers therefore prayed the commission to stop the phantom committee from sitting or treating any matter in relation to ‘proper placement of staff ’, arguing that it is a deliberate plan to demote, sack and victimise staff who hitherto have not committed any official breach, but have rather gone about their duties diligently as law abiding citizens, giving their best to their country. Meanwhile, Hajia Tumaka said the committee was given two weeks to submit its report wondering where such allegations of victimisation were coming from. She therefore urged that people should exercise caution till the committee submits its report so as find out whether any region is actually victimised.

Höegh Autoliners confirms weapons discovery on ship

orwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners has confirmed that its vessel, Höegh Transporter, which is currently berthed at Mombasa, Kenya, carried a consignment of United Nations (UN) vehicles from Mumbai, India destined for the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo which contained undeclared weapons. “During a cargo inspection which has taken place over the last few days in Mombasa, the Kenyan authorities have discovered weapons, not declared in the cargo manifest, inside some of the UN vehicles. It is our understanding that these weapons belong to the UN vehicles in which they were found, and were for use by the UN during their peacekeeping mission,” the company said in an update. As explained, the weapons were not declared to the company at the time the cargo was loaded. “The fact that weapons were in the vehicles is in violation with

our terms of transportation, which clearly states that no arms or ammunition are accepted for shipment,” the update further reads. “We have noted reports in the press that in addition to weapons, the Kenyan authorities have found a substance which is being tested to ascertain whether could be drugs. We have no clear information at this point as to whether this is correct or not,” the company added. The Norwegian shipowner said that its staff continue to cooperate with the Kenyan authorities and expect to have the vessel released to continue her voyage soon. According to local media reports, the investigation continues and it has not been officially revealed how much weaponry has been discovered. “We cannot tell how many weapons have been recovered because the exercise is still ongoing and we don’t want to jeopardise it by giving ßincomplete information.”

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Business News

Friday, September 25, 2015

300 MDAs defy directive on Single Treasury Account policy –Accountant General

...as FG, others share N442.606bn in August   Tola Akinmutimi

he Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, has confirmed that 300 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, were yet to comply with the new Single Account ( TSA) policy directive, despite the modest achievements of government to ensure total compliance. Giving this hint at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee’s (FAAC’s) meeting in Abuja this week, the AGF said that the affected MDAs agencies resisted the government’s directive to move their accounts to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, after receiving circulars to the effect.  According to him, out of the 900 MDAs at the federal level, only 600 moved their accounts. He explained: “600 MDAS have so far moved their accounts to CBN out of 900 MDAs. We experienced some teething problems at inception, partly because of apprehension and some resistance on the part of the MDAs as far as implementation is concerned and enrolment. However it is easing up. The deadline of the Federal Government stands and the process of enrolment is going on.

“As at today, I can tell you that about 600 out of 900 have cued in and for the number of accounts I cannot categorically tell you because even the MDAs and indeed the federal government never knew the number of accounts. Very soon a position will be made know to you and indeed the Nigerians”, Idris added.  Meanwhile, the three tiers of government were reported to have shared N442.606 billion for the month of August. This represented N278.062 billion less than the N511.799 billion shared by them in the preceding month.  Briefing the media on the decisions taken at the FAAC’s meeting, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel- Nwobia, disclosed that out of the shared funds, Federal Government N168.623 billion while states and local government councils received N 85.528billion and N65.938 billion respectively. In addition to their shares, the oil producing states got N27.870 billion being the 13 per cent derivation allocation due them .  Daniel-Nwaobia reported that the gross revenue collected in August stood at N369.140 billion an amount which represented N64.444 billion lower than the N433.584 billion accruals into the Federation Account in July.  She attributed the drastic reduction

World Bank to support Lagos farmers Isaac Asabor

he World Bank has disclosed its commitment to help Lagos farmers increase agricultural productivity and enhance market access. The Bank’s State Project Coordinator, Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP), Mr. Kehinde Ogunyika, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists on Monday in Lagos prior to award of certificates to participants at its women and youth empowerment training programme. According to him, 55 persons who would be sponsored to acquire skills and start their businesses inareas such as rice cultivation, poultry farming and other agro areas were from the 125 people nominated for spon-

sorship by the World Bank. Ogunyika said that the multilateral institution would support the 55 farmers who include women and youths in three value chains to create agrobusiness ventures that will be better managed as a step toward boosting livelihoods. The World Bank through CADP has helped to lay the groundwork for vitalization, offering technical expertise, bringing international best practices and engaging stakeholders on building a shared vision to renew agro business development. The agriculturist explained that the state government and the bank were determined to add values to the programme at every stage of the value chain, from cultivation, harvesting, packaging and logistics, to marketing.

in revenue collected in August was occasioned by “drastic drop in crude oil export, shut down and shut - in of production for maintenance at different times and terminals during month of July. “  On rumour milling round that the country is sliding into economic recession, the Permanent Secretary debunked it, saying that the

fundamentals of the country remain promising. She sadi: “Well we have not got into recession. Things are looking difficult. The revenue stream of the government has not yet improved but we believe that the government is taken various measures to ensure how it can shore up the revenue base. Like you all know we depend on the oil and gas sector

for all of our revenues to address the issue of shortfall in the production, to address the issue of theft. The main challenge we have is the issue of the drop in the oil. But like the government said, government is going to take measures to see how it can diversify the sources of revenue to government”, Daniel-Nwaobia added.

Bank customers waiting to cash money from the ATM at Zuba in Abuja, yesterday.

NNPC, CNL secure $1.2bn to finance 36 oil well projects UDEME AKPAN

hevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/CNL Joint Venture (the NNPC/CNL JV) has confirmed that it signed an agreement to take $1.2 billion loan for the development of 36 oil wells in the country. The company disclosed through a statement that on September 17, 2015, it signed a loan agreement, in conjunction with NNPC, for the sum of up to $1.2 billion to fund a 36-well development program for the NNPC/ CNL JV. It stated: “CNL commends the NNPC for recognizing the strategic imperative to supplement funding of the joint venture operations to enable high impact projects that can deliver near term production and bankable cash flow for the joint venture. “We support the Nigerian government’s objectives, and are please to do what we can to help the administration succeed in its

efforts to build a prosperous Nigeria,” it added. Last week, the NNPC confirmed that it secured a $1.2 bn multi-year drilling package for the development of 36 offshore/onshore oil wells under the NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture. This is to support the conventional Federal Government’s cashcall commitment to funding projects in the oil and gas industry. The option, it was learnt would go a long way to boost exploration and production which have grossly reduced because of the current lull in the oil market. The package which is being financed by a consortium of Nigerian and International lenders is an integral part of the Accelerated Upstream Financing Programme initiated by NNPC to address the perennial challenge experienced by the Federal Government in providing its counter-part funding of JV upstream activities. Apart from supplementing the Cash-Call commitment, it is also the thinking of the Corporation that the option would help in the maintenance of current produc-

tion levels in the short term as well as replacing depleting reserves. The breakdown of the NNPC/ Chevron JV deal which was executed at a signing-ceremony in London indicates that the $1.2bn is to be channelled into the development of 23 onshore and 13 offshore wells on OML 49, 90 and 95 in two stages over 2015- 2018. The stage one, comprising 19 wells is projected to deliver 21, 000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day alongside 120 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, mmscf/d, over 2015 and 2016. Stage two, comprising 17 wells is projected to yield 20, 000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day alongside gas production of 7 mmscf/d between 2016 and 2018. It is envisaged that both stages of the project would generate $2 to $5 billion of incremental revenue to the Federation account. The projected peak incremental gas production of 127 mmscf/d, which is the electricity equivalent of 400 megawatts, would help boost the Federal Government’s domestic gas aspirations with expectant positive effect on power supply.

Business News

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Heritage Bank integrates systems, assures seamless service

he Chairman of Heritage Banking Company Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited Mr. Akinsola Akinfemiwa, has hinted of the bank’s plans for seamless operations that will meet the expectations of its customers and stakeholders globally. Encouraged by the success-

ful completion of the bank’s merger with former Enterprise Bank Limited, the seasoned banker during a parley with journalists in Lagos, explained that the bank in furtherance of its agenda to be amongst the best banks in the country had integrated its “process, technology, people, and branch

networks” to pave way for an efficient and smooth banking service for its customers all over the country and beyond. Akinfemiwa said, “We have aligned our operations and processes. We have also rebranded all our branches and trained all the staff on all aspects of our core operational services. We

have equally harmonised our products, customers and data at all our Experience Centres.” Akinfemiwa further assured the banking public that the bank, being a service organization in the business of banking would operate in a different and special way to satisfy customers and outflank competition. He explained that the new development had fully established Heritage Bank as a national financial institution that operates and renders full commercial banking services across the country increasing its presence in about 200 service outlets boosted by about 165 branches of the defunct Enterprise Bank, spread across the country.

“In this new dispensation, we are now a bigger and better bank that is better positioned to offer unparalleled banking services, which spread across 165 Experience Centres and counting, 33 Automated Banking Centres, 365 ATMs and over 4800 POS terminals across the states. “We shall harness the best of the two worlds combined in terms of our innovative products, bespoke technology and extended branch network manned by a team of tenacious people in our journey from a regional bank to a strong tier-2 player in the industry,” Akinfenwa assured.

Caterpillar cuts jobs, sales forecast on mining slump

L-R: Group Head, Retail, FirstBank, Mr. Sunday Akinpelu; Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Alhaji Ibrahim Muazu; FICAN National Chairman, Mr. Babajide Komolafe and President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr. Femi Egbesola, at the 2015 Annual Conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) over the weekend.

aterpillar Inc., the world’s biggest mining and construction machinery manufacturer, reduced its sales forecast and said it will cut as many as 10,000 jobs over four years in response to a slowdown in the

Swiss Re invests more capital in new Admin Re life deal

einsurance firm Swiss Re has found something to do with some of its excess capital, putting some of it to work in a new deal for its closed life insurance book arm Admin Re which has acquired Guardian Financial Services for GBP£1.6 billion ($2.5 billion).  For some time Swiss Re has been promising shareholders that new Admin Re acquisitions would be forthcoming, as it aimed

to build it into the leading closed life insurance book consolidator in the UK market. This latest acquisition sees Admin Re acquire the holding company for Guardian Financial Services from private equity company Cinven for GBP£1.6 billion, extending Admin Re’s portfolio of closed life policies to now over four million policies in force.

high-level African Development Bank (AfDB) delegation led by its new President, Akinwumi Adesina, will ensure that Africa’s voice is heard at the UN Sustainable Development Summit ending this Sunday in New York. Building on President Adesina’s five-point vision, to “Light up and Power Africa. Feed Africa. Integrate Africa. Industrialize Africa. Improve quality of life for the people of Africa”, the Bank commits to play a catalytic role to mobilise funds for the Social Development Goals (SDGs). The post-2015 agenda provides a new global framework for countries to better focus, coordinate and integrate their efforts as they work towards sustainable development, while eradicating poverty in all its forms. The new 17 SDGs are universal set of goals, targets

and indicators that UN Member States are expected to use to frame their national development plans and policies over the next 15 years. The SDGs follow, and expand on, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were agreed by governments in 2000, and which are due to expire at the end of this year. Aligned to the AfDB’s TenYear Strategy 2013-2022, the SDGs reflect the development aspirations of African countries that emphasize the need for inclusive and green growth in the quest for sustainable development and poverty eradication. The AfDB, along with other development partners, will be providing support to its Regional Member Countries in Africa in implementing the SDGs by mobilizing additional resources and providing technical assis-

Only a week ago it had been widely reported that Phoenix Group had approached Cinven to acquire Guardian, but it seems that reinsurance firm Swiss Re has beaten Phoenix to the deal. The acquisition is expected to benefit Admin Re by allowing it to “further diversify its current business and increase its assets and reserves.”

AfDB braces for key role in post-2015 development agenda A

tance and policy advice. The Bank is also actively contributing to the development of the SDGs and raising the African voice in the discussions, including through a dedicated Africa Regional Report on the SDGs, jointly produced with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union. The UN Summit follows the Addis Ababa Financing for Development Conference held in July 2015, where the broader development community and the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), including the AfDB, were called upon to enhance the leverage and multiplier effects of financing and provide innovative financing solutions in order to help countries to maximize their own resources. (Source - afdb.org)

Michel M. Liès, Swiss Re’s Group CEO, commented; “This acquisition is an excellent opportunity for Admin Re® to further enlarge its successful business and diversify its portfolio. It is proof that we can deliver on our ambitions to seek profitable growth opportunities for Admin Re® in the UK. The expected returns exceed our profitability targets for new business and represent an excellent fit with our Group strategy as well as with Admin Re®’s capabilities and existing infrastructure.” The acquisition of Guardian gives Admin Re another 900,000 annuity, life insurance and pension policies in the UK and Ireland. This takes Admin Re’s UK life insurance business policy count to over four million. David Cole, Swiss Re’s Group CFO, added; “This acquisition is in line with Admin Re®’s strategic goals as well as with our multi-year financial planning. We will continue to remain well capitalised and our economic solvency ratio will remain comfortably above our risk tolerance.” Clearly, with Swiss Re deploying excess capital into new acquisitions, there could be a concern that shareholders may not receive the buyback opportunities that they had been expecting. Analysts at Morgan Stanley this morning said that Swiss Re’s stock price may not hold up from this deal, due to that fear, as its share price has held up well versus the sector already.

mining and energy industries. The company lowered its 2015 revenue projection to about $48 billion from about $49 billion previously and said sales are expected to drop 5 percent next year. The job cuts are part of a plan that will save about $1.5 billion of operating costs annually, Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar said in a statement Thursday. Consolidation and closings of factories may affect more than 20 plants. The shares fell as much as 7.9 percent, the biggest intraday drop in more than seven months. They were down 6.5 percent at $65.65 at 9:57 a.m. in New York. Caterpillar is heading for its first four-year decline in sales in its 90-year history. The retrenchments announced Thursday come four years after the company spent $7.5 billion on its biggest ever deal to buy Bucyrus International Inc. and expand further into mining equipment. Since then, the slowdown of the Chinese economy, the biggest commodity consumer, has sent coal and metals prices into a slump, hurting the company’s mining customers. Caterpillar also sells equipment to the energy industry, which is suffering from lower oil prices. “We are facing a convergence of challenging marketplace conditions in key regions and industry sectors – namely in mining and energy,” Caterpillar Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman said in the statement. “While they are the right businesses to be in for the long term, we have to manage through what can be considerable and sometimes prolonged downturns.” (Source – Bloomberg)

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Business News

Friday, September 25, 2015

Robust payroll systems crucial to Nigerian firms’ tax compliance –Sage Tola Akinmutimi

global technology solutions provider, Sage, has advised Nigerian companies to ensure that they have robust, automated payroll systems and processes in place so that they can more easily comply with the demands of an increasingly tough tax regime in the country,   Giving this operational panacea at the weekend, the Regional Director for Sage West Africa Magnus Nmonwu, observed that a hardline attitude to non-compliance from the Nigerian federal and state tax authorities meant that companies must get all their processes and paperwork in order to avoid tax troubles in the months to come.  Nmonwu’s views were expressed on the heels on recent disclosure by the Federal Inland Revenue Ser-

vice, FIRS, of its determination to crack down on tax evaders by conducting audits of companies doing business in the country with a view to ensuring that they are compliant with the various taxes due to the country. This is even as the Lagos Board of Internal Revenue Service in a raid temporarily sealed the premises of 10 companies for failing to remit N45.52 million Personal Income Tax of staff to the state government.  Nmonwu said: “These actions show that Nigeria’s tax authorities are taking a zero-tolerance approach to non-payment of tax or incorrect remittances of taxes to the government, whether the reason is a deliberate evasion or an accidental oversight. With companies in Nigeria coming under more scrutiny for their tax affairs, it is essential to put in place systems and processes

that help you to easily comply with tax regulations.”  The Nigerian Personal Income Tax Act requires that employers are required to file annual returns of all remuneration paid to their employees and taxes deducted and remitted to the tax authorities on or before 31 January every year. Failure to do so carries a maximum penalty of N500, 000 for the employer and N50, 000 for individuals.   In addition, employers must remit PayAs-You-Earn (PAYE) tax each month for each employee to the relevant state internal revenue services, on or before the 10th day following the month in which salary was paid.  Furthermore, employers and employees are each required to contribute 10 per cent and eight per cent respectively of their employee’s monthly remuneration to the Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme.

Volkswagen on negative credit watch over diesel scandal

erman automaker Volkswagen was placed under a credit negative watch Thursday following a massive recall of its vehicles after U.S. regulators discovered the company had used software to cheat clean diesel rules. Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said it had taken action on the automaker saying that it anticipates VW will likely pay huge penalties and remediation fees to resolve the matter. VW came under fire last week after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the company had installed special software in its vehicles to circumvent emission rules by altering the way its diesel engine cars ran during emissions testing. Federal regulators said the world’s largest automaker by sales broke U.S. environmental laws and faces fines of around $18 billion. Criminal charges will likely follow. VW has admitted to wrongdoing and recalled 11 million diesel vehicles. The company said earlier this week it had set aside $7.3 billion to cover the costs expected to follow the scandal.

S&P said it was placing VW’s ‘A/A-1’ long- and short-term ratings on a negative credit watch with the possibility of a downgrade. “We expect VW to incur substantial remediation costs to correct the engines of the cars affected and potentially face material fines from regulators,” S&P said in its announcement. “We expect the group’s leverage metrics to be constrained by this charge, and for cash flow to reduce as these expenses are incurred.” The scandal forced VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn to apologize and resign Wednesday, saying he was clearing the way for a fresh start. No replacement has been named yet. S&P warned that the VW incident could flag a wider problem in the auto industry and lead to tougher regulations for diesel engines. “The CreditWatch placement reflects the risk that we could lower our long-term ratings by one or more notches, depending on our assessment of the impact of the recall on the group’s credit metrics and underlying business prospects,” S&P said. (Source - marketnews.com)

German consumer climate to slide 8-month low in October –GfK

G Japan Prime Minister promises economic growth P Food vendors at the 10th Abuja International Trade Fair, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

rime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday pledged to “produce results” in his quest of a stronger economy, a higher birthrate and better social security services amid falling public support for his government and a slow exit from deflation. At the start of his second threeyear term as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party, which has been in power since December 2012, Abe told reporters that he will reinforce his reflationary policy toward a bigger economy and a more affluent society but he didn’t mention any specific policy tools. “We are entering the second stage of Abenomics today, aiming to stem the low birthrate and maintain a population of 100 million even 50 years from now,” he said. To this effect, Abe said he is

presenting three new pillars of his reflationary economic policy: A stronger economy that generates ‘hope,’; improved child support to help people realize their ‘dreams’; and social security that gives ‘peace of mind.’ With these slogans, Abe said he will raise Japan’s nominal GDP to Y600 trillion from the current Y490 trillion but didn’t provide a time frame. He also wants to push up the fertility rate - the average number of children that a women is estimated to bear in her lifetime - to 1.8 from 1.4. The first stage of his program led by aggressive monetary easing and increased fiscal spending has failed to boost inflation to stable 2% from zero, partly due to a plunge in energy prices last year, while government-brokered wage hikes for large firms have

not spread wide enough to push up average real wages. Abe’s critics say the third pillar of his original program - deregulation and reform - has not been fully in place to help raise the economy’s growth potential. Last week Abe rammed controversial security bills through the Diet against massive protests and sliding public support for his government, deepening division in a country that is mired in low productivity with a shrinking working population amid growing uncertainty over a recovery in external and domestic demand. Polls show a simple majority of the public opposes the legislation, which will allow Japan to use its right to collective self-defense and deploy troops to support allies and other friendly nations under attack.

ermany’s consumer morale is predicted to deteriorate markedly in October, data released by GfK showed Wednesday, pushing the indicator to an eight-months low. GfK’s key consumer confidence index is forecast to drop to 9.6 points in October, down from a confirmed 9.9 in September and the second consecutive monthly decline, the research institute said. The October reading is below all forecasts in an MNI survey of analysts whose median prediction saw the indicator remain unchanged at the previous month’s level. All three components of the composite morale indicator contracted, GfK reported. “Consumption optimism continues to slide in September,” GfK said, adding that “the indicator still remains at a very good level” by historic standards. Expectations for the German economy contracted the stron-

gest, suggesting that mounting concerns about China as well as the longer-term ramifications of the refugee inflow has begun to take a toll on consumer sentiment, GfK said. The latest turmoil surrounding the German carmaker Volkswagen is not reflected in the survey, which was conducted in late August and early September, a GfK spokesperson said. How well German consumer confidence can hold up in the months ahead will also strongly depend on the labour market. A trend reversal in German unemployment, which has been falling since last December, could have significant knock-on effects on consumers’ perceptions of their future income level. The salaries of German workers increased 2.7% in real terms in the second quarter of this year, the federal statistical office disclosed Tuesday, the strongest jump since it began compiling the data in 2008.

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria seeks China’s collaborate on agric sector devt Adesina appoints Dr. Moyo Director of Cabinet, Chief of Staff

he Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has expressed its readiness to partner with the Chinese government in area of agriculture development. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Arc. Sonny Echono, gave this hint when he hosted the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Gu Xiaojie, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. Echono, who expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Chinese Government for their support in the past, pointed out that the development model of China best suited Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda from an under-performing sector to commercial agriculture. He explained that Nigeria was working to improve her milling capacity in rice and cassava, to reduce the current demand and supply. According to him, Nigeria needs support in the establishment of ranches, poultry and textile industry. He therefore invited Chinese investors to come and invest in the sectors. The Permanent Secretary identified infrastructure development as another area the Chinese investors should invest in, saying that since Nigeria is working hard towards increasing productivity, hence the need to build additional infrastructure and develop the Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZs). Echono said China had a huge market in cassava chips, hence the need to support Nigeria’s cassava production saying Nigeria is the world largest producer of cassava. According to him, other opportunities for investment include Aqua-culture,

Agricultural produce

fishery production and wheat production so as to be able to meet the demands of the local millers, amongst other areas requiring support. Earlier in his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador expressed the readiness of the Chinese Government to work closely with the Nigerian government to explore areas of cooperation since both have big

population and markets. The envoy suggested the creation of platforms for commercial farmers and technological companies to meet to know the areas of needs so as to meet their individual needs just as he expressed his country’s readiness to cooperate with Nigeria in the area of technology, economy and anti-corruption.

Grassroots farmers set up microfinance bank Abolaji Adebayo

mall scale farmers at the grassroots in Oyo state have jointly established a microfinance bank to cater for the needs of the poor farmers. According to the farmers, they came up with the idea of establishing the bank, known as Joint Farmers Microfinance Bank, JFMFB, as a logical step to improving their access to bank loans. A consultant to the Joint Farmers Microfinance Bank, Mr. Oludare Adesina disclosed that the objective of the bank was to rescue poor farmers in the country from the myriads of problems undermining their productivity. According to him, most poor or low income farmers could not meet the conditions for loans in conventional banks and

the Bank of Agriculture, which has been incapacitating them from developing their farming activities. “Due to such challenges, we feel that farmers should have their own bank, which will understand their challenges, their grassroots nature, what they are passing through knowing full well that not all farmers especially in the rural areas have bank account. Most conventional banks in the country today collect 22 to 25 per cent interest and this can never be profitable for the farmers and when they demand for moratorium they will say no,” he explained. He added: “Even when they take such loans in January they start paying back in February which is not so easy for the farmers. Even if a farmer is into rabbit rearing, the gestation period for a rabbit is 90 days. This means that if you are giving any farmer loan, there must be reasonable morato-

rium to market their products.” Adesina also disclosed that the bank has come to add value to agriculture products. “For example the problem with cassava is the cyanide content and now the bank is planning to extract the water from the cassava, and this will make it last for a long time which will eliminate the panic among cassava growers.” He said in Ogbomoso for instance, many cashew nuts were wasted every year, adding that the bank was now set to buy all the excess cashew nuts and convert them into powder so that the farmers would not need to sell their cashew nuts in a hurry for the fear of being wasted. He further explained that it is when cashew is not in the market that the bank would now begin to sell the powder to industries that make fruit juices while the farmers make about 150 per cent profit on their products.

he President of African Development Bank, AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on Wednesday appointed Dr. Sipho Moyo as Director of the Cabinet and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, African Development Bank Adesina said that it gave him “great pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Sipho Moyo, a citizen of Zimbabwe, as Director of Cabinet and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President” Dr. Moyo, who will assume office on November 1, graduated with a Masters in Development Economics in 1989 and PhD in Financial Economics in 1994, both from Howard University, Washington DC, USA. She has had an illustrious career in international development spanning over 22 years. Until her appointment, Moyo worked as the Executive Director of the ONE Campaign, an international civil society organization, where she distinguished herself by significantly growing the organization and mobilizing strong advocacy and support behind major development issues in Africa. Prior to joining the ONE Campaign, she worked at the African Development Bank from 1998-2010, variously as Resident Representative and Country Manager for Nigeria and Tanzania country offices, Principal Country Economist and Senior Economist. From 1992-1994 she worked as Economist and Financial Analyst of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Rome, and at the World Bank. “I am delighted that Dr. Moyo will be joining us. She brings extensive experience in development and solid understanding of multilateral financial institutions. “Her extensive managerial experience, deep understanding of critical development issues in Africa, passion for peopleoriented development, advocacy and ability to achieve results, will add great value to the African Development Bank and its community.”

Moyo

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Capital Market

Friday, September 25, 2015

Devaluation may not spur economic growth – HSBC

conomists at HSBC have a message for monetary policymakers who are hoping their stimulus will help devalue their local currencies and spur exports: Good luck with that. According to HSBC Global Chief Economist Janet Henry and Economist James Pomeroy, a depreciating currency just doesn’t pack the same punch it used to. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, “there has so far been little evidence that any major region has benefited from a weaker exchange rate for any significant period,” write the economists. “ A World Bank study of developed and emerging economies recently found that even for the devaluing countries the currency declines between 2004 and 2012 were only half as effective at boosting exports as they had

been in the previous eightyear period.” Accommodative monetary policy generally works through two channels: Interest rate cuts increase the incentive for businesses to borrow money, and the decline in the exchange rate that typically accompanies such rate cuts makes the goods and services produced by a nation more attractive to foreign buyers. With consumers in some nations looking more and more tapped out, the need to rebalance growth toward external drivers has become more urgent. But there’s one big fly in the ointment: the well-publicized slowdown in global trade growth. Competitive devaluations may be both a cause and symptom of this development. A desire to tap into external demand in the face of a weak-

ening domestic economy may prompt a central bank to increase the amount of accommodation it is providing. But Henry and Pomeroy, citing the World Bank’s research, note that the improvement in a nation’s trade balance attributable to foreign exchange depreciation comes primarily through import compression. If countries whose currencies have declined see their trade balances improve via lower imports—and this dynamic happens en masse—it logically follows that export growth is going to be particularly difficult to come by. In fact, in aggregate, it will not occur. Such would be the case in an environment in which every nation tried to use a lower currency as a mechanism to export its way to prosperity. Competitive devaluations are therefore often referred to as “beggar thy neighbor” measures, in which a country

with a lower currency takes a bigger slice of the export pie at the expense of another nation in a zero-sum game. But HSBC’s economists take things a step farther, writing that overall, this could be a negative-sum game. “At a minimum a weaker currency can sometimes take the pressure off governments to deliver structural reforms which might boost long-term growth,” write Henry and Pomeroy. “Currency volatility can also fuel uncertainty.” In other words, this is at best a band-aid solution. Moreover, a weaker currency discourages companies from making productivityenhancing investments, especially in the event that this would require them to import goods. (Source – Bloomberg)

European shares slump over auto emissions scandal

uropean shares closed lower on Thursday as investors fretted over the risks to the region’s economic recovery from an auto-emissions scandal at Volkswagen. The declines brought European indexes close to their 2015 lows and came as concern about global growth and apprehension about a speech by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen sent Wall Street into the red. The euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index ended down 2 percent at 3,019,34 points. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 2.15 percent, both reaching their lowest level since early January. European shares have

been losing ground since mid-April and fell sharply this summer after a rout in Chinese markets. A recovery followed but was soon wiped out by uncertainty over the Fed’s rate policy and now the car emissions scandal. “There is no time for investors to catch their breath in this market. The auto story is causing a lot of pain,” said Andrea Cuturi, Partner at asset manager Anthilia Capital. “Volkswagen is just a component, albeit important, of Germany’s GDP, and I believe it won’t derail the recovery. But if markets stay at these levels for a few more days I would close my positions,” he said. Volkswagen admitted de-

ceiving U.S. regulators about how much its diesel cars pollute. The scandal has rocked Germany, and analysts warn it could develop into the biggest threat to Europe’s largest economy. The car maker faces penalties of up to $18 billion. Germany’s transport minister said on Thursday emissions manipulations by Volkswagen took place in Europe, not just in the United States, and that random tests would be conducted on cars made by other manufacturers. The Euro STOXX Auto & Parts index fell 3.3 percent amid talk emission problems might not be confined to Volkswagen. This week the auto index has lost roughly

Nikkei tumbles to more than 2-week low

apan’s Nikkei share average tumbled to more than a twoweek low on Thursday as Japanese markets reopened after a three-day national holiday to face news of weak Chinese and U.S. factory a activity, hurting machinery stocks in particular. The Nikkei share average fell 2.8 percent to 17,571.83, the lowest close since Sept. 8 and posted

the biggest daily percentage decline in more than three weeks. Japan’s machinery sector, which relies on China for much of its business, was particularly hard hit by fears of a global slowdown brought on by the private surveys of purchasing managers released Wednesday. The Topix machinery subindex shed 5.0 percent. Okuma Corp

stumbled 9.1 percent and Makita Corp dived 7.8 percent. A report published by Goldman Sachs also weighed on the sector, in which six machinery stocks in Japan including these companies were downgraded. The broader Topix dropped 2.4 percent to 1,426.97 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 fell 2.4 percent to 12,800.75. (Source – Reuters)

40 billion euros in market value. BWM dropped 5.1 percent after a report in Auto Bild said some of its diesel cars were found to exceed emissions standards. BWM said there had been no manipulation and it was unaware of tests cited by the German magazine. “BMW’s share price reactions shows how nervous the investment community is with respect to diesel engines, compliance and future regulation,” said Arndt Ellinghorst, head of Automotive Research at Evercore ISI. “Thank you, VW.”(Source – Reuters) Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N197 Market indicators All-Share Index 30,410.39 points Market capitalisation 10.45trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

OKOMUOIL

27.12

28.47

1.35

4.98

JBERGER

42.00

44.08

2.08

4.95

UNITYBNK

1.25

1.31

0.06

4.80

UACN

31.50

33.00

1.50

4.76

ETRANZACT

2.11

2.21

0.10

4.74

BETAGLAS

40.85

42.70

1.85

4.53

VONO

0.89

0.93

0.04

4.49

CONTINSURE

0.90

0.94

0.04

4.44

AGLEVENT

0.95

0.99

0.04

4.21

EVANSMED

0.73

0.76

0.03

4.11

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

PREMBREW

3.10

2.95

-0.15

-4.84

FIDSON

3.35

3.19

-0.16

-4.78

COSTAIN

0.64

0.61

-0.03

-4.69

CHAMPION

4.65

4.45

-0.20

-4.30

AIICO

0.93

0.90

-0.03

-3.23

NEM

0.66

0.64

-0.02

-3.03

HONYFLOUR

2.51

2.44

-0.07

-2.79

TRANSCORP

2.44

2.38

-0.06

-2.46

UBN

6.13

5.98

-0.15

-2.45

LIVESTOCK

1.76

1.72

-0.04

-2.27

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.59

100.42

14.77

100.57

14.66

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.77

103.31

14.80

103.61

14.69

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.39

102.17

14.84

102.47

14.74

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.35

106.30

14.81

106.60

14.74

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.47

97.37

14.75

97.67

14.69

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.83 68.00

15.58

68.30

15.51

Closing Market Prices of September 23, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

24-Dec-15

11.50

11.58

WAUA

270

USD

197

24-Mar-16

13.19

14.45

EURO

214

01-Sep-16

12.87

15.29

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

14.0000

POUNDS STERLING

293

15.7567

16.9066

SDR

273

18.0573

NIBOR

The Fixings of September 23, 2015

Capital Market

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at September 23, 2015 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Most of these allegations are frivolous and not true. It has been there since 2003 and you wake up 12 years after to start raising non-existing issues. Senate President – Bukola Saraki

Landlord petitions Police over sales pact revocation Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

landlord in Irewolede Estate in Ado-Ekiti, Mr Ayodele Orebe, has petitionedthe Ekiti State Commissioner of Police Mr James Etop, over revocation of saleagreement spanning 25 years on a three-bedroom bungalow he bought on mortgageterms in 2011 from Ekiti State Housing Corporation. The revocation came after Orebe went to court to challenge his earlier forcedeviction and further threat by the governor and the Ekiti State HousingCorporation to forcibly eject him if he failed to pay up within one month.In the letter also copied to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Directorateof State Services (DSS), National Human Rights Commission and the Nigeria BarAssociation, Ekiti State Chapter, Orebe

said the state government’s action wasin view of his audacity to approach the court to enforce his fundamental humanright.The petition was his response to a revocation letter dated September 16, 2015signed by the General Manager of the Housing Corporation, Babasoji Awe, whichallegedly said the decision wastaken on the governor’s instruction.He appealed to the IGP, CP, DSS and other relevant agencies to protectresidents of the estate on the enforcement of their fundamental human rights asguaranteed by the Constitution. Orebe alleged that the move of the corporation to revoke the houses of the 17 residents,whose names appeared on the case file representing others, was the governor’sreaction to his lawsuit.Accordingly, Orebe was the first to be served while the remaining 16 area-

waiting their letters anytime soon.He stated: “The other day when other residents and I were forciblyejected, my four-day-old baby and mother were locked up inside the house andthe keys taken away. I was given seven days to vacate failure which I willagain be evicted when I have not breached any agreement on my mortgage,”he explained. It would be recalled that the state government had in Au-

gust evicted residentsof the estate and later gave them time to pay up or face eviction.Orebe’s lawyer, Rafiu Balogun, had gone to court asking for N20 million damagesover illegal eviction having not broken mortgage payment terms and to furtherrefrain the governor and corporation from illegal eviction pending thedetermination of the case.The lawyer had argued that the mortgage agreement

still subsisted and that itwas only a competent court of law that could revoke the sales agreement betweenhis client and the corporation.The Motion on Notice and Writ of Summons were served on the Commissioner forJustice and Attorney General of the state representing the State Government,the corporation and security agencies engaged by the governor to forcefullyevict the residents.

Sallah: Omititi sues for peace Dare Akogun

ember representing Mushin constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon Olayiwola Olawale has enjoined muslim faithful to show love to each other and eschew violence. Hon Olawale in his Eid-elKabir message to Lagosians enjoined them to show faith in the administration of Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and President Muhammed Buhari. He posited that with mutual respect, love, tolerance and fear of Allah, abundant resources will be harnessed collectively . According to him, “We have a task of addressing the problem of unemployed graduates and youths are hovering on the street as politicians. “Insecurity is also threatening the peace and social development of our dear nation due to this singular problem which is a major challenge that require urgent attention. “I am very optimistic that

with our collective efforts, and the numerous ongoing empowerment programmes I have designed for my constituencies these challenges are surmountable and will soon be a thing of the past”, he noted. He urged Muslims to continue to pray for the government, the military and other agencies in the fight against insurgency, adding that the peace and socioeconomic development of our nation remain paramount.

A man shares beef for Muslims who may not be able to afford rams for Eid El-Kabir celebration in Bauchi yesterday.

Sallah: Omolamina preaches tolerance Dare Akogun

agos socialite and CEO of Omolamina Global ventures Alhaji Kamorudeen Olaseni Lamina, have enjoined Muslim faithful to have the fear of Allah and learn to tolerate one another in the task of rebuilding Nigeria. Omolamina said this in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians after observing his eid prayer at Ikorodu praying

ground. He noted that with the fear of Allah, mutual respect and love, “We will show love to one another and be able to enjoy the abundant resources as a indivisible nation. He said the nation could not achieve much with unnecessary ethnic segregation and disharmony because what Nigerians need now is to move forward with the present era of change. He urged them to show faith

in the administration of Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and President Muhammed Buhari. He equally enjoin them to continue to pray for the government and the military in the fight against insurgency, adding that the peace and socio-economic development of our nation remain paramount. Omolamina expressed optimism that Nigeria is destined for greatness, saying that Nigerians should never forget that

any achievement through collective effort will bring enduring fulfillment to all. “On this important occasion of Eid-el-Kabir celebration, I urge all Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the worthy attributes of love of country and faith in our collective ability to build a new, united and prosperous Nigeria,” he prayed. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Transition

ax Gesner Beauvoir was born on August 25, 1936 was a Haitian biochemist and houngan. Beauvoir held one of the highest titles of Voudou priesthood, “Supreme Servitur” (supreme servant), a title given to Houngans and Mambos (Voudou priests and priestesses) who have a great and very deep knowledge of the religion, and status within the religion. As Supreme Servitur, Max was seen as a high authority within Voudou. Beauvoir graduated in 1958 from City College of New York with a degree in chemistry. He continued his studies at the Sorbonne from 1959 to 1962, when he graduated with a degree in biochemistry. In 1965, at Cornell Medical Center, he supervised a team in synthesizing metabolic steroids. This led him to a job at an engineering company in northern New Jersey, and later to a period as engineer at Digital Equipment Company in Massachusetts. His interest in steroids led him to experiment with hydrocortisone synthesized from plants; however, the death of his father led him to move back to Haiti in January 1973 and become a voodoo priest. In 1974, he founded Le Péristyle de Mariani, a Hounfour in his home (which also served as a village clinic) in the village of Mariani. He had a troubled relationship with the ruling Duvalier family. While he urged that they do more to meet the medical needs of the poor, his status as a houngan kept him from being subjected to much of the wanton violence exacted by the Tonton Macoutes against critics.] During this period, he founded the Group for Studies and Research on the African Tradition with a group of scholars, and later founded the Bòde Nasyonal in 1986 to counter the effects of

Friday, September 25, 2015

Max Beauvoir

the post-Duvalier dechoukaj violence which had targeted both Vodou practitioners and the Tonton Macoutes paramilitary, both of which had been used by the Duvalier regime to oppress the Haitian people. In 1996, Beauvoir founded The Temple of Yehwe, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization for the promotion of education concerning Afro-American religion. In 1997, he became involved with the creation of the KOSANBA group at the University of California, Santa Barbara

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aronda Nyakairima

yakairima was born in Rukungiri District. He attended Lubiri Senior Secondary School for his O-Level studies from 1971 until 1974. Between 1975 and 1977, he studied at Kitgum High School in Kitgum District for his A-Level education. He joined Makerere University in 1978, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He attended the basic officers course in 1989, after the NRA had captured power in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. He later attended a course in strategic studies at Fort Leavenworth in the USA. He also has further military qualifications from the Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo. He joined the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1982, soon after leaving Makerere University. After the NRA captured power, he worked as an intelligence officer in the Ugandan military. He later was appointed assistant director in the Directorate of Military Intelligence in the UPDF. He was then transferred to the Presidential Protection Unit as an intelligence officer. From there, he served as the commanding officer of the

Armored Brigade before his appointment as commander of the UPDF in 2003. He has represented the UPDF in the Ugandan parliament since 1996. In October 2010, Nyakairima was inducted into the International Hall of Fame at the Lewis and Clark Centre at Fort Leavenworth for attaining the highest position in the military of his country. Nyakairima was inducted together with General Eui Don Wang of South Korea, a 1986 graduate of the command college, and Major General Richard Rhys Jones of New Zealand, a 1992 graduate. Nyakairmina was appointed to the cabinet as minister of internal affairs on 23 May 2013. Katumba Wamala was appointed to replace him as chief of defence forces on the same day Nyakairima was married to Linda Kahooza with whom he had two children. He was fluent in multiple languages including Luganda, English, Luo, Runyakitara, and Swahili. On 12 September 2015, while travelling on official duties from South Korea to Dubai, he suffered a heart attack. He was later confirmed dead at the age of 56 years.

In 2005, he launched the Federasyon Nasyonal Vodou Ayisyen, which he later renamed in 2008 as Konfederasyon Nasyonal Vodou Ayisyen; he serves as “chef Supreme” or “Ati Nasyonal” of the organization, which is an attempt to organize the defense of Vodou in the country against defamation Beauvoir was interviewed in 1982 by Canadian ethnobotanist Wade Davis for his 1985 book The Serpent and the Rainbow. Beauvoir held a patent on the process of obtaining hecogenin from plant leaves until 1993.

News

OPC condemns killing of security operatives by vandals Dare Akogun

he Director of Media and Publicity of Oodua People’s Congress, (OPC) led by Otunba Gani Adams, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, has condemned the gruesome killing of 10 members of State Security Operatives by pipeline vandals in Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos state. Oguntimehin in a release made available to the media in Lagos on Thursday described the action of the vandals as “highly condemnable” and “brazen in its criminality which is injurious to the national psyche only perpetrated by sub – human beings who are not fit to live.”

He lamented that, “it is sad that some miscreants who are being financed by a sinisterly powerful and deadly oil mafia have put paid to the lives and brilliant carriers of 10 wondrous well trained members of the Department of State Security Services.” Oguntimehin pointed out that the death of those men of honour at the point of service in such a gruesome circumstance was a pointer to the fact that the war against pipeline vandals is not a tea party’s affair which can be taken or approached with kid’s glove “The death of the bright DSS operatives though sad and sorrowful is a testimony to the fact that the war against pipeline vandals and protection of

our common wealth should not be localized within the confine of the regular security agents alone “ “This unfortunate event should kindle our sense of perception and reasoning and task patriotic feeling in us to always treat national issues without sentiment.” He charged the Federal government that it, ”must realized that oil pipeline vandalism has grown from being a past time of petty and tiny miscreants of the society, it is has assumed an organized high level criminality dimension being controlled by powerful and blood tasting mafia who cannot not be dislodged solely by the regular security agencies.” Mr Oguntimehin suggested

that “it is high time for the Federal government to stop being mono focal in its effort at putting a stop to the activities of vandals with the regimentation to the belief that only the regular trained security agencies can do it. ” He pointed out that, “The recent , three months monitoring of the pipeline by private groups has proved to all that the engagement of the so called irregular or the socio – cultural groups brought modicum of stability and sanity to pipeline vandalism. This is a pointer to the fact that the war against pipeline vandalism should not be restricted to the regular armed forces.” “As it is, the Federal government should confront this dare

devilry act of pipeline vandalism by involving both the regular armed agencies and the socio-cultural groups which have been tried and successfully monitored the pipelines without major calamity and waste of human resources like this.” He therefore called on the Federal government to set up a dual joint action task force which should include the regular security agencies and the socio-cultural group to combat the deadly activities of pipeline vandals in Nigeria. Barrister Oguntimehin while commiserating with the Nation over the death of the DSS operatives tasked the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the gruesome murder.

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

“If the terrorists come to talk terrorism, the whole world will know it. If they (rebels) come to discuss defending the cause of Central African Republic, we are going to listen to them.”

– Central Africa Republic President, Francois Bozize

Russia digs up Nicholas II in bid to identify czar’s missing children

ussian investigators say they have exhumed the remains of Czar Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra, in a bid to identify bone fragments that may belong to two of their children. Seven members of the Romanov family were killed by Bolshevik revolutionaries in 1918 in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, a year after they were ousted from power during the Russian Revolution. The remains of the royal couple, along with three of their five children, were found in 1991 in a mass grave. After being identified with DNA analysis, they were reburied in St. Petersburg on July 17, 1998, the 80th anniversary of their deaths. The Russian Orthodox Church made them saints in 2000. But the whereabouts of the czar’s two other children -- Crown Prince Alexei, 13, and Grand Duchess Maria, 19 -- remained a mystery until 2007, when their suspected remains, a few bone fragments, were unearthed at a separate grave site in the Urals region. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, “expert studies and other materials of the criminal case” established that the remains were indeed those of Alexei and Maria. But in July this year, at the request of the Russian Orthodox Church, further identification tests were ordered, according to officials. It is widely expected the two children will also be canonized,

A stampede in Saudi Arabia left 863 injured and 717 dead, according to the Saudi Civil Defense Directorate.

but church officials say they want greater certainty that the remains are authentic. As well as exhuming the bodies of Nicholas and Alexandra in St. Petersburg, the investigative committee says tissue samples from Romanov family members buried in Jerusalem have also been obtained, as well as blood samples from the czar’s grandfather, Alexander II, who was assassinated in a bomb attack in 1881. The Tass news agency quoted a lawyer for a surviving Romanov relative, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, as saying she supports the new investigation. “The Grand Duchess hopes that the examination of the Yekaterinburg remains will be scientific. The truth must be established in

this case, with an answer to the main question: whose are these remains?” attorney German Lukyanov told Tass. But the murder of the czar’s family is no longer the politically

charged issue it was when the Soviet system collapsed. “A full stop should be put on the issue in the 1990s,” said one woman, who identified herself as Zarema, as she hurried to work in Moscow.

Obama on debate: Nothing patriotic ‘about talking down America

s Republican presidential candidates lay into his record, President Barack Obama on Wednesday chalked up the attacks to expected electionyear politics but said there was “nothing particularly patriotic” about their rhetoric. “Despite the perennial doom and gloom that I guess is inevitably part of a presidential campaign, America is winning right now,” Obama said at a meeting of the

Business Roundtable in Washington. “America is great right now. We can do even better.” He cited job creation, the rising stock market and millions of Americans who now have health insurance as examples of a successful presidential run. “You wouldn’t know any of this if you were listening to the folks seeking this office that I occupy,” the President told the group of American chief executives.

program that seeks to postpone deportation for undocumented parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Wednesday, which began with pomp and politics and ended with a controversial canonization, was the Pope’s first full day in the United States. The six-day visit will take him later this week to New York, where he will address the United Nations, and Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families, a large Catholic event that is expected to draw nearly a million pilgrims to papal Masses.

Pope Francis

Pope notes: Child hands letter to Francis

uring the motorcade on the National Mall, Pope Francis stopped to kiss babies and children. One young girl got through the barrier and handed the Pope a letter. At first, security stopped her, but the Pope signaled for her to come over. The crowd cheered as a guard lifted her to the Pope. In a video posted on The Guardian, the girl, identified as 5-year-old Sophie Cruz from Los Angeles, reads the letter. “Pope Francis, I want to tell you that my heart is sad, and I would like to ask you to speak

with the President and the Congress in legalizing my parents because everyday I am scared that one day they will take them away from me,” she says. “All immigrants just like my dad need this country,” she says. Cruz describes herself as an “American citizen with Mexican roots.” She says her parents immigrated from Oaxaca, Mexico. Her father, Raul, had a yellow T-shirt that read “Papa Rescata DAPA!”, according to the Guardian.The T-shirt’s message asks the Pope to save the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, a

WORLD BULLETIN

Migrant crisis: Merkel warns durable solution far off

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that a solution to the migrant crisis is far off and how it is handled will shape Europe in the long term. She told German MPs the latest EU measures agreed on Wednesday were only a “first step” and that “selective relocation” of migrants was not enough. The flow of migrants over Europe’s borders continues. Hungary announced a record 10,046 arrivals on Wednesday. Rows among nations also continue - the latest between Serbia and Croatia. The crisis has also sparked a warning from the European Commission that if it is not addressed properly there could be a surge of right-wing extremism across Europe. Mrs Merkel told the German parliament: “I am deeply convinced that what Europe needs is not just selective relocation [of migrants], but a permanent process for fairly distributing refugees among member states. “A first step has been taken, but we are still far from where we should be.” On Tuesday, EU ministers backed mandatory quotas to divide up 120,000 refugees among members - but the vote was passed only by majority and was fiercely opposed by some nations. Slovakia has launched a legal challenge.

Rwandan police ‘lock people up to keep city clean’

Rwandan police are arbitrarily detaining vulnerable people picked up on the streets of the capital, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The US-based campaign group says Kigali’s reputation for being tidy comes at a price. HRW says it has documented the illegal detention of thousands, including street children and sex workers. Justice Minister Johnston Busingye told the BBC the government will respond once they have read the report. But in a response to HRW in 2014 Mr Busingye rejected the allegations. HRW says in its report, based on research carried out over four years, that people are transported from the capital’s streets to a vast former garage which was used to interrogate genocide suspects after 1994. Image copyrightAFPImage captionKigali’s streets have a reputation for being well-ordered and clean. The organisation says the rounding up of street vendors, beggars, homeless people, street children, sex workers and petty criminals reflects an unofficial policy of keeping those considered undesirable away from the public eye. HRW says detainees are held there in deplorable conditions for periods ranging from a few days to several months.

PhotoNews

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Eid-el-Kabir celebrations around the world

Children ride on camels after a grand Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Lekamba mosque in Western PHOTO: AFP Sydney,yesterday.

Police stand guard as muslim prays in Mosco, Rusia.

Women attend Eid al Fitr prayers at Parangkusumo beach in Yogyakara, Idonesia.

Egyptian celebrates Eid al Fitr in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday.

Afghan children enjoy the ride on a carousel in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Muslims celebrate Eid-el-kabir in front of the Mustafa Mohmoud Mosque in Cairo.

A local citizen holds his sheep in Kabaria sheep market in Tunis, Tunisia, before Muslimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s traditional festival Eid-el-kabir.

Zambiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Muslim community joined millions of Muslims around the world to celebrate the Eid-elkabirholidays, which mark the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Friday, September 25, 2015

Independent marketer lauds Buhari on fuel availability Wale Ibrahim, Lokoja

ndependent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Kogi State chapter, has commended the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring availability of petroleum products across the country. IPMAN Chairman in the state, Mr. Joel Olufemi, who made the commendation while speaking

in a chat with newsmen in Lokoja yesterday, stated that long queues that used to charaterise filling stations in country has become a thing of the past. Olufemi explained that the Federal Government has ensure that fuel is made available in abundant, noting that it is now easier for motorists to buy without stress. He pointed out that ahead of the Eid el Kabir holidays; there would be enough fuel for motorists

traveling across the state. The chairman denied allegation that officers of Weight and Measurement Department, Ministry of Trade and Commerce were collecting bribe from members of the association. Olufemi described the allegation as baseless, untrue and a figment of imagination of the writer, adding that no official from the Ministry of Trade and Commerce at any time visited any

filling station extorting money. He added that only the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, was mandated to visit filling stations to regulate price and ensure that correct measurement of fuel is sold to motorists at the regulated price of N87 per litre. He also denied the claims that bribes ranging from N15,000 to N50,000 was being demanded by members of the association in the state.

Nasarawa denies recalling Hajj leader to attended senate impeachment saga Igbawase Ukumba Lafia

asarawa State 2015 Hajj delegation to Saudi Arabia has denied a report which alleged that leader of the team, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had abandoned the state’s pilgrims to attend the senate impeachment saga. An online medium had alleged that the state’s Amirul Hajj abandoned the pilgrims in Minna, Saudi Arabia and returned to Nigeria over the senate impeachment saga. The denial was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the State’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdul-razaq Muhammad. The statement said the

2015 Hajj delegation viewed the report with dismay, describing tit as false and unfounded. The statement also denied another allegation that there was inadequate accommodation, poor feeding and logistics arrangements for the pilgrims. “The board wishes to state that all the allegations are baseless and mischievous, and should be disregarded by members of the public,” it noted. The statement described the report as a fabrication to tarnish the image of the Amirul Hajj and the state government. It claimed that the Amirul Hajj was in Minna, along with the state’s pilgrims to ensure proper coordination.

UBEC hands over N350m girl-child school to Plateau govt

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III (right) and Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, at the praying ground during Eid el-Kabir celebration in Sokoto, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Kogi traditional ruler escapes assassination at praying ground Wale Ibrahim, Lokoja

top Kogi State traditional ruler, the Ejeh of Ankpa and Chairman, Ankpa Area Traditional Council, Alhaji Ahmadu Yakubu yesterday narrowly escaped assassination by gunmen numbering about nine. The alleged assassination attempt took place at Eti-Aja Eid Praying Ground in Ankpa, where the traditional ruler in company of other Muslims had gone to worship as part of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. While narrating his ordeal to newsmen shortly after his escape, the traditional ruler said the gunmen came to attack him as rainstorm dispersed worshipers, just before the end of the prayers. The Royal Father stated that his guards, who accompanied him to the praying ground quickly formed

a protective shield round him and warded off the assassins. The monarch expressed gratitude to God for saving his life, saying that though he was aware that hoodlums in the town had been plotting his downfall, he did not know they would resort to assassination. He said he had often openly condemned the escalating criminal and secret cult activities in the town, adding that criminals among the youths

were giving Ankpa a bad name. “We are not bad people. We will continue to fight them, we will cooperate with security agencies to flush them out and bring them to book. We will not allow them to overrun Ankpa,” he said. Senior Special Assistant 1 (SSA1) in charge of Ankpa Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Abagwu also speaking with newsmen on the incident condemned the assassina-

tion attempt. “It was in view of the escalating criminal and cultists activities that we imposed a 7pm to 6am curfew to restrict movement of people. Now that they are after the Ejeh, I hope the security agents would be more serious,” he said. He implored security agencies to make the curfew effective and charged them to ensure that the hoodlums were apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.

niversal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has handed over a N350m girlchild secondary school in Dengi community of Kangm Local Government Area of Plateau State to the state government. Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr Dikko Suleiman, said at the handover ceremony yesterday at Kanam, that the school was one of the four Girlchild Junior Secondary School intervention projects in the state. He said it was meant for girls from eight to 13 years and was part of the 2013 to 2014 intervention by UBEC, to improve access to learning for grassroots communities. The executive secretary, who was represented by his deputy in charge of services, Dr Yakubu Gambo, said such projects were also ongoing in three other local government areas of the state - Mikang, Bassa and Barkin Ladi. He explained that the emphasis on girl-child junior secondary interven-

Healthcare delivery: Foundation targets 42,000 households in Taraba Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo

s parts of efforts to increase rural dwellers’ access to healthcare services, the T.Y Danjuma Foundation yesterday lunched ‘Riders for Health Project’, targeting 42,000 people in Wukari and Takum Local Government Areas of Taraba State.

At the lunch of the project in Takum, state coordinator of the Foundation, Miss Fumi Ajala, said the riders for health project would improve access to healthcare for people living in remote communities in the state. She noted that the project would assist thousands of people to get better access to healthcare services.

“The motorcycles would enable health workers on the project to deliver healthcare services to people in rural areas and even people in urban areas, who ordinarily have little access to healthcare,” she said. According to her, the project is expected to lead to an increase in access to healthcare by 42, 000 people.

Fumi stressed that health workers on the project would make regular visits to rural areas in the two local governments to change the landscape of healthcare delivery in the hitherto forgotten areas. She added that the initiative by the Foundation would go a long way in transforming people’s lives in rural areas.

tion project was to help address the large number of girls hawking in the northern part of the country. Suleiman urged the state government to partner with stakeholders in the community to provide the manpower needed to make the school operational. Executive Chairman, Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Prof Matthew Sule, advised the community to ensure that every child of school age was enrolled in school. Sule stressed that education was the driving force for development. In his remarks, the Emir of Kanam, Muhammadu Muhammad II, thanked the Federal Government for selecting their community for the intervention projects. Muhammad promised that school age girls in the area would be encouraged to enroll. Meanwhile, the commission has also handed over a 250-capacity examination hall and an administrative block to Government Secondary School, Du, in Jos South Local Government Area. Suleiman, who was represented by Gambo at the handing over ceremony, said the structures were provided to create an enabling environment for learning. He noted that many public schools do not have conducive examination halls to write their junior and senior secondary school certificate exams.

Friday, September 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We destroyed 10 illegal refineries, seized 42 oil tankers –NSCDC chief

igeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, said it destroyed eight illegal refineries in three states and seized 42 oil tankers used in diverting petroleum products to the black market. Commandant General of the Corps, Alhaji Abdulahi CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Patricia Etim Sampson, now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Patricia Cyril Nwanozie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME AJAH:We, formerly known and addressed as AJAH VICTOR UGOCHUKWU, and AJAH THANKGOD NNAMDI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHARLES VICTOR UGOCHUKWU and CHARLES THANKGOD NNAMDI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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Gana, told newsmen in his country home in Minna yesterday that the operation was carried out between July and September. “On Friday, we destroyed three illegal refineries in Rivers State; within the week we destroyed five in Bayelsa and anothCHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Obodoekee Obinna Ikeionwu, now wishes to be known and addressed as Obodoekee kingsley Obinna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

er two in Abia,” he said. The commandant general expressed dismay that the Federal Government was losing much more oil revenue to the operations of oil thieves than it was receiving. He said the corps would continue to safeguard the CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Anasi Grace IhebuuCheChukwumere, now wishes to be known and addressed as Adeyele Grace Ihebuuchechukwumere. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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country’s critical infrastructure and national assets to ensure that its development efforts remained on course. He told newsmen that the Corps deployed 40,000 of its personnel to strategic locations across the country to ensure a hitchCHANGE OF NAME OKOSA: I, formerly known and addressed as ANITA CHISA OKOSA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ANITA CHISA BEN-OBI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

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PUBLIC NOTICE

CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

CHRIST SPIRIT KINGDOM ASSEMBLY

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

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIZOBA NDIDIAMAKA AKUNNE 2. DR. HUMPHREY AGBORTONG ENOW 3. MRS AKOH UMOH 4. BARR. KAYODE OLUROTIMI AJAYI 5. MRS KEHINDE FUNMILAYO LEOTO AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To Protect the Rights of children, youths and women and individuals in the society 2. To create awareness and mobilize the community for sustainable development on health issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, Malaria prevention and treatment and Reproductive health issues 3 To provide humanitarian emergency assistance and relief to victims of natural disaster and conflict 4. To promote income generating activities by empowering Women and Youths with Entrepreneurial vocational skills acquisition training and disbursing of revolving loans to beneficiaries 5. To participate in issues of Governance and organize community dialogues and national debates on issues that could improve the condition of individuals in the country Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed by: Secretary

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PROPHET ADEMGA LIVINUS VERSHIMA – President 2. TYOBAN AONDONA - General Secretary 3. ORKURGA MATTHEW AONDOSOO – Director of Administration 4. JACK BIAM - Welfare Secretary 5 ANIWEN TELVIN.A. - Director of Counselling 6. AKA DUEM - Protocol Officer 7. ADEMGA ANGBIANDOO - Women President AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1 To preach the word of God. 2. To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of beliefs. 3. To operate as a religious. Social love expression, charitable and ecclesiastical purpose. Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, Corporate Affairs Commission, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed Prophet ADEMGA LIVINUS VERSHIMA - PRESIDENT

free Sallah celebration. Gana said that ensuring the security of the country was everybody’s business and should not be left to the government

alone. He, therefore, urged Nigerians to report any suspicious persons or objects to any security agency nearest to them.

President Buhari stresses importance of NYSC in enhancing unity, peace

resident Muhammadu Buhari said the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, is still a veritable tool of enhancing unity and peace among Nigerians. Buhari made the remarks yesterday in his native home Daura, Katsina State, while addressing some corps members serving in Daura Local Government Area. The corps members were at the President’s residence to pay a Sallah homage on him. He said the scheme was an opportunity for them to understand the culture of their host communities by CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Salama Daria, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Salama Daria Yusuf. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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interacting with them. The President urged the corps members to put more efforts toward discharging their primary responsibilities. He assured them that the Federal Government would do everything possible to enhance the scheme and boost the corps members’ morale to ensure effective service delivery. The President commended the corps members for contributing their quota to the nation building. Buhari donated N250,000 and 10 rams to the corps members to celebrate the Eid el-Kabir. CHANGE OF NAME OMORODION: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OMORODION BLESSING OSARENINOMA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. TOM BLESSING OSARENINOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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Friday, September 25, 2015

Davis Cup final: Belgium to host Britain on clay

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

I think Manchester City are back on track to chase the title once again. They have started well already

–Manchester United legend, Gary Neville

Dedevbo

U-20 W/Cup qualifier:

Falconets land in Kinshasa

he U-20 Women national Team, Falconets, are in Kinshasa for Sunday’s first leg of a 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Coach Peter Dedevbo and his team flew out yesterday from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, aboard an Ethiopia Airline flight to the DR Congo capital. Dedevbo has selected 18 players to

fly Nigeria’s flag in the match to be decided match at the Tata Raphael Stadium in Kinshasa. Chinaza Uchendu, who scored for the Super Falcons at the recent women’s football tournament of the 11th All Africa Games in Brazzaville, headlines a list that also includes goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii, defenders Olubunmi Elijah and Ugochi Emenayo, midfielders Joy Bokiri and Tessy Biahwo and forwards Chin-

wendu Ihezuo, Uchenna Kanu and Yetunde Adeboyejo. In their second round qualifying fixture, the Falconets, runner-up at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, whipped their Liberian counterparts 14-1 on aggregate, winning 7-0 in Monrovia and 7-1 in Abuja. The Nigeria delegation will be led by Member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairperson of

the Nigeria Women Football League, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma. The squad: Sandra Chiichii, Aminat Yakubu, Oluwakemi Famuditi, Patience Kalu, Amarachi Ojinma, Joy Bokiri, Olubunmi Elijah, Ugochi Emenayo, Chinaza Uchendu, Yetunde Adeboyejo, Tessy Biahwo, Christy Ohiaeriaku, Glory Ogbonna, Ogechi Ukwuoma, Uchenna Kanu, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Ihuoma Onyebuchi, Omotola Omidiji

Wolves reject Shola Ameobi

olves boss, Kenny Jackett, has revealed that the Championship club has ended its interest in signing former Newcastle United striker, Shola Ameobi. BBC Sport reported that the 33-year-old Nigeria international, who left St James’ Park in May 2014, had been training with Wolves. He then played the first 68 minutes of last Monday’s 3-2 defeat for the club’s Under-21 side at Swansea.

The report said that Jackett confirmed they would not be pursuing Ameobi after Tuesday’s League Cup defeat at Middlesbrough. The 3-0 loss left Wolves winless in three games ahead of tomorrow’s Championship trip to promoted Preston. Jackett, who has lost midfielder Dave Edwards for “several weeks” with a knee injury, was also without goalkeeper Emi Martinez and defend-

ers Kortney Hause and Scott Golbournein, who was on the bench, in a muchchanged line-up at the Riverside. But skipper Danny Batth is close to a return at centre-half after four months out with a broken foot, which kept him out of last season’s final two games. After playing for an hour against West Bromwich Albion’s Under-21s nine days before, Batth played the whole 90 minutes against Swansea.

Ameobi

Sports

Friday, September 25, 2015

Andy Murray

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NFF boss, Pinnick

After Zenith, NFF hooks Oando

Davis Cup final: Belgium to T host Britain on clay

he 2015 Davis Cup final will be played on clay. Belgium has confirmed the final against Great Britain will be held indoors on clay at the 13,000-capacity Flanders Expo in Ghent. Led by Andy Murray, Britain reached their first Davis Cup final since 1978 by beating Australia in the semi-final. But the BBC Sport reports that the decision to play the final on clay on November 27-29 could mean Murray misses the World Tour Finals.

Belgium are hosts for the final because of a rotation policy that sees teams alternate home advantage in fixtures against each other in the Davis Cup. The last time Britain faced Belgium, in 2012, the match was held in Glasgow where Belgium took a 4-1 victory. Britain, who lead the head-to-head between the two nations 7-4, are aiming to win a first Davis Cup since 1936, when a team led by Fred Perry beat Australia 3-2 on grass at Wimbledon.

Murray tweeted: “So Ghent on the clay for the Davis Cup final - very pumped! Think clay is a good surface for us.” The world number three who has a good record on the surface this season, has put his participation at the World Tour in doubt, saying he would need time to adjust from hard court to clay. The end-of-season tournament for the world’s top eight players, finishes at London’s O2 Arena on November 22, five days before the tie in Belgium begins.

that,” he told Radio La Red. “We can’t just look at one weekend, we have to look at the whole process.” Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez, involved in a controversial incident last Saturday when his late tackle led to an opponent breaking his ankle during a match against Argentinos Juniors, was included. Argentina, beaten finalists in 2014, host Ecuador on October 8 and visit neighbours, Paraguay, five days later as they

kick off the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Argentina drops Higuain

orward Gonzalo Higuain has been dropped by Argentina for their opening two World Cup qualifiers while Juventus striker, Paulo Dybala, has been called up for the first time. Higuain had a disappointing Copa America tournament in July, scoring two goals during the competition and missing his spot kick as Argentina lost on penalties to Chile in the final. He also pulled out of this month’s tour to the United States, where Argentina played Bolivia and Mexico, with a stomach problem. Dybala had an excellent last season with Palermo in Serie A and moved to Juventus during the summer. He has already scored three goals in five games for the Serie A champions. Higuain scored twice in Napoli’s 5-0 league win over Lazio l a s t Sunday, but Coach Gerardo M a r tino said he did not base his selections on one game. “The list was prepared before

Higuain

The squad: Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Nahuel Guzman (UANL Tigres), Agustin Marchesin (Santos Laguna) Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Emmanuel Mas (San Lorenzo), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Facundo Roncaglia (Genoa), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St Petersburg), Milton Casco (Newell’s Old Boys), Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton) Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Angel Di Maria (Paris St Germain), Javier Pastore (Paris St Germain), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Enzo Perez (Valencia) Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica), Angel Correa ( A t letico Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St Germain) .

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that it would soon sign a sponsorship deal with Oando, a leading integrated energy group in the country. The Chairman of NFF’s Marketing Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the move was in line with the determination of the current NFF leadership to consolidate its football development drive. Inyama said that when signed, the deal would boost youth football development and capacity building programmes of the federation, which Zenith Bank Plc recently keyed into. “In the past five years, no new sponsor has come into the Nigeria football; this is evident and it’s because of the economy. “It’s because of the image that the Nigeria football has in the eyes of the sponsors of a controversial place, perhaps a corrupt house and all that; so, we need to cleanup all those things. “We just got Zenith on, Oando is coming onboard any moment from now; they have been packaged and lined up, but I said let’s build the right foundation. “They are now saying that we are sending referees abroad; they are seeing the result in the quality of officiating especially in the premier league, people are coming back to the stands. “There are natural factors that must induce sponsorship and until you establish the right foundation, sponsorship is not donation, it will not come.” Zenith Bank Plc recently signed a partnership agreement with NFF for a comprehensive programme aimed at developing under-13 and under-15 national football teams. According to NFF, the plan is in furtherance of efforts to raise a reservoir of talented young men and women footballers to always supply players to all categories of the national team.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Friday, September 25, 2015

As the interim Coach of the Super Falcons, if you’re appointment is made substantive, how would you improve the floundering fortunes of the team? Yes, I will be building on having a wider pool of great players, which is the immediate problem that anybody could be facing because once professionals are not there you have an issue. So, now build not only a group but a very large group of people that can stand the tests and their absence would not be felt. In what directions are you looking at, is it development programmes or what? Just tell Nigerians in specific terms. One is to look at under-17 under-20 teams; there are definitely players not minding the age group that would have the IQ or prospect of playing in the senior team. It’s not about age we are talking about, but player intelligence. Then when you have them around get a time of camping before any competition, so by the time the competition will come you already have wide pool of players that are locally based. Secondly, during the league season, you go round; in short what I am trying to say is, have some camping time, may be two or three times camping before competition proper. There you will be able to pick people out of the pool. So when the time comes you have the team on ground.

Falcons: I can work under foreign coach –Danjuma

Interim coach of the Super Falcons, Christopher Danjuma, in this interview, tells JOEL AJAYI why his team failed to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics and did not perform well at the recent All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo. Excerpts:

You have been in the Nigerian football system for a while, do you think Nigeria football is better of now than it used to be? I can say we’re better because what the LMC is doing makes one proud. A situation whereby a team can go out and pick away win, I think this is the first time in history that we are having a club picking like four away win in the season. It means football in Nigeria is really taking different shape than it used to, it means that it’s great. There is no determined winner of any match now in NPFL. That means Nigeria football can compete with any league in the world. It appears to be a lot of different between the female and male teams in Nigeria; if you are talking about away wins and other good things male sides are recording, can you point out the way forward for Nigeria female league? In female league, I think there is at present premier league going on; I think this is the second year it was abridged because of Super Falcons timetable, but it could be better in every ramification because it’s the same board that is doing that of LMC, and in my own opinion I think female league should also rise to that cadre and it will help us in the national team. You just came back from the All Africa Games in Congo and all things being equal, you are looking forward to have a better Super Falcons. What is your impression of the team since after the last World Cup? Sincerely speaking I will say the NFF has sustained high level of momentum and they have been trying, especially the confidence given to the coaches or people that work around them like me. I think they are doing well in that aspect; thinking that they’re making wide pool of discovery and building up people. I think they are sustaining a great momentum. You are saying this present NFF board has addressed those areas you just rightly mentioned? You know when people come on board you have a blueprint, a plan and strategise on how to go about it and I know that is what they are doing. They are taking their time and they are building toward a goal and I know patiently, everybody is going to say ‘well done’ by the time they get there. Do you think that the Nigeria female league has the quality to raise a national team that can make Falcons great again in African and of course in the world? Yes, you see from past records, every time you go for a major competition four or five of our players go out to become professionals. It means that in-house, with time we have a lot of players that can make the country proud again.

Coach Christopher Danjuman (left) with his Super Falcons players

Yes, I am, if the

opportunity is given,

yes. If it’s working in

another capacity, yes Falcons failed to pick Rio 2016 Olympics ticket, in Congo things did not work out well in the African Games, what would you say is the problem? Just like I said, the first thing is you are sent to a battle because people have confidence in you and whenever I am given opportunity to do something, I always do it to the best of my ability and if doesn’t work I apologise that it didn’t work the way it should have worked out The major problem is not supposed to be an issue that we will be facing every day, when you want the profession-

als released naturally they cannot be released for every other time, but there was a process, there was a cohesive team that was going on and when we got to this qualifier, most of the players that we needed for the team could not be available. But definitely you have to move on because you are just in the process of building. I know you have heard of calls for a foreign coach, do you think it’s idea that is welcome anytime, any day? Every federation wants the best for the country, you and I will be proud to see Nigeria going to the World Cup and win the senior World Cup. I don’t believe anybody will call for what is not good for the country at a particular time. So, whatever is the call for, I think it’s with the mindset of getting the best for the country. Ok, let me just put it straight to you, are you still interested in taking up the job on a long term basis? Yes, I am, if the opportunity is given, yes. If it’s working in another capacity, yes. All is about size; all you do is to always thank your employers for giving you an opportunity because it’s an opportunity to even be heard, so I say thank you to NFF for giving me that opportunity.

Sports editors hail new LTV GM, Deji Balogun

igerian Sports Editors Guild (SEG), the umbrella body of the managers of sports of the country’s media outfits, has congratulated one of its members, Deji Balogun, who was recently named General Manager of the Lagos Television (LTV). The SEG describes Balogun’s appointment as a demonstration of

the fact that hardwork and perseverance pay, adding that the astute administrator is the right man to take LTV to a new height in this age of technology-driven journalism. In a statement signed by the SEG president, Tony Ubani, the guild said, “We want to congratulate our eminent member, Deji Balogun, on his new appointment,

which is a manifestation of the maxim that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.” According to the statement, “Mr. Balogun, who has gone through the mills and worked with some of the best in the profession, is an apostle of development journalism, who has left his marks in the profession. “Trained by some of the best minds in

broadcasting, we have no doubt in the ability of the new GM to reposition LTV and place it among the best television stations not only in Nigeria, but also in the African continent. “We pledge our willingness to help Mr. Balogun to succeed in his new appointment, as Nigeria grapples with new realities in its political development.”

WORLD RECORD

First people to reach the north pole

Vol. 05 No. 1206

N150

Friday, September 25, 2015

The first person to reach the North Pole has long been a matter of controversy and debate between two American explorers, and their supporters

Orji vs Kalu: Are the gods to blame? T he discourse on how much freewill people are allowed to exercise while under the sway of powerful lords is particularly relevant with respect to the multiple instances of conflict between political godfathers and their protégés, which dot the Nigerian political landscape. The long-running feud between Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State; and Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji (TA), his successor in office, was once again in the news recently, when members of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) reportedly tendered an open unreserved apology to the former over “unwarranted attacks” on his person by their group in the past. Blaming their National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro for the erstwhile attacks, they alleged that TA was responsible for instigating them. The youths went ahead to make derogatory statements against

NO COMPARISON, THEY ARE BOTH

rsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will not be punished by the Football Association following crowd trouble during the north London derby on Wednesday. But 10 fans suspected to be Arsenal supporters have been arrested by the Police

Guest Columnist

Chief Orji, as published in the Daily Sun of August 26, 2015 — statements that left a sour taste in the mouth. Apparently, the said Isiguzoro had published a list of names of alleged corrupt Igbo people, including that of Orji Uzor Kalu, in trying to suggest those who should and should not be given ministerial appointments in the present dispensation. Although neither of Orji or Kalu presently occupies Abia Government House, it is rather obvious that there’s still no love lost between them. Considering the pivotal role Kalu played in the emergence of Orji as governor, many are understandably curious as to what could have caused their relationship to degenerate to this point. Careful analysis of similar godfather/godson feuds in Nigeria easily reveals that pecuniary gains and not ideological splits underlie most of such squabbles. A number of examples clearly illustrate this point. Chinwoke Mbadinuju in Anambra state is widely believed to have parted ways with Emeka Offor, his billionaire sponsor when the financial demands Offor imposed on the state became unbearable. In the same Anambra state, Emeka Ngige ran into trouble with Chris Uba another billionaire powerbroker over the latter’s insistence on controlling the state’s monthly allocation. In 2008, Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor found himself pitted against Chief Tony Anenih, the veteran politician and de facto PDP overlord in Edo State over an alleged N200 million loan for Osunbor’s guber-

Edward U.

Egbujor

THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH ANYONE CAN LEAD US IS TO RESTORE TO US THE BELIEF IN OUR OWN GUIDANCE natorial campaign, which the then governor had reportedly vowed not to repay. The late strongman of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu likewise became pitted against Rashidi Ladoja, his erstwhile disciple over nomination of political appointees into Ladoja’s cabinet. In Kwara state, the late Oloye, Olusola Saraki, fell out repeatedly with just about everyone he helped make governor. He propped the late Mohammed Lawal into office in 1999, but ensured he was voted out by 2003. Nothing better encapsulates the near god-like regard Oloye demanded from his stooges than Lawal’s revelation after leaving office that “he (Saraki) is the first person I will talk to after I wake up and the last person I will speak with before I go to bed...)”. In several cases (e.g. Anambra under Ngige and Edo under Osunbor), the godfather succeeded in getting rid of the “errant” godson; while in other cases, the disciple emerged victorious over his master (Saraki junior versus his father and TA Orji versus Orji Uzor Kalu). However, unlike in the case of Oloye Saraki who quietly retired from partisan politicking when he realized his sun was setting, Orji Uzor Kalu has persisted with a

near existential fight for continued relevance in Abia state. It is even sadder that he feels the best way he can regain some measure of importance in his state is by unceasing virulent attacks on his former protégé by himself and his agents. In the circumstance, therefore, what objective observers sense in TA’s responses/reactions is depicted in Henry Miller’s words: “No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us to surrender our destiny to. The only way in which anyone can lead us is to restore to us the belief in our own guidance.” The Kalu family, believing they literally made Orji governor, are said to have felt a sense of entitlement, particularly with regard to the state treasury – an attitude which TA Orji stridently objected to. Today, the incumbent Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has steadily begun to assert himself as his own man and yet we don’t hear of any resultant feud between him and his predecessor in office. Orji, being fully cognizant of his unpleasant experience with Uzor Kalu, understands that the mere fact you were apparently instrumental to someone’s ascendancy to high office doesn’t confer on you the right to impose yourself on his government. Despite the claims by the Kalu camp that his successor in office was an unpopular governor, Theodore Orji is presently a distinguished Senator of the federal republic representing Abia Central. Kalu has also contested for the Abia North senatorial seat in 2011 and 2015, and lost. Who then is truly more popular between the two in Abia? TA Orji’s apparent refusal to kowtow to the wishes of the likes of Kalu has gone a long way in rescuing Abia State from the spell of self-seeking overlords. For, no matter how powerful the gods may be, every man eventually is the master of his own fate. Egbujor writes from Umuahia, Abia State, in response to Dozie Okebalama’s recent column on TA and OUK.

Sport Extra

League Cup: Met Police arrest 10 Arsenal fans because fans in the away end damaged hoardings in the upper tiers as the Gunners won 2-1 at White Hart Lane. Gunners midfielder, Mathieu Flamini scored twice, including a superb volley, as Arsenal progressed to the

fourth round. They will visit Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round, after the Championship side knocked out Newcastle. BBC Sport reported yesterday, that the Metropolitan Police had arrested 10 specta-

tors for a range of offences at the League Cup tie, including criminal damage. The FA says the matter is a criminal issue and they will assist the police. Arsenal are aware of the incident and say they will

work with Tottenham and the authorities in an attempt to identify those individuals responsible for the disturbances, which could use footage from broadcasters as well as any club surveillance videos.

Wenger

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