AfricaWorldNews October 16 - 31 by AfricaWorld Newspaper

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OCTOBER 16-31 2012

VOL 001 Nº21

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“I Joined Politics to fight for youth Employment and equality ...” Emer Costello MEP By Ukachukwu Okorie

mer Costello is currently a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Dublin, having emerged under the platform of the Labour Party. During her stewardship in the Dublin City Council, Emer Costello endeared herself to many, among members of the New Communities especially Africans. AfricaWorld had a chat with the Brussels based lawmaker in her Dublin office, excerpts: Can our readers know a bit about your background? Originally, I come from Dundalk in Co. Louth. I have always been interested in politics from the time I was young. I suppose, being born in a border town, in the case of Dundalk, one will always be interested in politics. Specifically, I grew up during the time of troubles, and Dundalk suffered greatly. As a matter of fact, that is what started my interest in politics. Also, I keenly followed politics as a student, and when I graduated from college in the 1980s as a teacher. During that time, teaching jobs were very hard to find, however, I worked in UCD for a while before I travelled. When I came back, many of my mates in the college had emigrated. Then the question of staying or not crept up but I decided to stay and become politically active. My inspiration was also borne out of the desire to change things for young people. It was demoralizing during that era for many people. You can imagine graduating out of school and you do not have a job. On joining Labour Party

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ChinuaAchebe’sNewBookAccusesAwolowo,GowonofGenocideinBiafra By Ukachukwu Okorie The author of Africa’s widely read literary prose ‘Things Fall Apart’ has finally published his memoirs on the fratricidal conflict in Nigeria which occurred between 1968 to 1970. Chinua Achebe’s 333 page book ‘There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra’ has become the most reviewed literary piece now. One of Africa’s best known authors, Chinualumogu Achebe’s debut 1958 novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ has sold more than 10 million copies. The same book

WOLE SOYINKA

has been translated into more than 50 languages and focuses on the traditions of Igbo society and the clash between Western and traditional African values. Chinua Achebe has published many books cutting across prose, short stories, poetry, children’s books, criticisms and political commentary. Some of his popular works include: No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), Anthills of the Savannah (1987), Beware, Soul-Brother, and

Lycamobile Sales Manager Ireland

pride of africa

Lycamobile recently rolled out its services to the Republic of Ireland. It is ...

“The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.” ... More on page 2

We seize this opportunity to call on the different meeting groups within the Imo Umbrella to come and let us join hands in building up our Imo State meeting. This is our state (ANYI ENWEGHI STATI OZO). Let us borrow a leaf from other state meetings in Ireland and make ours even more stronger. We have our meeting venue at 5A First Avenue, Cookstown Industrial Estate, Off Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24. You may call Chike on +353 862111629 or Chinedum on +353 879448717 for further inquiries. Pass the good news to all and sundry. Together we will fly! Come one come all

More on page 14

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AFRICAWORLD October 16-31 2012

opinion

The return of the native

Editorial

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND MUST GOTO WORK . The recent humiliation of Ireland football team in the 2014 World Cup qualifier by her German counterpart is another development too bad to ignore. This avoidable loss has buttressed my call for a new approach by FAI in the administration of the round - leather game in this island.

“The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.”

By Ukachukwu Okorie

WOLE SOYINKA

Though Ireland has a record of historic victories in soccer but recent results against big nations, is worrisome. Football administrators should make the most of abundant talents that lie fallow in this country. Soccer fans in Ireland are not happy with the mentality in the team, especially towards competitions, and on establishing an era of flourishing victories for this country. The national team camp should be thrown open for talents who may not be playing at the top stage. Footballing exceeds being physically fit for a certain playing time on the pitch. The current tactics in selecting footballers, who will play better and win games for Ireland is not working. The 6 - 1 drubbing of Ireland by the German national side is enough to earn any coach his P45 (Job discharge document). More so, the importance of football on the global stage cannot be overemphasized. As an experienced Coach, Giovanni Trapattoni should know Ireland can win any country, if talents, not just players playing in big leagues, are sought. “We can accept defeat against Germany. Realistically, we were never going to compete against Germany for first place in the group..”, he had said after the match. The National Team should aim to beat the best in the world, not just to compete, perhaps winning teams believed to be lowly rated. Football in this age can assist a nation in its facets of development. FAI should move to the next level by liberalising the processes so that talents lying fallow in this island can play. Come inside. Uka

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright and political activist who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. He is among the greatest contemporary African writers. Wole was born on 13 July 1934 in Abeokuta, western Nigeria, to Samuel Ayodele Soyinka, an Anglican minister and the headmaster of St. Peters School in Abẹokuta and Grace Eniola, a trader and political activist within the women’s movement in the local community. Wole Soyinka is cousin to Fela Kuti, the Afrobeat legend and social critic. As a boy, he was trained in a Christian home with regular visits to `Isarà, his father’s ancestral home, where, despite the incursion of the new faith, African traditions are revered. After leaving St. Peters Primary School in Abeokuta, Soyinka went to Abẹokuta Grammar School, and there, several prizes for literary writings took - off. In 1946 he went to Government College in Ibadan, at that time, an elite high school. Wole went to University College in Ibadan, affiliate with the University of London, in 1952, leaving in 1954. He read English literature, Greek, and Western history. He continued his studies at the University of Leeds, where, later, in 1973, he took his doctorate. He was a dramaturgist at the Royal Court Theatre in London from 1958 to 1959, during his six year stay for further

AfricaWorld & Millenium Development Goals Editor Ukachukwu Okorie Chief Reporter Paul Kelly

Graphic Design Celine Fang Mirco Mascarin Photography Stephen Boyle

A fearless writer and champion of anti studies. In 1960, he was awarded a Rockefeller bursary and returned to his corruption, the Professor of Literature has home country, Nigeria, to study African kept the faith with the masses, stinging drama Nigerian leaders like a bee. He hardly come short on the defence of core African values Wole Soyinka is one of Africa’s great and the continued western media imaginative advocates of native culture. propaganda to rubbish the image of He shows it effectively well in his works Africa. by linking up with the traditional popular African theatre which is rich in dance, Without fear or favour, he bares his mind music, and action, and intertwining it and writes to counter assertions or actions often with the mythology of Ogun, the against Africa. He once lambasted the BBC Yoruba god of iron and war. for running a show which Wole described as “the worst aspects of colonialist and Like his writings, Wole Soyinka is tough patronising.” Speaking to the Guardian in on colonialism, neocolonialism and its April 2010, Professor Wole Soyinka said structures. Right from his days in the that Welcome to Lagos, the BBC - Two University College Ibadan where he, along observational documentary which follows with six other students, founded the various people in poor areas of the city, Pyrates Confraternity (PC) in 1952 till this was “the most tendentious and lopsided programme” he had ever seen. His works day. are numerous and stylish. Among them Soyinka, a world respected writer and are, Aké: The Years of Childhood (1981), activist has always been at the forefront, which recounts Wole’s first eleven years leading struggles on behalf of the (1934-1944), Death and the King’s downtrodden and the quest for justice Horseman, the celebrated 1976 play about and fairplay. Soyinka, a Yoruba, was sent colonialist attitudes, and King Baabu, a to prison for speaking out against the 2001 satire on African dictatorships. massacre of Igbos and attempting to As energetic as ever, Wole Soyinka has broker peace during the Nigeria/Biafra touched millions around the world, war in 1967. He was sentenced to death inspiring new writers, activists, leaders in absentia by General Sani Abacha, the and all who love the progress of humanity. Nigerian dictator, in the early 1990s.

The Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals

and seeks to synergise its work in accordance with those aims wherever possible. Those goals are to improve

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issues of Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality, Environmental Sustainability and Global Partnerships.

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October 16-31 2012

AFRICAWORLD

NEWs

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) many within the African community. I must also point out that my philosophy of justice and social equality endeared me to members of the new community. These issues were also exciting to me as, I wondered about Dublin, a marginal city, now becoming international a n d cosmopolitan. So when I became Lord M a y o r, I promoted an op en- do or Emer Costello and Ukachukwu Okorie policy and Dublin as an open city. I After making up my mind, I decided also commissioned unemployment to search for a party that shared my and platforms to promote Dublin as values and concerns. I joined the a culturally diverse city, not two Labour Party in Drumcondra. At a cultures competing with each other time I was renting a room in a house as some will say. I actually had two in Drumcondra and my landlady policies: See Dublin as a global city happens to be the secretary of the a n d promoting ethnic party in the local branch. I started entrepreneurship. However, in all attending meetings and party these efforts, I never lost focus that functions as she persuaded me. many members of the new During that period, there were a communities had problem with host of issues about women rights regularizing their status and and empowerment, including employment. divorce, abortion and contraception, coupled with youth unemployment, in what was termed the ‘Liberal On Female Genital Mutilation: Agenda’. Having been motivated by these I would say that the work that Ifrah issues and knowing fully well that Ahmed did was wonderful and lots of legislation is needed, I began hugely important. It raised a lot of the search for a party that believe awareness in Ireland and we are in my philosophy. It was then that happy that members of the new the Labour Party came to my heart communities spoke out against it. with our mutual interest in equality She did a nice job by speaking out and social justice. These made me and keeping the pressure on the join the party. political parties and government to enact legislation on it. How did your relations with the Akidwa (Aki na dada waAfrika) African Community in Dublin similarly did a lot of work especially become so close? in raising campaign and awareness. They have done a lot on women and I have a long relationship with their reproductive issues, and by Africans in Ireland. When I joined involving other groups in their the Labour Party, I met and campaign. subsequently married Joe Costello These pressures together with the who was the TeachtaDála (TD) policies of Labour party prompting representing Dublin Central and Liz McManus, former deputy leader worked as a team. In the mid 1990s, to present the Bill and IvanaBacik we started to see a major influx of TD followed it with contributions immigrants to Dublin, many from Joe Costello. Ultimately, it settling in the north inner city and culminated to the FGM Ban in around the area where I lived. With Ireland last year. the settlement of these immigrant particularly Africans, a whole new On New Communities issues arose in this area which I later Partnership: represented. In 2003 when I was elected, I became more close to Reginald has been doing a good job many among the new communities there. I probably know him since he as they came with particular issues arrived here and we were at his relating to status etc. wedding recently. But then the NCP Due to Ireland’s history as an has been living up to its name as all emigrating community, I know countries are involved, from the what it means for members of the Polish, Romanians etc. new communities to settle in. So working with Joe Costello and the On efforts as MEP in Brussels advice centres we set up brought me very close at the earlier stage to I have just become MEP since

February, so I am still getting acquainted to my areas and various committees I shall work on. However, one of my early achievements as Member of European Parliament was to serve as a repertoire for an opinion on the employment committee, on the policy coherence which was prepared for the development committee. I am contributing immensely to the issue of policy coherence for EU trading partners especially in the developing world where many of the migrants come from. We are of the view that all employees are treated equally whether here or countries where members of our new communities originate. I believe that the European Union should practice what it preach with employment laws, as some of our immigrants from Africa are interested in it. On the Undocumented: The issue of undocumented and irregular migrants is another point I have been raising since I became a Member of the European Parliament. I will be participating at the Domestic Workers Action Group solidarity march; I intend to speak on the need for support. I will be putting more pressure on the EU to treat this issue urgently. Another issue is the proposed EU Diaspora law, which I have been canvassing that, the definition should include Africans living in Europe. This can positively affect African migrants

here. On Inter - Parliamentary Partnership between Africa and Europe: Under the Irish Presidency of the European Parliament next year, there will be a parliamentary conference here in Ireland which will involve the Afro - Caribbean Parliamentary group. Joe Costello TD will be chairing it. There will be vital decision that will be made here during that period. On African Diaspora: Another top priority on my scale of preference is the involvement of African Diaspora in the policies and developmental plans involving their countries. As many were born there, they will be more familiar to help facilitate projects. On trade relations, it will be better to involve them. Many embassies of African countries have shown keen interest in establishing bilateral agreements on trade. This is a policy I am keen on supporting especially between Ireland and different African countries. We need to expand it on a large scale and involve Africans in Ireland immensely. Africa being an emerging market with huge resources, it is important that the EU and Ireland chart course that will be of mutual benefit. Issuance of Passport and Elections:

This is an area that has been so passionate to us. The Labour Party has been at the forefront of a revamp on the process of dealing with immigrants’ statue. Often, I get complaints from members of the new community on certain difficulties, either in his passport application or years which the process has taken. Our party has always sympathized with the demand to fast-track peoples applications instead of spending years. We also wanted a momentous occasion to celebrate the citizenship certificate awarding to immigrants. I am happy we achieved that. We had a meeting recently with the NCP on helping people prepare citizenship applications. We want them to celebrate their Irish citizenship and participate in their civic duties of voting during elections and referendum. They should be involved in politics as well, as this is the only way forward. Asylum Issue In the case of irregular migrants, the Labour party has campaigning for another regularization of irregular migrants. The situation where one has stayed for a certain number of years without knowing fully well his status is not fair and just. We have been championing for a revamp in the application processing and we shall continue. We do not want the question of someone spending ten years and receiving a deportation order.

Emer Costello hoisting the maiden edition of AfricaWorld on May - 7 - 2011

AFRICAWORLD October 16-31 2012

NEWS (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)

According to Noo Saro-Wiwa in his review of ‘There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra’ for the UK Guardian, “No writer is better placed than Chinua Achebe to tell the story of the Nigerian Biafran war from a cultural and political perspective.” According to Achebe, the book which was published in the United Kingdom by Allen Lane on 27th September lends credence to one of Nigeria’s most ‘inconvenient truths’ since independence in October 1, 1960 from the British colonial authorities. According to Chimamanda Adichie’s review of Achebe’s new book, “..it seems an apt word for the thousands of Igbo civilians in the North who were killed between May and September 1966, their homes ransacked and set on fire: Nigerian civilians killed by Nigerian civilians. The federal government seemed incapable of stopping the killings. Had the massacres not occurred, or had they been dealt with differently, the southeastern region would not have seceded and declared itself the independent nation of Biafra.” Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate in Literature equally spoke about his experiences during the conflict, “Writing in certain environments carries with it an occupational risk. When I was imprisoned, without trial, it was as a result of a position I took as a citizen. Of course I used my weapon, which was writing, to express my disapproval of the civil war into which we were about to enter. These were people who’d been abused, who’d undergone genocide, and who felt completely rejected by the rest of the community, and therefore decided to break away and form a nation of its own. Unfortunately, the nature of my imprisonment meant that I couldn’t practise my trade because I was in solitary confinement for 22 months out of the 27, and I was deprived of writing material. So I had to somehow break through the

barriers, smuggle in toilet paper, cigarette paper, scribble a few poems, pass messages outside. I was able to undertake exercises to make sure that I emerged from prison intact mentally.” At the end of the conflict in 1970, three million Biafrans, mostly innocent women and children had died. According to the UK Guardian reviewer, Noo Saro Wiwa, “Igbos weren’t mere casualties of war, Achebe insists, but victims of calculated genocide.” Late Pa Obafemi Awolowo, one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria, who was deputy to General Yakubu Gowan, was accused of deliberate genocidal policies against the Igbos by Chinua Achebe in his new book. The Nigeria/ Biafra conflict was the first globally televised that relayed the gory consequences of war. During this conflict, images of malnourished children filled the international press and many still regret the lack of decisive action by humanity. It will be recalled, at the height of the war, all missionaries especially the Irish in Biafra, were expelled by the Nigeria authorities. Chinua Achebe did not spare the United Nations of following Nigeria’s lead, and idly standing by as Biafra was crushed. Achebe succinctly puts it: “You see we, the little people of the world, are ever expendable.” Followers of the Late Obafemi Awolowo have criticised the book from the time it was made public by Allen Publishers in UK till the time AfricaWorld went to press. Writing in the Nigerian Sunday Tribune on 14 October 2012, Ayo Turton opined, “Papa Achebe apparently is still getting carried away by his dream of Biafra so much that he forgot that Biafra is a country that never was. There was an attempt by the Eastern Region of Nigeria to secede. That attempt did not materialise”, continuing in his defence of Awolowo, “The name Awolowo represents one of the brightest spots in the history of Yoruba people. This latest attack on him is an attack on Yoruba

Gen. Yakubu Gowon - Head of State of Nigeria during the War

Chinua Achebe reads a book history and its people and it has raised this pertinent question for Yoruba people, What do they really want from us?” Ayo Adebanjo, an Awolowo close lieutenant informed the Nigerian Guardian that he and his colleagues in Afenifere (Pan - Yoruba group) were not surprised at the way Chinua Achebe tried to portray the late Obafemi Awolowo. “We know Achebe as somebody who has some hatred for Yoruba, and the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in particular. Many of us who were around during the war are already familiar with (Achebe’s) style and actions. He has a pathological hatred for Awolowo and the Yoruba race. He’s suffering from Yorubaphobia; and he needs help”, Ayo Adebanjo said. Commentators and leaders are arguing that the current verbal war between some Yoruba

Chief Obafemi Awolowo

Awoists and Igbo elders could spiral out of control especially in today’s Nigeria, which is struggling with stability in certain parts of Northern Nigeria and the quest by the later to take back power from the South. Under the platform of Southern Nigeria’s Peoples Assembly (SNPA), they have called on frontline Yoruba and Igbo leaders to sheath their swords over Achebe’s memoir. In a communique jointly signed by Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, Edwin Clark and Mbazulike Amechi on behalf of South West, South South and South East leaders, they cautioned both parties to forget the past and look ahead to Nigeria’s future. According to the communique which partly read, “The controversies generated by the excerpts from Chinua Achebe’s latest memoir on the Nigerian Civil War in connection with Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s role in the war and his disposition towards the Igbos could therefore not

have come at a worse time. We must note that history cannot be undone. The Bafran war has long been concluded and it is now a part of our history. All the allegations leveled against Awolowo by Achebe were indeed leveled against him by others in his lifetime, and he gave a copious defence of all. No one can give a better defense than Awolowo himself gave. If indeed anyone opposed to the Southern bridge building move had sought to scuttle the effort (Southern unity), he could not have done better than publish the kind of comments about Awolowo that were ascribed to the learned author Chinua Achebe, even though, we acknowledged the timing of the publication was coincidental.” The review goes on while the verbal jabs flings across the geographical divide in Nigeria and even across the Atlantic.

Birds of the same feather: Chinua Achebe and Nelson Mandela

October 16-31 2012

news

Thousands rally to support Quinn Over 5,000 people came out in support of Sean Quinn and his family in his hometown. The former tycoon looked tired as he was flanked by family and friends during the rally in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan. The businessman will be back before the High Court next Friday, where he faces a prison sentence for his role in an asset stripping plot that put up to €500m beyond the reach of the former Anglo Irish Bank. His daughter Ciara told the crowd she and her siblings were the true and rightful owners of the Quinn Group companies and that her family would still be standing when the war with the Anglo ends. She maintained they were innocent parties, who will not be turned to scapegoats by the bank, saying: “Our lives have been torn apart, as have our life’s work.”

The rally was organised by the Concerned Irish Citizens group. Popular GAA figures Mickey Harte, Donegal selector Rory Gallagher and Peter Quinn spoke out in support of the family at the rally. Mr Quinn and his wife Patricia broke down as prayers and a poem were read for their jailed son, Sean Quinn junior. The family are caught up in a legal battle with Anglo, now known as IBRC, over some 2.8bn euro worth of debts and have taken a counter-case again the bank over a loans deal. Quinn, his son and nephew Peter Darragh Quinn were found guilty of breaching court orders to stop putting up to 500m euro worth of property assets beyond the reach of the bank. Sean Jnr. is appealing his imprisonment at Mount joy’s centre, while Peter is said to have gone to hiding in the U.K.

AFRICAWORLD

High Court slashes Icarom administrator fees The High Court has slashed by 25 per cent the €480 per hour fees sought by the administrator of insurance company Icarom plc and also cut the average €330 hourly fees for his staff after noting “a great deal of public disquiet at the level of fees charged for this type of work”. The fees sought were not objected to by the Central Bank. Icarom was formerly the Insurance Corporation of Ireland plc, which collapsed in the 1980s leading to the imposition of an insurance levy. The administration has lasted almost 30 years and is expected to conclude shortly. Some €10 million was paid back to the State’s insurance compensation fund out of the administration last year. Donal O’Connor was appointed Icarom administrator in 1990 and, after he retired in 2008 as a partner in accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2008, the Department of Finance agreed he would continue in that role with the assistance of PwC staff. Last week, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said that he needed to be satisfied the fees sought were not in excess of the norm approved by the court he would not approve these fees and was cutting them by 25 per cent. Aside from the €480 fee claimed by Mr O’Connor, the judge was told the average hourly fee of other staff of PwC involved in the administration was €330. The court heard the hourly rate of partners in PwC was €580 but Mr O’Connor was not seeking that and was instead seeking €480 an hour. In calculating the hourly rates, Mr O’Connor said in an affidavit he applied the same method of charging and basis of charging used by PwC for any other commercial client. The rates charged for PwC staff in the period January to December 2011 ranged downwards from €580

for a partner, €470-€390 for directors, €480€355 for senior managers and €105-€148 for assistants. The judge approved without alteration the fees sought by Deloitte as auditors to Icarom, which he was told averaged out at €180 an hour.The firm will receive almost €50,000 for their work for Icarom in 2010 and the judge reappointed it to audit the company for 2011 and 2012. The Central Bank had indicated in a letter to solicitors for the administrator it had no objection to yesterday’s fees application. ICI was placed in administration in 1985, when William McCann was appointed administrator. In 1990, ICI changed its name to Icarom plc and Mr O’Connor was appointed administrator. Mr O’Connor had claimed fees for himself for 2010 and 2011 at €480 per hour and also sought approval of fees for PwC staff involved in the administration. For a total 641 hours work by himself and his staff in 2010, the administrator sought some €211,843, excluding VAT. That included €72,960 for himself for 152 hours’ work at €480 an hour. In 2011, Mr O’Connor claimed about €291,000, plus VAT, as remuneration for himself and his staff for some 794 hours worked. That included €96,480 personal remuneration for 201 hours worked. There are also reports that indicate that about €400,000 was beingretained to cover the remuneration of the administrator and his staff for the period from February 8th, 2011, to January 10th, 2012. The administrator end of 2011 report had earlier expressed that he hoped to complete the transaction before end of 2012.

250 ECOWAS observers for Ghana elections by nonye anuche

250 Elections Observation Mission of The Economic Commission of West African States’ (ECOWAS) will be in Ghana to observe the December poll’s under the leadership of former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo . The team has the task of monitoring the December elections with the goal of ascertaining the level of credibility and peacefulness of the elections process, a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday signed by Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Communications and Information Assistant stated. The statement said a pre-election team is already in Ghana to hold discussion with Civil Society Organisations on roles to consolidate peace and promote free and fair elections. The pre-election team, led by Dr AbdelFatau Musah, Director of Political Affairs at ECOWAS, seeks to understand the views, expec tations and challenges of

stakeholders of Ghana’s 2012 Presidential Election. “This will enable the team to draw recommendations from their findings which will inform the ECOWAS president’s decision on the specific role of the Commission during the upcoming elections,” the statement said. Dr Musah pointed out that his team seeks to get the perspectives of political parties, journalists, National Media Commission, National Peace Council, Ghana Police Service, development partners and civil society. The interaction with these stakeholders will give them an opportunity to collect information on the state of preparedness of Ghana, for the elections. According to the statement It will also inform ECOWAS on the role it would play during the election process added to its observatory role.

ECOWAS Headquarter - Abuja, Nigeria.

AFRICAWORLD October 16-31 2012

news

Priory Hall Protest in Dublin By Nonye Anuche

On Saturday the 13th of October, exactly a year since the Priory Hall apartment complex was evacuated because it is unsafe, residents organised a peaceful rally. More than €2 million has been spent by Dublin City Council on the Priory Hall apartment complex since it was evacuated due to safety concerns one year ago. Among the marchers were 300 angry residents who were forced to move out of their homes in the north Dublin building after officials deemed it unsafe to live in. Families and supporters marched from Donaghmede shopping centre to the apartment site where a year ago residents were evacuated from their homes amid fears that the buildings were a fire trap, carrying placards reading: “What’s another year, 10,000 tears and more financial fears.” Addressing the protesters, resident Darren Kelly said the demonstration would remind authorities of the despair 65 families have been forced to endure, after developer Tom McFeely built the complex with serious safety defects. “We’re hoping to refocus minds,” said Mr Kelly. He said many of those concerned had been left in limbo, saddled with mortgages for a home they cannot live in.

Residents are in the middle of a mediation process with Dublin City Council and the financial institutions involved. It has emerged that €2 million has been spent by Dublin City Council on the Priory Hall apartment complex since it was evacuated due to safety concerns one year ago. Half of the money has been spent on the accommodation costs of almost 100 residents evacuated on October 14th last, and almost €700,000 has been spent on security for the vacant complex. Residents of the north Dublin apartments were evacuated by order of the High Court until remedial work to address fire safety and other problems was completed. The work was initially undertaken by the estate’s developer, Mr McFeely, but he was ordered off the site by the court on November 4th, on the application of the city council, which was not satisfied with the work being carried out. The council was ordered by the court to cover the accommodation costs of the evacuated residents. The residents, a mix of home owners and tenants, were initially accommodated in hotels but were subsequently moved to rented accommodation. Until last week the council had spent €2,136,943 on Priory Hall.

This covered the cost of temporary lettings for all owner-occupiers, storage costs and security costs. It also includes money given to cover the cost difference between rents in Priory Hall and higher rents being paid by tenants evacuated from the complex who were in receipt of rent supplement. The rental of apartments for the past year has cost the council €620,039. This is less than the council has spent on security for the empty buildings, which has so far cost €697,962. In addition to renting apartments the council has spent €396,460 on hotel accommodation. Most of this cost was incurred late last year in the weeks after the residents were evacuated. The next largest cost relates to surveying, and engineering and fire safety consultancy work, which now totals €335,616. Salaries have cost the council €10,624. Miscellaneous costs, largely related to the storage of the residents’ possessions, have amounted to €76,242.

Co-chairs Karen McCormack and JM Singh said, “This referendum affects all children living in Ireland regardless of citizenship. If passed, it will provide an enhanced level of safety and protection to all Irish children living in the State. “The deadline for application to be included on the Supplementary Register for the Children’s Referendum is 23rd October. It is important that anyone who recently became a citizen, checks that their details on the register are correct. In order to be able to vote in this referendum, an individual will have the letter ‘P’ after their details on the register. If in doubt, voters can check the draft register on www.checktheregister.ie, or in local libraries, Garda Stations, and post offices. “Citizens who are not already registered to vote should complete the RFA2 form. Voters

Mr Usher said they had been failed by the political system. He described Priory Hall as the “worst and most extreme example of modern Ireland, where no one is held accountable. A lot of families got what they thought would be short-term moratoriums. That was fine when it was looking like they’d be back in within three months, but a year on that mortgage is just getting bigger and bigger. It’s added about €15,000 to most mortgages,” Families initially relieved to have secured a moratorium on their mortgages are now seeing their debt mounting as the days go by.

The council is appealing to the Supreme Court the order requiring it to cover the accommodation costs. A resolution process chaired by retired Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan and involving banks and residents is ongoing. Residents’ spokesman and Priory

LABOUR INTERCULTURAL GROUP URGES NEW CITIZENS TO VOTE IN THE CHILDREN’S REFERENDUM Congratulating the 2,400 candidates, who have become citizens of Ireland today at the Citizenship Ceremony, Labour Intercultural is urging all new citizens to apply to be added to the supplementary register in time for the Children’s Referendum on November 10th.

Hall homeowner Graham Usher said life continued to be extremely difficult for the residents, who felt left in limbo.“ The council’s Supreme Court case is hanging over the residents’ heads. That will be D-Day for the residents, because the possibility is that then, in addition to their mortgage problem, they’ll have a rent problem,” .He said Environment Minister Phil Hogan had used every excuse in the book not to meet them. “He needs to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem,” he said adding that the Government has turned its back on the residents.

who have changed address since last voting should complete the RFA3 form. Both forms are available at local libraries, local authority offices, Garda stations and post offices, or alternatively online http://www.labour.ie/getactive/register/. These forms contain a certificate of identity that must be completed by a member of the Gardaí. “While we will be advocating a ‘Yes’ vote, we also believe that it is of the utmost importance that all citizens exercise their right to vote, regardless of how they vote. We therefore urge all the new Irish citizens to register and vote in the forthcoming referendum, and to ensure they are on the electoral register for future elections and referendums.”

No ex-African leader for 2012 Mo Ibrahim Prize The Prize Committee of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation met in London last Sunday to conclude its deliberations on the 2012 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. Following its meeting, the Prize Committee informed the Board of the Foundation that it had not selected a winner for 2012. The Prize is an annual US$5 million award paid over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. It has been established to recognise and celebrate excellence in African leadership, and to provide Laureates with the opportunity to pursue their commitment to the African continent once they have stepped down from office. It is awarded to a democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government who has left office in the previous three years; served her/his constitutionally mandated term; and demonstrated excellence in office. The Prize Committee stated: “The Prize Committee reviewed a number of eligible candidates but none met the criteria needed to win this Award.

The Award is about excellence in leadership. In the first six years the Prize Committee has selected three very worthy Laureates who continue to be an inspiration and whose examples, we hope, will be emulated.” Nelson Mandela was made the honorary inaugural Laureate in 2006. In 2011, the Prize was awarded to President Pedro Verona Pires of Cape Verde for his “vision in transforming Cape Verde into a model of democracy, stability and increased prosperity.”President Pires followed Joaquim Chissano (2007) and Festus Mogae (2008) as Ibrahim Laureates.. In 2009 and 2010 the Prize Committee did not select a winner.

October 16-31 2012

AFRICAWORLD

Corporate Trends with Nonye Anuche

“We are here for the long haul” - Lycamobile Sales Manager Ireland.

Tom Mchugh - Lykamobile Ireland Sales Manager Lycamobile recently rolled out its services to the Republic of Ireland. It is a global provider of low cost international mobile calls. Lycamobile has brought to Ireland its compelling customer proposition and unique business model. The introductory offers of Lycamobile’s Pay As You Go SIM in Ireland are tailored to deliver compelling voice, data and text propositions. Lycamobile’s customers can make international calls with no connection charge, free unlimited 3G internet connection and text messages for 0.09c to national and international numbers. AfricaWorld Newspaper spoke with Tom McHugh, Lyca Mobile’s Sales Manager, Ireland. Can you give us a brief overview of Lyca Mobile’s Business in Ireland? Lyca Mobile launched in Ireland 3 months ago but the parent company was launched about 5 years. Lyca Mobile is expanding globally and in the next 12 to 15 months we are launching into 10 to 12 different countries so the expansion is global. At the moment, the parent company of Lyca Mobile is the largest Mobile Virtual

Network Operator (MVNO) globally, which means that we use an established network’s base station while we use our own I.T, accounting, and back office service staff. In Ireland we use 02, but it varies from country to country. We get the best deal so we can pass on the best deal to our customers. Who are your target customers? Our target is everybody, because we have fantastic deal for both the Irish nationals and all our Immigrant population. There are people from 199 countries living in Ireland. What are the difference Lyca mobile and other Irish mobile phone service providers? We offer people who come in to this country good value to call their families and friends at a very cheap rate, so it doesn’t cost a fortune to be in touch with their family and friends. It is the ethos of the company worldwide to give value to customers so they can make calls without spending a fortune. Other mobile networks have similar packages for international

calls but you have to read through the contract terms and conditions. We offer our customers very fresh clean packages. Our service says this is it and it is what you get, with no hidden charges. In about 30 countries you get 1 cent call to land lines, we also give unlimited SMS to other networks within Ireland. We also offer a 30 day package with unlimited data, calls, and texts for just €29. This is the cheapest unlimited

package available in Ireland. There is no contract involved so people don’t have to sign and be tied to a contract. Can using the network base of other providers not affect your service over time? No, we are here for the long haul. We are a low cost company that gives good value service to customers. Do you have special offers for certain international calls? Yes, we do have special offers that may be relevant to different communities as the months go by. At the moment it is said by the Irish National Census Office, that the Polish community is the largest community of non- nationals in Ireland. So we currently have free call from Lyca Ireland to Lyca Poland. We also recently launched in Portugal so we have special offer from Lyca Ireland to Lyca Portugal. Like I said we are looking ahead all the time so will always have special offers for our customers. How far is your presence spread across in Ireland? We have our main office in Dublin, and then we also have offices in Cork and Galway. There are plans to expand into other counties in the next 12 months. What assurance can you give your customers that you will continue to be a low cost service provider? Like I said earlier it is the ethos of the company to give value to customers so they can make calls without spending a fortune The telecom market is like any other commodity in the world. If the wholesale price to a country goes up we will let our customers know. We always carry our customers along so we have to keep them informed. We plan to always keep our services low and still render quality service to our customers.

AFRICAWORLD October 16-31 2012

pride of africa

PRIDE OF AFRICA

Sinqobile Makhanya 19 year old Sinqobile is from KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. She was runner - up (Miss Photogenic & Social Media) at the maiden Miss South Africa Ireland. Pretty Sinqobile came to Ireland with her Mum five years ago. A student of European studies at Limerick Senior, She has won many laurels in gymnastics. “I want to be a Role Model for girls and I love Community work. Currently, I am volunteering with Red - Ribbon Project. It’s an organization creating awareness on HIV/AIDS”, She told AfricaWorld. Sinqobile thank her Mum, ReniAlice Production and Shoemuzik for giving her a chance.

Mbana Kemena Mbana Kemena hails from Angola. A Health Assistance student of Dublin City University, Mbana wants to become a Nurse and proceed to study Medicine later. “My dream is to become a Medical Doctor”, she informed AfricaWorld. She loves playing Camoige.

October 16-31 2012

news

AFRICAWORLD

Botswana Celebrate Independence in Dublin

The 46 Botswana Independence Cultural Event was held at the Button Factory, Temple Bar on Sunday, 30th September with more than 200 guests in attendance. The guests and

dignitaries on the day included, the South African Embassy Representative, Miss Thobeka Dlamini and later joined by His Excellency, Ambassador Ndou and his partner. Chief Patrick Maphoso (Agunechemba) who wowed the crowd with his amazing dance steps was present. Other guests include: New ANC I r e l a n d , Migrants Rights Centre Dublin, Ian Callagy, The House of Egan and most importantly, the Senior Manager from Crosscare Charity, Mr Michael McDonagh. Botswana Independence event was organized to raise awareness about the organization and

commemorate the Independence of Botswana. According to the organizer, BK Selepeng , “the essence of the gathering is to galvanize the unity of their people in Ireland galvanise the Unity of their people, integrate with different communities and to brand Botswana beyond its borders for the purpose of marketing.” The event was also meant to highlight a premier tourist destination to foreign investors and fun seekers through the help of Botswana Tourism. The event witnessed traditional dance Rona Ba Bararo and food like samp, fat cakes (Mangwinya), papa, chakalaka, African chicken, mapakiwa and seswaa. Challenges faced by the organizer include funding and lack of support from the UK High Commission. Other plans as arranged failed during the way like inviting Culture Spears a prominent cultural ambassadors in the whole region due to long confrontation between BK Selepeng and the UK . BK Selepeng informed AfricaWorld

that there would be a formal registration of Batswana Association in Ireland and the opening of cultural display stall at Blackrock market. He also said more efforts are geared towards strengthening ties with the Botswana UK High Commission. BK SELEPENG -Botswana Leader in Africaworld Office

At the Independence Party

FIYAMTANDA MARAWU IS MISS SOUTH AFRICA IRELAND 2012 The maiden edition of Miss South Africa Ireland, otherwise known as ‘Madiba Queen’, which was organised by ReniAlice Production and Shoemuzik on the 6th October at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Dublin Airport, Dublin, was a massive success. Fiyamtanda Marawu Fulani, a 19 year old from east London emerged winner among other contestants. The Psychology student of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology in Co. Galway, was full of joy after emerging the maiden Madiba Queen in Ireland. Talking to AfricaWorld, pretty Fiyamtanda said, “I am so excited to be given this opportunity by ReniAlice and Femi”. The beauty Queen who is a bit shy said she loves modelling and fashion, and has always love to sing. Fiyamtanda, who has lived her last twelve years in Ireland with both parents, is interested in beauty therapy and community service especially in roles with kids. She hopes to make the most of her new position to become a role model for many. “I will continue to promote Afro fashion shows”, she informed AfricaWorld. Miss South Africa Ireland loves keeping fit, smiling and reading. She is grateful to her mum, Phumla Marawa, members of her family and the organisers of the event.

10 AFRICAWORLD October 16-31 2012

COLUMN / news

joe moore column Racism is a vile evil ideology which argues that white people are superior to those with darker skin. Despite legislation enacted to eradicate it, the very bodies that pass such laws, i.e. nation states, are themselves racist. There are two points about racism that need to be understood by those fighting against it, if we hope to defeat it. Firstly racism did not always exist. This is of great importance, because if we accept that it always existed in human society, then we cannot imagine a world where it does not exist. Racism was first introduced in order to justify the Atlantic slave trade. This is one of the greatest crimes against humanity ever perpetrated. So great was the suffering and cruelty inflicted on the African people that those engaged in the trade had to find a reason to justify it. Their justification was provided by the Christian church. Theologians went back to

the story of Noah in the Old Testament. When Noah awoke from a drunken sleep, he saw that his son Ham had been mocking him. Such was his anger that he cast a curse upon Ham and all his decedents. The 15th century Vatican decreed that this curse manifested itself in a darkening of the skin colour. Therefore all Africans were decedents of Ham and could be enslaved in order to pay for sin of their forefather. Before the advent of the Atlantic slave trade, racism as we know it today did not exist. In the Mediterranean region, up to the middle Ages slavery existed but it was not based on skin colour. Usually those enslaved were soldiers of defeated armies. In Rome for instance slaves could be white people from Britain or black people from what is now Ethiopia. The second point about racism is that it constantly changes its form. I already referred to slave trade racism. Next came a racism that was used to justify the imperialist conquering of the non

European world. This is best expressed by the British imperialist writer Rudyard Kipling, when he refers to “the white man’s burden.” In order to justify the so called scramble for Africa, the imperialists stated that the African people were not as civilised as Europeans and therefore needed to be ruled by Europeans until they became educated enough to look after themselves. Another form of racism is anti Semitism. This depicts Jewish people are being inferior. Again Christianity was used to justify the persecution of Jews. It led to pogroms in what was the Russian empire and ultimately to the Nazi holocaust which saw the murder of over 6 million Jewish men, women and children. Anti immigrant racism, or xeno-racism, is rampant throughout Europe, North America and Australia today. We can see this in Ireland, in particular in the treatment of asylum seekers by the state. The EU established Frontex, an agency whose purpose it is to prevent as many darker skinned people as possible from entering Europe. Because of the activities of this organisation many hundreds of people are drowned each year in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, while trying to breach the walls of

Survey shows African leading nations slip in governance Recent survey shows that the average African country is being governed better than it was a decade ago, the quality of governance in the four leading nations of Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa is slipping. This is shown in the latest results of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, published in London last Monday .The survey which produced the index shows that, measured on a scale of one to 100, the quality of governance across the continent has improved steadily, apart from a slight drop in 2008, rising from a score of 47 in 2000 to 51.2 in 2011. Egypt is also better governed now than in 2000, but its score has fallen from a high of 61.4 in 2009 to 57.7. In the final years of the Mubarak regime, it was among Africa’s 10 best-governed countries, but has now fallen back to 14th place. Nigeria has dropped for the first time into the 10 worst-governed nations on the continent - although the results are skewed this year by the omission of Sudan and South Sudan; the formerly united country of Sudan has regularly fallen into the bottom 10. Nigeria’s governance did improve between 2004, when it scored a low of 39.2 on an index of 100, and 2010, when it reached a high of 43.2. But it fell back to 42 in 2011, and to 43rd place on the list of best-governed countries. It has never risen above 36th place. South Africa has retained its place as one of the five best-governed nations on the continent, and is better governed now than it was in 2000, but its score has dropped to 70.7 from a high of 71.8 in 2006. Kenya has seen a similar pattern. It is marginally better governed now than in 2000, but its score fell from a high of 55 in 2002 to 52.7 now. From being the 18th best-governed country in 2000, it has fallen to 25th place. This year’s Ibrahim Index is the fifth to be published by Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which was set up by the Sudanese-born telecommunications pioneer of the same name. In a news release issued with the index, the foundation noted that the performance of Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa had all declined in survey

categories including safety and the rule of law and participation and human rights. It quoted Abdoulie Janneh, former executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, as expressing concern at the results for the four nations. “Each of these countries plays a key role in the economic and political landscape of the continent,” he said. “To continue to optimally play this role requires a sustained commitment to balanced and equitable governance.” Of note, however, is that three of the four countries improved their scores in the category of “human development” marginally in South Africa and significantly in Nigeria and Kenya. The index confirms past results of the best- and worst-governed countries on the continent. As before, the top five are Mauritius, Cape Verde, Botswana, Seychelles and South Africa. Entering the top 10 this year is Tanzania. This year’s bottom five are, from the worst-governed country up, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Eritrea and the Central African Republic. Significant changes in the index also confirm previous results. Madagascar has fallen in the rankings since its 2009 coup, with its score down to 46.1 from 58.9 in 2006. Liberia scores 46.6 compared to 34.6 in 2006, underlining an upward trend since the accession to power of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Sierra Leone’s return to democratic rule is also reflected in an improvement from 39.2 to 48.1 since 2006. Angola’s score has risen to 44.1 from 34.8 in 2006. The index shows a remarkable rise from 30.2 to 42 in the category, “participation and human rights,” flying in the face of criticism of government nepotism and its human rights record. The foundation describes the index as “the most comprehensive collection of quantitative data that provides an annual assessment of governance performance in African countries.” It says the index is based on 88 indicators, grouped into 14 subcategories and four overarching categories, “to measure the effective delivery of public goods and services to African citizens”.

“Fortress Europe”. Nomadic peoples are equally the victims of state racism. In Ireland both Travellers and Roma are its victims. Recently laws were introduced which resulted in trespassing being made a criminal offence. This law was aimed exclusively at transient travellers, who still adhere to the nomadic traditions of their culture. Equally laws against begging target both Travellers and Roma. Islamophobia is a recent manifestation of racism. Because its victims are members of a religious faith, governments can state that this is not racism but rather precautions against backward people practising a religion which is anti woman, anti gay and wants to return the world to the Middle Ages. A key feature of Islamophobia, like all forms of racism is it changing nature as new political needs emerge. From the reaction to the protests against Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses in 1988-1989, to the hostility against asylum seekers, justification for the so-called “war on terror”, to attacks on women who wear the hijab and niqab, the shape of anti Muslim sentiment has evolved in different ways. The recent riots against the anti

Islamic “Innocence of Muslims” film must been seen as a reaction against imperialist war against the peoples of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and islamophobia. Western leaders refuse to see any connection to the wider resentment against the West’s role in the world. In recent years laws have been enacted in various European countries outlawing various items of women’s dress. These are often enacted in the name of secularism. But the truth is that its Muslims alone that are targeted. As a reaction against the recent protests against the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, which published cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, French police were filmed arresting women in headscarves, including tourists, as well as other Muslims. Racism in all its guises, anti black, anti Semitic, anti Roma and Traveller and anti Muslim is a tool used by imperialism to advance its political agenda and to keep its victims divided. We need to recognise racism in all its manifestations and fight together against it, so that we can create a world where everybody, regardless of skin colour, religion or way of life can live together in peace and harmony.

dd’s cubicle

THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN AND THE REST OF US: THE SINO JAPANESE CRISES OVER THE DIOYU ISLANDS WILL PUSH THE WORLD TO THE PRECIPICE By Dunstan Ukaga Recent happenings in Asia especially between Japan and China over the total control of the vital Dioyu Islands is causing worries and concern to the world. At the IMF world bank meeting in Japan this week, Chinese banks have stated they will not participate in the global financial forum. Since last week, sharp economic meltdowns have been noticed in China and Japan. Economic indices indicate decline of Japanese goods and services offered in China. On a negative note, Sino nationalism is rising and Japanese auto makers are feeling the heat. With the US sending two warships to the north China Sea, while China sent seven naval ships near Okinawa, any war between Japan and China will not only cause global economic meltdown, it will dis-balance world order and harm the Sino Japanese relations. This is not good for the global economy because as China and Japan are the second and third biggest economies, the Sino Japanese world production outputs will be halved and thus affecting the West and the rest of us. WHAT IS GLOBAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN? By global economic meltdown we mean a situation where the world wide economies experience recession. Professor Ikenna Onyido’s defines it thus ’’The term economic meltdown refers to the severe economic recession that is used to characterize the current global economic crisis. The concept epitomizes the current economic scenario where virtually all countries of the world have been severely affected. Consequently, the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries has gone into the negative zone, generally characterised by severe liquidity crunch, giving rise to diverse economic intervention programmes’’ Global economic meltdown connotes near catastrophic circumstances necessitating scarcity or unavailability of otherwise available exploitable resources, thereby incapacitating political leaders from meeting their campaign promises, targets, plans and programmes. It has many implications for both developed and developing economies. It is characterized by severe closures companies, loss of jobs, the crash of share prices, and squeeze in consumer credit facilities, crumbling mortgage facilities among others. HOW DOES IT AFFECT NIGERIA, AFRICA AND THE REST OF US? The capital market like that of any other developing nation is a market for raising funds by organizations and sale of securities. These markets are the main sources of long-term funds to finance investments. Professor Ikenna Onyido’s again opines ‘’In the case of the developing countries, Nigeria inclusive, the implications are manifest in the area of crash in share prices, dwindling revenues, and declining dividends from limited direct investments by developed countries. The universality of the impact of the crisis is a direct consequence of the information and communications technology revolution, which unified the world through the internet, and the global electronic media. These have facilitated inter-connectivity of banks and stock exchange markets universally given that the world is now a global village where what affects one entity quickly impacts the neighbors’’ Effects of New Economic Meltdown. The effect of any new economic meltdown triggered by a grave Sino Japanese relationship will touch on several systems worldwide. This will cause the inability to maintain the current productive capacity owing to inadequate finance and shortage of manpower. Should the Chinese and Japanese engage in warfare because of the Dioyu Islands the global economic crisis is expected to lead to a dramatic increase in the number of people joining the ranks of the unemployed, the working poor and those in vulnerable employment. It will lead to an unmitigated disaster because the US and European economies will crash, the economies of the Asian Tigers will be adversely effected and it will be a world-wide Armageddon. Based on new developments, global unemployment in 2012 could increase badly by a range of a billion unemployed workers.

October 16-31 2012

AFRICAWORLD 11

family CORNER

Poems

- The Cradle of Life - The African Woman

By Ukachukwu Okorie

- Trekking to Moor

- The Single Mother So long a night comes searching for the cuddle the rough touch goes awol after leaving the toy place you leave the sheets in wee hour coming back to cold arms of your gaffe silent bubbles of the night bring back memories thoughts of love lost illusions of ideal romance pain shared with the pillow but soothed by the little ones

Sandwiched all the way by Henry and Parnell a cuddle with space to hubble for healthy food, fruit and all you love the varieties from children of all continents stocking stuff that spice ingredients that humanity demands a gathering place for all seeking same target goal of immigrant and sundry desire for fresh food and fruit looking good and all

Wisdom Bits When the keg is drain of its wine, it is kept aside Meaning: A cheat always disappoint after grabbing his share

Beautiful and elegant bright and shining look brown and black eyes your smile lures twinkling in the eyes of men you make a handful of flesh to him that look back men adore you like a goddess your mantra is love hard work and faith is your virtue you are the rock of every home

We adore you but nature does most you hold the ashes of our fathers home to Zinjatropus and homo habilis you harboured Erectus and we, the Homo Sapiens give credence to you the beautiful bride that was and the one that will be nature oozes life in you you keep the earth firm oiling nation’s growth you are flogged, spat and scourged images molest and assault you muds are thrown at you bad dentition gnash at you all because you’re the cornerstone

When the lion is bedridden, the grasshopper comes for his money Meaning: Do not neglect anyone, no matter how weak he appears

When proverbs talk of bones, thoughts think an old woman is in focus Meaning: When conspiracy is revealed, conspirators are remembered

I do not want to be mother hen who never reap the fruits of her chick Meaning: There is need to appreciate favour

When an old woman is ageing, one thinks there was no pride price paid for her Meaning: Respect is ethical

Only the vulture has no friend and foe Meaning: Friends desert a very bad loner or criminal

FOLKTALE Tales from Umuguma

Why Mosquito feed on Human Blood. Once upon a time, in the lanOnce upon a time, the world was very peaceful as man cohabited with all animals, birds and insects. During this era, all moving creature was vegetarian. The conflict that made animals especially man to eat others had not happened. As such, peace reigned supreme and they easily assisted one another. Though the forest had different sizes of creatures but man wanted to control others. Out of greed, he wanted to dictate how, where and what others should live or eat. Although most animals were suspicious of man but they were too afraid to speak out. The mosquito was one of the smallest in the forest, thus consuming less than others. However, man was still perturbed that this little creature add nothing to the community. “ These mosquitoes ought to give way for visible ones especially when it comes to food”, the humans would always murmur. Consequently, man and his human clan decided to champion a starvation

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recipe column

BLACK STEW AND RICE by Nkiru Edokobi

Ingredient

Meat (Assorted types) Palm oil Green-peppers One big onion Some chile pepper 2 cubes of maggi or knor Iru(locust bean)

COOKING Boil all the meat and set aside. Then wash and blend your greenpepper, onion and chile pepper together. Get another pot and pour in some oil, then fry the oil on a low heat until it turns a bit black. Set the pot aside and allow the oil to cool a bit before pouring in your blended peppe. Let it heat for a good while until the oil drain the pepper. Add meat and the stock, including Maggi and the iru. After adding salt for taste, allow to boil for 20 mins and serve with rice or with ofada rice.

The African Catholic Chaplaincy launch 2012 Annual Arvest and Thanksgiving Bazaar

regime for mosquitoes as payback for their laziness. The unnecessary wickedness did not go down well with other animals but their powerlessness made them fear to challenge the conspirator. As a result, many mosquitoes died but still man was adamant on rescinding this decision. As a matter of fact, the head of the mosquitoes decided to summon its surviving members and instructed them to go for human blood as payback. Thus they left the communal settlement and flew away, sneaking at intervals, especially when the enemy weren’t observant to suck his blood as retribution and food. This is why there is still war today between man and mosquitoes.when they jump to the ground from any height.

Performing the launch was Fr Cornelius the Chaplain of the African Chaplaincy Catholic Archdiocese, Dublin and members of the Pastoral Council.

12 AFRICAWORLD October 16-31 2012

entertainment/ column

DERIVAN & C.O. Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors 34 north frederick street, dublin 1, ireland Tel: 353-1-8732845/8730669/8726871 Fax: 353-1-8726984/8456253 Email:cderivan@eircom.net

By Sara Sinclair

You Are An Adorable Mum! CHILDREN BELIEVE WHAT THEY ARE TOLD! As a parent, do you use your words well? Words matter. Words can build up, or words can tear down. What children hear from adults they trust makes a significant impact --- now and for years to come. And as parents, we must build up the hearts of children through meaningful and well-chosen words. We must do our best always, to use our words wisely, cautiously and graciously when dealing and relating with our children. It is very essential that we use constructive and positive words when speaking to our especially when we are angry or upset.

Adorable Mum Founder: Gbeminiyi Gee Bee Shogunle

David Staal The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice, Create a Positive WORLD for your children with your WORDS!

Some simple statements that will make a profound impact on a child’s life include *I Believe in You *You Can Count on Me *I Treasure You *I’m Sorry, Please Forgive Me *I Love You

CHIT CHAT A Nigerian man plans to sail through a triangular love battle in Drogheda, Co. Louth. AfricaWorld authoritatively reveals about a man who is meandering among three friends. He got two pregnant while secretly to marry the third.

LOVE FIGHT man actually started with GETS DIRTY one,Thea Zimbabwean mother of two, in DROGHEDA who also had a baby girl for him

after a steamy romance. According to our source, the love he shared with with the daughter was marvelous and admirable. Soon a friend to his girlfriend started seeing the man secretly, and it resulted to another pregnancy. Our source reliably gathered that the second woman was delighted as she loved the bond the man shares with her friend’s daughter.

Although the man was said to have denied the second woman until the baby arrived. The doting Dad is planning to marry the third woman, who is a friend to the other two. Our source said the current woman is from this country while the earlier two were born in the same city. The third woman is a direct blood sister to a

top Nigerian music producer. According to AfricaWorld source, the second girl has been threatening him when news reached her. She has warned the man to shelve the idea unless he wants trouble. As at press time, more information were being gathered.

October 16-31 2012

AFRICAWORLD 13

news By Tony Ekpechue

continued from last edition

Dear readers, I certainly hope this story of Greg M Lucas’s career change would inspire you to take that bold step into a career in IT. AfricitWorld can help you achieve your IT career goals through our running Advanced Practical Classes in Database Administration. For further enquiries contact africitworld@yahoo.co.uk or Africaworldnews@gmail.com

So in addition to emphasizing my people skills, my CV at that time included the following bullet points: Educational & Technical support to end users. First line PC & application support for field-based users. Design and implementation of computer-based performance monitoring system. Dealing with technical queries via telephone hot-line. Management, training and development of a team of field educators. Key role in wide variety of projects connected with IT, education, sales & marketing. These were all aspects of the job I was doing at the time, I just chose to present them in a way that potential employers in the IT sector would be able to relate to. If I’d talked about doing hair shows and visiting lots of salons and building relationships with hairdressing wholesalers it would have been much harder for a potential employer to see that I had suitable skills and my CV would have ended up in the NO pile. Don’t Burn Your Bridges Don’t assume that the only way you can achieve a dramatic career change is to change employer. Getting the right job with the right company isn’t easy and if you have no experience in that role, a potential new employer is taking a bigger risk. If you have good standing in your current company, try and build relationships with the IT team – especially any IT managers

...Your CV is a Billboard When was the last time you bought a burger from a fast food restaurant that actually looked like the one on the TV ads? The burger you see in adverts or on hoardings is (allegedly) the same as the one they serve up in their restaurants just presented in the best possible way. You are that burger! Your resume is just an advertisement. I am not suggesting you lie on your CV – that is a really bad idea – but you can still present yourself in the best possible light. For example, my final role in hairdressing was as a technical consultant for a major hair product manufacturer. This involved planning and delivery of training plans within larger salons, working on stage or behind the scenes at big hairdressing shows, managing a team of other trainers and assisting telephone helpline staff with product queries from hairdressers. Also, as the only computer-literate member of the team I became the team’s power user, designing simple spread sheets (e.g. time and activity tracking, expenses etc.) or helping configure Lotus Notes.

that you deal with. Managers often prefer to recruit people they or someone on their team knows but being able to get a reliable “off-therecord” reference is the next best thing. It’s much easier for a hiring manager to get that reference if you already work for the company. Obviously you wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of your current manager. Larger companies especially may be more likely to be open to such sideways career moves as they may have better staff retention policies. There may be a number of reasons why an internal move isn’t an option. These could include lack of support from your current manager, or the company may be too small or the IT team located too far away to make the jump internally. For me it was the latter, I was field-based and lived in Southampton whilst the IT department was based on the outskirts of London, over 100 miles away. Should you tell your manager or even colleagues of your plans before you are ready to give notice? In my experience, the answer is no. As you are changing career, it might take longer than you think to get a new position and you don’t really know what could happen in the meantime. For example, if the company needs to start laying people off (not unheard of in these times) you may find that your name is at the top of the list, “as you’re planning to leave anyway”. Another approach, depending on

what you do now and what you want to do next, may be to try to get some experience in your chosen field within your current job. This typically works better if what you do now and what you want to do are more closely related. For example, I used to work with a guy whose job was application support but he wanted to become a developer. He started trying to extend his skills by actually looking at what the code was doing, later getting to the point where he was able to recommend then actually implement bug fixes in the code. He is now doing what he wanted to do, development, fulltime but it did take nearly a year to achieve that goal. In a Nutshell These are the key points to remember: It is never too late to change; I was 38 when I started in IT. You can start a completely new career in IT, regardless of what you do now. But it will take hard work, patience and a little humility. Be prepared to attend some courses and take an exam or two in your chosen field to prove to a potential employer you are serious. If you can, try for an internal company transfer as the door is already half-open. Alternatively, can you start getting exposure to your chosen field within the job you’re doing right now. Regardless of whether you are going for an internal move or looking externally, re-write your CV using language that a potential employer can relate to and

emphasizing your relevant strengths and transferrable skills. But do not lie on your resume. Be prepared to take a lower paid, more junior position if that starts you out on your new path. One interesting point, I thought that having all the hairdressing on my CV whilst trying to get IT jobs might cause problems but most people seemed to recognize that I had reached the top in one industry and were intrigued as to why I had made such a dramatic change to start again in another career. Best of all, I have no regrets, in fact if I’m honest I almost wish I’d done it sooner – but then if I had I wouldn’t have had such great experiences as a hairdresser. I think it was Victor Kiam (of Remington fame) who once wrote that those people lucky enough to find a job they enjoy should stick to it. I consider myself very lucky; I’ve worked in a total of three very different careers and have absolutely loved two of them. I wish you the same luck in your careers.

Austerity continues to bite as new Dáil session resumes By Staff Reporter The new Dáil session has resumed amid continuing austerity which is having a serious impact on the lives of many around the country. According to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) the government are putting the banking crisis ahead of the needs of those in poverty and other needy sections of the community. The Irish people seem to be less of a priority to the Government than the banks, the charity group reflects in its latest bulletin. The SVP’s National President Geoff Meagher says that although his organisation cannot solve the financial crisis Ireland is in, they are trying to provide care for many who have “low income, poor health, educational disadvantage, relationship breakdown, bereavement, addiction, violence, loneliness, disability, debt, unemployment and many other challenges”. Meagher adds that “alternatives must be found to cutting the income supports and services which those who experience poverty and economic stress rely on.” SVP National Director, Kieran Murphy voices his concerns: “Because of the choices the Government is making comply with the demands of our international funders; the Troika, it is clear that it cannot meet the reasonable expectations to protect the most vulnerable and are unlikely to do so for the foreseeable future.” The suffering of those on the thin end of the wedge was presumably on the mind of Roisin Shortall when she announced her resignation, recently, as Minister of State at the Department of Health. The Labour TD felt she was unable to remain on as a junior

ministerbecause of fundamental policy differences with the Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly. Alex White TD, Ms Shortall’s successor as junior minister, will now have to pick up the baton and work with Dr. Reilly. The coalition will, no doubt, hope that this unhappy episode fades away quickly. Although in an interview on RTE radio, days after her resignation, Ms Shortall seemed to suggest that the battle over essential services, due to the imposition of austerity measures, is not over yet. She signalled her intention to continue speaking up for the less fortunate in society on the back benches. There have been noises of criticism, from some quarters, regarding the Government’s economic strategy. The Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin TD,his opponents say, is shying away from making the hard decisions that the coalition said they’d tackle when they first took office in February of last year. The Croke Park agreement (a bargaining pact between the Government and Trade Unions) has, so far, been left untouched and this means there will be little scope available for the Fine Gael-Labourcoalition in terms of reforming the public sector. Only so much money can be saved by raising taxes or cutting back on essential services. Some are now saying that ‘Croke Park’ must be renegotiated so Ireland can get out of the economic bind the country finds itself in. Any rowing back on this is likely to anger the Unions. There is speculation that social welfare payments could be further cut in next December’s Budget.

By leaving benefits alone it is thought that the Government will not be able to saveor generate enough income so as to reduce the national debt. If levels of social welfare are not cutthen something will have to give. More is being demanded from Minister Howlin as the economic problems continue to mount. It is not clear yet if the coalition will live up to their pre-election promises. Meanwhile there are other issues for the politicians in Leinster House to campaign on. The Children’s Referendum is about to be put to the people in the coming weeks. June Tinsley of the children’s charity Barnardos spoke to this newspaper about what her organisation would like TDs to do: “In relation to this Dáil, which is sitting, obviously we are very pleased that the referendum is happening. We strongly wish that it is passed. We believe that it will strengthen the child protection system in Ireland, it will lead to greater engagement with families at risk.” Tinsley says the referendum, if it is passed, “will ensure that children who are engaged in the court process are listened to and that their best interests are top priority when judges are making their rulings.” She says there are other pieces of legislation that will have to accompany the Children’s Referendum “…in order to compliment the provisions which will, hopefully, be put into the constitution.” According to Tinsley, a range of other legislative changes will be needed. However she says that when they are all put in place they “will form a comprehensive child protection reform package. If they all happen

sequentially, it means that certainly as 2013 starts we will begin to have a much more comprehensive child protection system in Ireland.” When questioned about how the referendum will impact on the children of immigrants here, Tinsley explains that “all children will benefit from this referendum, regardless of their immigration status. If a child is taken into care, then that child’s best interest is going to be the deciding factor. Not their immigration status.” Barnardos are “aware of the hardships” that the children of asylum seekers face. She adds that apart from the obvious financial problems these families have to struggle with, they also have difficulties in getting access to services for children. Tinsley describes as “quite alarming” the plight of children in Direct Provision accommodation. “We know families that are living [in Direct Provision] for far too long”, she says adding, “it is not a situation we would be advocating for children to be growing up in.” The TDs will also, no doubt, be aware of the growing unemployment rate. Speaking to this newspaper Brid O’Brien, head of Policy and Media at the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU), explains that her organisation has drawn up a preBudget submission to the Department of Social Protection. O’Brien says the INOU “would like to see the Government stand by their commitment to maintain social welfare rates: contrary to popular myth most unemployed people are receiving little more than the basic rate and many are struggling to survive in very challenging personal circumstances.” She goes on to say

that “the stark reality is that until Ireland starts to get job creation right it will be hard to offer unemployed people, young people leaving school and college real hope of accessing and maintaining decent work.” O’Brien says the INOU want the Department of Social Protection to “ensure that the service being provided to unemployed people is as it ought to be: a professional, first class, person centred service that really strives to support unemployed people back to work sooner rather than later and ensures that they have knowledge of and access to their entitlements.” Many fear the upcoming budget and the INOU warn that inequality and poverty will persist in Ireland. “A relentless focus on austerity will not get Ireland out of the mess it is currently in: without investment in Ireland’s future it is hard to envisage how we will have one. Without a proper vision of the type of Ireland we want to create it is hard to see how current policies will lead to anything but a harsher economy and an increasingly unfair society”, O’Brien says. Budget 2013 will also be keenly watched by Barnardos. Tinsley says she and her colleagues hope that “any changes made on cutbacks proposed do not put any children or families in a worse situation than they presently are. Certainly the families that Barnardos are working with are already stretched to the pin of their collar and a lot of them are already experiencing debt and have to make difficult choices of having to put food on the table, or forgo bills being paid, or not bringing their child to the doctor because they cannot afford it.”

14 AFRICAWORLD October 16-31 2012

African Cup

of Nations qualifiers East African spot for the upcoming African Cup of Nations has been taken by Ethiopia after defeating pre-match favourites Sudan 2-0 in an entertaining duel staged in Addis Ababa. The visitors started the match with promise but could not get past a well marshalled defence. Ethiopia meanwhile took much time in settling in this match and failed to carve out any real goal scoring opportunities in the first half, which ended goalless. The second period started with urgency and much attack from the home side who were rewarded on 70 minutes, after Alula Girima beat the Sudanese defence to slot home the opening goal. The 20-year-old Saint George fullback then sealed the points with an opportunistic strike in the final 10 minutes of the game to send the majority of the crowd at the national stadium into frenzy. The result edged a thrilling two legged clash between the East African Nations that shared 10 goals and saw the latter qualify through the away goals rule. Sudan, who had won the first leg played in Khartoum 5-3, were seeking to qualify to the bi-annual continental showpiece for the second consecutive time but paid a heavy price for their initial cautious approach. The qualification of the Ethiopian Black Lions confirmed a recent upsurge of fortunes that has seen them lead their 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying group after holding South Africa away and defeating Central African Republic at home. They also won on away goals against Benin in the first elimination round for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and now return to a tournament they won for the only time 50 years ago. Sudan won a goal-flush first encounter 5-3 thanks to a late Mohamed Al Tahir brace and was barely troubled during the opening

half at the national stadium in the heart of the Ethiopian capital. Samuel Eto’o helped four-time champions Cameroon to a 2-1 home win over Cape Verde but a 3-2 aggregate loss means a second consecutive failure to reach the African football showcase. Eto’o was back after a year of international inactivity due to an eight-month ban imposed by the national football federation for instigating a bonus-related boycott of a friendly in Algeria. He also refused to turn up for the first leg in Cape Verde last month, labelling the national squad “amateurish and badly managed”, and his absence contributed to the worst day in Cameroonian football. Portuguese-speaking Cape Verde is off the coast of Senegal with a population of just 500 000, and the national squad consists mainly of footballers at unfashionable European clubs. Alain Traore struck five minutes into stoppage time to give Burkina Faso a 3-1 home win over giant-killers Central African Republic, who took a one-goal lead into the tie having stunned seven-time champions Egypt in the last round. Former Manchester United signing Manucho Goncalves scored twice in the early minutes in Luanda to secure a 2-0 win for Angola over Zimbabwe, overall victory on away goals after a 3-3 tie, and a fifth consective Africa Cup appearance. Niger left it much later to upset Guinea 2-0 and squeeze through on aggregate after a solitary-goal first leg loss with Mohammed Chikoto and Issoufou Garba netting in the closing stages. Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham was on target for Togo in a 2-1 win over 2012 co-hosts Gabon, who were held at home in the first leg. Wome

Dove was the other Togolese marksman and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed a late consolation goal. Equatorial Guinea halved a fourgoal first-leg deficit against the Democratic Republic of Congo after 35 minutes in Malabo, but Youssouf Mulumbu reduced the arrears before half-time and the home team had to settle for a hollow 2-1 win. Any hope Libya had of overhauling a one-goal loss first time out against Algeria did not last long in Blida with El Arbi Hilal Soudani and Islam Slimani scoring within seven minutes and the home side cruised to a 2-0 victory. An October 24 draw in Indian Ocean city Durban will divide the 15 survivors plus South Africa – automatic qualifiers as hosts – into four groups for the January 19 -February 10 flagship tournament.

South Africa National Team - Bafana Bafana

African Champion - chipolopolopos of Zambia

The Confederation of African Football has revealed the seeding for the draw for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Teams in the same pot cannot be drawn against each other. The draw will be held on 24 October in Durban. Seedings:

Didier Drogba and his Ivorian team mates

Pot one: South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast Pot two: Nigeria, Mali, Tunisia, Angola Pot three: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Niger Pot four: Togo, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Ethiopia. Black Stars of Ghana

sports

October 16-31 2012

sports

AFRICAWORLD 15

Champions League

Round-Up September 2012 BY colum maher

they again began to dominate possession. Their ability to keep the ball would pay off as the drew level in the 41st minute. Swedish international Kim Kallstrom played a delightful pass to Ari, who in turn played a deft ball across the mouth of goal to Nigerian international Emmanuel Emenike who finished with the simplest of tap in to make it 1 - 1 heading into the halftime break.

It’s been another exciting month of UEFA Champions League action, with some of the continents top footballers in action for the respective club teams. As the group stages get underway we take a look back over the past 30 days to highlight the contributions that African players have made to their teams performances as the race for Champions League glory begins. First to the Emirates Stadium in London, where Arsenal took on Greek Champions, Olympiakos on the 3rd of September. The match itself was a slow burner for the first 40 minutes however a spark of sheer brilliance by Cote d’Ivoire forward Gervinho. Neither Manolas or Contreras were able to deal with Lukas Podolski’s 42nd minute cross, which fell for Gervinho just on the edge of the box and the Ivorian made no mistake as he blasted the ball low and past Megyeri in the Olympiakos goal. The Gunners would see their lead last all of 4 minutes however as Greek international Konstantinos Mitroglou, equalised deep into first half injury time. The Red-White of Greece won a corner with a minute of injury time played which was swung in by Leandro Greco. Mitroglou would rise above both Vermaelen and Koscielny to nod the ball home and into the corner of the net. Arsenal began the second half with a bit more urgency and would see their efforts pay off 10 minutes after the restart. Summer signing Lukas Podolsk, would pick the ball up in the

area before turning and firing the ball past two defenders and the hapless Balasz Megyeri to make it 2 - 1 to the home team. The Gunners would begin to dominate the game from here on in and would see shots and opportunities squandered. The Gunners would seal all three points and the win in the 4th minute of injury time as Aaron Ramsey would pick up Olivier Giroud’s defense splitting pass before calmly chipping the ball over the on rushing Olympiakos goal keeper to make it 3 -1 to the home team. Match day 2 would see The Red Whites of Spartak Moscow take on Neil Lennons Glasgow Celtic at the Stadion Luzhniki. The game would not be expected to be a classic however both teams would throw everything into the game and while The Hoops could be commended for their fighting spirit, most spectators in the stadium were left wondering as to how Spartak were unable to win the game. The Scottish champions were dominated by their Russian counterparts for the opening 40 minutes, however despite this The Red - Whites of Moscow would find themselves behind after just 9 minutes. Mikael Lustig was put through on the right before playing a cross into Gary Hooper, who beat his marker and turned the ball past Champions League debutant Sergei Pesyakov in the Spartak goal. After the restart it continued as business as usual for the Russians as

The Muscovites would see themselves in front just 3 minutes into the second half. Ari would see his shot from just outside the penalty area spilled by Fraser Forster. Demy De Zeeuw was quickest to the ball and would square the ball for the on rushing Emenike who finished with another simple tap in to make it 2 -1 and sent the home fans into raptures. The Hoops would press for an equaliser and would see their efforts receive a massive boost in the 63rd minute as Argentine Juan Insaurralde was shown a straight red card for a stupid tackle on Gary Hooper as he bore down on goal. Celtic’s numerical advantage would pay dividends as Pesyakov would initially save James Forrest’s shot just to see the ball ricochet off Spartak captain Dmitri Kombarov and into the back of the net to make it 2 - 2. With both teams now pressing for the equaliser it was Celtic that delivered the crushing blow just on the 90 minute mark. Emilio Izaguirre played a beautiful cross in from the left wing and as the seconds counted down Giorgos Samaras rose above his marker to score with a glancing header. The Greek internationals goal would send the small group of visiting fans into delirium. Meanwhile BATE Borisov of Belarus would m a k e Champions League history by recording their first ever group victory in their thirteenth attempt against LOSC Lille at the Grand Stad

Lille Metropole. Three first half goals from the Belarusian champions would ensure a night to remember for the side that was competing in it’s third consecutive Champions League group stage without a win. Aleksandr Volodko opened the scoring with a superb long range shot with just 6 minutes played, a goal which would set the tone for the night. Volodko would collect Bordachev’s pass before sending an unstoppable looping shot from 20 yards out over the head of Mickael Landreau and into the net to make it 1 - 0 for the visitors. Things would go from bad to worse for Les Dogues, just 14 minutes later. Lille were attempting to get back into the game but were caught on the counter

attack as former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder Aleksandr Hleb skipped past Chedjou before squaring the ball for Rodionov to slot home. Just as it seemed that it couldn’t get any worse for the French team BATE were able to deliver the hammer blow with 2 minutes of normal time remaining in the first half. Edgar Olekhnovich pounced on the loose ball after Landreau had fumbled Volodko’s initial shot, to make it 3 - 0 to the visitors at half time. A change of personnel by Lille coach Rudi Garcia at half time finally injected fight into his team and they would be handed a glimmer of hope as Cameroon international, Aurelien Chedjou got on the end of a Payet corner to squeeze the ball past Gorbunov in the BATE goal. This was to be little more than a consolation for Les Douges as they the Borisov defence held out to ensure the Belarusians their first ever group stage victory in t h e Champions League.

16 AFRICAWORLD OCTOBER 16-31 2012