04.07.14
No. 59
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
www.leadership.ng
N200
NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER
US OIL FIRM CUTS DEAL AHEAD OF BRIBERY TRIAL 16
CULTISTS KILL THEIR NATIVE DOCTOR, 2 OTHERS 7
CONFAB RECOMMENDS CREATION OF 18 NEW STATES 9
PARENTS OF CHIBOK GIRLS
We’re Ready To Die In Sambisa Forest We'll rescue the girls alive – Olukolade
World Soccer Greats: Their Rise To Stardom 5
Robben (then)
(now)
Messi (then)
Pique (then)
(now)
(now)
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Ronaldo (then) (now)
Iniesta (then)
(now)
Neymar (then)
(now)
Bastian (then)
(now)
Chibok DAY NO HIKE IN CAR PRICES, SAY Diary 81 Why We Are Yet To Visit Chibok – BBOG
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MANUFACTURERS
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#BringBackOurGirls 81 DAY
Friday, July 4, 2014
Editor’s Note Dear Readers!
Why We Are Yet To Visit Chibok – BBOG BY CHIKA MEFOR, EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja
Your unending comments and feedback is a proof to us that Leadership Friday has had an amazing young life so far! Be rest assured that we are going to keep improving on our editorial to ensure that you get the best. Today’s edition features a lot of interesting write-ups. We start off by taking you through CHIBOK IN THE WEEK which highlights the lead stories on abducted Chibok Schoolgirls for each day of the week. On FRIDAY EXTRA, the Almajiri syndrome, which is synonymous to the north, is being examined by Arif Kasim Bala, he even goes as far as proffering solutions. We also have a FEATURE on the aftermath of the Nyanya bomblast, read through to find out how the residents are coping with life after the blast. ESSENTIALS today brings to you Davido who just won “Best international artiste” at the BET awards that took place recently. I urge you to encourage your kids to go through our kid segments as well. It’s an all rolled in one package so the kids aren’t left out. Lastly, don’t forget to Thank God It’s Friday!
The BringBackOurGirls group(BBOG) group, Abuja family has stated that apart from its daily sit outs and rally, the group is still determined to go Chibok to visit the family of the schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect,2014. The group, which spoke through one of its leaders, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, while responding to questions from journalist yesterday, said that during the early weeks of its advocacy, the group had wriiten to the National Security Adviser (NSA) for security clearance to visit the place, she added that Col. Dasuki (rtd) the group is still waiting for the NSA response on the matter Ezekwesili said that the visit to the community is important to the group as it will have the opportunity to empathise and engage with the families of the kidnapped girls, adding that the group has had many engagements with them through people from
the community who were in the group. She said " We want to go to Chibok and see the families of the girls who have been in the hands of their abductors for over 80 days. Imagine what the families are passing through? We want to go there to empathise with them and make them know that they are not alone and that we stand by them in their anguish." Also speaking, the chairman of Chibok Community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea-Abana, stated that his people appreciated the activities of the BBOG, saying that the group activities was the only thing that gives them hope in their present situation. " The group gives us hope because what government promised us have not been fulfilled. My people call us every time to asks us what is happening here. They commend this group. If it wasn't for this group, our girls would have been forgotten," he added.
“If everything is important, then nothing is” For Feedback: fridayleadership@leadership.ng
CHIBOK IN THE WEEK Saturday, June 28, 2014 President Jonathan justifies his silence over the schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State and being held in captivity by the Boko Haram sect, saying it is deliberate in order not to compromise details of on-going security operations that have to do with their safety. And some of parents of the abducted schoolgirls diclaimed alleged responsibility for the socalled spiritual snakes reported to be biting and killing members of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Sambisa Forest. Sunday, June 29, 2014 One of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, who managed to escape from Boko Haram’s captivity in Sambisa Forest, revealed that their abductors split them into three groups as soon as they arrived in the thick forest. Monday, June 30, 2014 One of the 57 escapee Chibok schoolgirls revealed that she was able to make a phone call to her father before fleeing from their Boko Haram abductors in Sambisa forest, saying she summoned courage to hide her own phone when they were asked to surrender them to the abductors. Tuesday, July 01, 2014 An intelligence cell of the Boko
Haram sect discovered and destroyed, and its alleged head, a businessman, who was reported to be the mastermind of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction and the murder of the Emir of Gwoza, Babuji Ya’ari, under the cover of membership of the Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as JTF in the area, was arrested by security operatives.
“Bring Back Our Girls” campaigners gather out outside Nigerian High Commission. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014 The Bring-Back-Our-Girl group lambasted the coordinator of the National Information Centre over his speech at a media briefing in which he claimed that security operatives had come to the rescue of the villagers attacked near Chibok, saying he lied. Thursday, July 03, 2014 The Bring-Back-Our-Girl group called on the Federal Government to provide substantial statement on the rescue mission of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State who are still in captivity of their abductors-the Boko Haram insurgents. Today Friday, July 04, 2004 The Defence Headquarters has justified its silence over the abducted Chibok schoolgirls who are still in Boko Haram’s captivity, saying the aim to ensure thatIROKA the COMPILED BYisUGOCHUKWU girls are brought back home alive. ...AS COMPILED BY Abah Adah
Members of #Bring Back Our Girls group of campaigners in village square meeting at the unity fountain expecting the quick intervention of government to rescue the abducted Chibok school girls in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO.
A little “thank you” that you will say to someone for a “little favour” shown to you is a key to unlock the doors that hide unseen “greater favours”. Learn to say “thank you” and why not? ― Israelmore Ayivor
our stand Dangerous ‘Rumour’ In Imo S
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equel to a foiled attempt to bomb a church in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and the subsequent arrest and detention of 486 suspected insurgents in Abia State, the government of Imo State was reported to have put a plan in motion to issue identity cards to all northerners residing in the state. In its opinion, this would serve as a security measure to ensure that the terrorist activities reported across the northern part of the country did not creep into the state. The assumption by the Imo State government in applying this measure could be interpreted to mean that, by virtue of the fact that most northerners are Muslims and the kingpins of the terrorists are presumed to be northerners and Muslims, every northerner by just being a northerner and a Muslim is a terrorist suspect. In other words, whenever there is a terrorist attack in any part of the state, all the northerners in the state would be held liable until proven innocent. The identity cards would help in identifying them for security checks.
This is not sufficiently acceptable in a complex society like Nigeria, a country that claims to operate democratic principles. We, indeed, appreciate the security concerns of the government, in view of the horrendous activities of terrorists in other parts of the country. These criminals have taken it upon themselves to kill, maim and destroy lives and property. They kidnap innocent schoolchildren; the case of the Chibok girls is still unresolved even as bombing of schools, malls and other public places continues unabated. But these do not justify the plan by the state government to stigmatise every northerner residing in the state. It amounts to profiling – and we
Ag. Editor Hassan Gimba Ahmed Deputy Editors Kazeem Akintunde Christian Ochiama Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Standards Aniebo Nwamu, Director ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director
are against it. It is pertinent to remind the government of the constitutional provisions which guarantee the freedom of movement and also grant every Nigerian the right to reside and pursue his or her legitimate business in peace anywhere in the country without let or hindrance. The government should also note that the security situation in the country is such that requires absolute clarity in thought and action and should not welcome any attempt to play to the gallery. However, it is gratifying to note that the state government has denied involvement in any such plan. But there is no smoke without fire. As the electioneering period approaches, politicians could devise any act to win the electoral support of the people. And that includes giving the impression that they are in a position to give them protection in the face of terrorist activities. We urge Governor Rochas Okorocha and his administration to let this remain in the realm of rumour. If they had harboured any such thoughts, they must discard it immediately.
Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser Julianne Omofuma Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Salisu Alhassan Bichi Iyobosa Uwugiaren Ademola Oladosu General Managers Joy Adekanye Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko
Leadership
Holdings
Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase Business Manager Bilkisu Mohammed Rimi
want
Return to old watering holes for more than water; friends and dreams are there to meet you. — African Proverb
LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital. We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed. We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!
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LIVING TO BE 100
One health tip daily Greener Grass May Not Be Better Weed killers contain chemicals that are toxic to our nervous systems and have even been confirmed to cause cancer. If you want to live a long life, stop using chemical herbicides and artificial fertilizers on your lawns. Instead, fertilize with organic compost or manure, pull weeds regularly, and reseed areas that are overgrown. Do not cut the grass too short, as this will expose the root system and leave the grass vulnerable to disease. Also avoid lingering on the golf course too long, especially under a hot sun: extreme heat can strengthen herbicides’ noxious effects.
Court Dismisses Adamawa Assembly Application Over Nyako’s Impeachment By Mohammed Ismail, Yola
A Yola high court presided by acting chief judge Justice Ambrose Mammadi on Thursday dismissed an application filed by Adamawa lawmakers over its jurisdiction to entertain a case filed by Governor Murtala Nyako who earlier obtained an interlocutory injunction to quash the impeachment proceedings being pursued by the Adamawa State House of Assembly against him. While ruling on the lawmakers’ application on whether the court has jurisdiction or not to entertain the suit brought by the state governor in respect of impeachment process initiated by the lawmakers, presiding judge Mammadi averred that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit and therefore dismissed the lawmakers’ application and adjourned to July 9, 2014. The state high court had earlier slammed an interlocutory injunction restraining the lawmakers for taking any decision pending the determination of the suit filed by the governor. Reacting on the Thursday ruling, counsel to the embattled governor Barr. Ayo Akumu expressed happiness with the ruling: “I am comfortable; my joy is that the court did not say it has no jurisdiction to entertain the case. The matter is still pending before the court, I am OK with it.
“The action taken by the House of Assembly… as at yesterday I had made it clear that is a violation of the court order.’’ Also reacting, Nyako’s adviser on legal matters Hajiya Hadiza Aminu applauded the ruling: “We are happy for today’s ruling which says that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, that’s why it has been adjourned to July 9, 2014, for continuation. We appeal to our teeming supporters to remain calm, resolute and be law-abiding as the court is on the top of the matter.” It’s not clear for now whether the state acting judge had received any correspondence from the lawmakers to constitute the seven-man panel or not. The chief registrar of the high court, Alhaji Abubakar Babayola, denied any communication. “As I am talking to you now, we are yet to receive their correspondence, and if there is any we will communicate to you,’’ said the chief registrar. But when contacted on phone, the chief press secretary to the speaker of the state Assembly, Mr Solomon Kumangar, said, ‘’ The clerk has since communicated the matter and it was received at the chamber of the acting chief judge before closing hours.’’ Impeachment: Speaker, 19 others may be recalled The move by the speaker, Ad➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
We’re Ready To Die In Sambisa Forest By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri, Bayo Oladeji, Pembi DavidStephen, Chika Otuchikere, Abdullahi Umar, Abuja
Parents of the abducted schoolgirls and many residents of Chibok have expressed concern over the almost three months captivity of the girls by Boko Haram terrorists, saying that they are left with no option than to storm Sambisa Forest for the rescue of the girls and if need be die in the process. The parents added that they would be happy to receive the corpses of their daughters for decent burial and mourn them than having them with the terrorists without knowing what is happening to them. Some of the parents disclosed this during a telephone interview with our correspondent in Maiduguri yesterday. But the Borno State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Titus Pona, has stated that stakeholders in the area are now begging distraught parents not to embark on the deadly mission. Pona, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Friday from Chibok, his home town yesterday, said his people are in a complete state of despair and have already started mobilising themselves in order to risk their lives by going in search of the girls inside the Sambisa Forest. He said, “We have been trying our best to console the poor parents who have been badly devastated by the kidnap of their girls; the situation is very pathetic in Chibok town and the people are begging to take actions on their own. “We have been pleading with them not to embark on such dangerous mission into the forest; that is what we can do for now; but how long are we going to continue holding them down? “We went round to see some of the parents and their families; it was a very pathetic sight; some of them were crying and asking that they would be happy to receive the corpses of their daughters so that they can bury them and mourn them decently, than having them out there in the bush, without knowing what is happening to them”. Pona said as religious leaders, they have done what they could do to console the parents, who feel government is not doing enough to rescue the girls and bring them out of their present psychological trauma.
We’ll rescue the girls alive – Olukolade The Defence Headquarters yesterday reiterated the reason for the military’s seeming sluggishness in the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists: it wants the girls back to their parents alive. On April 14, or 81 days ago, the terrorists struck at Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, and abducted no fewer than 200 girls under the cover of darkness. Except for a handful that escaped, the rest are still being held captive inside the Sambisa forest. Speaking during an interaction with senior editors at the LEADERSHIP Corporate Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday, the director of information at the Defence Headquarters, Major General Chris Olukolade, said some elements were trying to politicise the operation while they (the military) were careful not to be drawn into politics. “The best way to get them (the abducted girls) alive is what we are trying to do. To the best of our knowledge, they are still accessible. If we tried to force our way in, they may be killed. If we force our way there, they will kill them. This is what we want to avoid at all cost; rescue operations of that nature should not be done in a hurry,” the military spokesman said. “The chief of defence Staff (CDS) came out to tell the world that we had an idea of where these girls were. We didn’t think it would impress anyone to go and bring their dead bodies back to their parents. Sambisa (forest) is not impenetrable. But let me say it here: they mined almost everywhere around where they are keeping these girls.” The Nigerian military is globally recognied for its tact, he noted. On the funding of the counter-insurgency operation, Olukolade explained that when people heard that some N130 billion was given to the military, they were shocked and surprised thinking that the whole amount was for the operation. “If Nigerians knew the details of how the money is being spent, they would commend us for being prudent,” he said. “The said amount included salaries of privates and officers, including their pension.” Making use of Alpha jets, tanks, helicopters and others costs several billions of naira, he stated. He appealed to the media not to let what happened in Sierra Leone happen in Nigeria. The elite,
Chief of Army Staff Kenneth Minimah
he said, destroyed [Sierra Leone’s) military by polarising it. He said: “The military belongs to all Nigerians irrespective of their religious and political persuasions and we should try as much as possible to protect it, if we want the military to succeed in protecting the corporate integrity of Nigeria. My uniform does not belong to me, it belongs to Nigeria.” Responding to the recent clampdown on the print media including LEADERSHIP recently, the director of information explained that it was not meant to be seen as such but to act on the information available to the military. He urged the media to continue working harmoniously with the military to ensure a quick resolution to the menace of terrorism in the country: “This is an usual period in our country. You could imagine a situation where, despite my rank, my vehicle would be searched whenever I want to enter into the Defence Headquarters. We have to be doing that in order to prevent what happened in Pakistan where the Pakistani army headquarters was bombed.” ‘Boko Haram can only be defeated if corruption ends’ An Italian nun, Enza Guccione, has declared that Boko Haram can only be defeated if corruption ends in the country. According to Enza, Nigerian terror group Boko Haram’s deadly attacks will only end if corruption is eliminated in the country. Drawing on her years of experience in the country, the Nigeriabased Italian nun said Boko Haram insurgency is as a result of Nigeria’s internal instability and politicians’ lack of effort to promote the country’s development. “I believe Nigerian politics famous for its great corruption does not aim at promoting the country’s development,” Sister Enza told IBTimes UK. “Politicians’ only interest is to get rich by exploiting the coun➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Sometimes, we wait on God for special things to happen extraordinarily in our lives before we understand that “God is working”. Meanwhile, there are “super-special” things that fill our life barrels in minute drops, but they go unappreciated! ― Israelmore Ayivor
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World Soccer Greats: Their Rise To Stardom ➔ FROM FRONT page BY PAUL CHIAMA, ADAH ABAH, HAUWA MAHMUD MADUGu, CHIKELU CHINELO and onjewu dickson, Abuja
How early in life does talent begin to manifest in a person? Can a humble beginning scuttle one’s chances of rising to stardom? It would appear not, as in football, for example, many seemingly born without any hope of a bright future have risen to superstardom, through sheer talent, determination and of course, hard work. In some people, the signs of greatness begin to manifest while they are as yet
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 6 foot 5” Swedish and former Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) attacker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played in different clubs: Barcelona (2009-2010), where he scored 21 goals in 45 matches; 21 goals in 41 matches in AC Milan in 2010-2011 and 35 goals in 44 matches after AC Milan’s renewal of his contract. In the past two years (2012-2014), he’s scored over 50 goals in 63 matches for PSG of France.
Ibrahimovic
Messi
Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro had a poor childhood in Madeira, Portugal, but rose to superstardom in football. He has played for Lisbon and Manchester United and currently plays for Real Madrid. The young Cristiano began playing football at between the ages of two and three, either playing in the yard or on Lombinho Street where he grew up and by so doing discovered he had a great talent. As a child, he preferred a football to a toy car once bought for him at Christmas by his godfather.
Neymar Born February 5, 1992, Neymar da Silva Santos currently plays for Spanish club FC Barcelona in La Liga. He also plays for the Brazilian national team as a forward winger. Neymar won the South American Footballer of the Year award in 2011 and 2012 and has a large following of fans who cheer him for his dribbling skill, speed, perfect finishing and ability to use both feet efficiently.
Van Persie Robin Van Persie, born August 6, 1983, is an outstanding Dutch footballer. A youth product of Fayenoord Club, he joined Arsenal in 2004 and later Manchester United in 2012. He has also played for SBV Excelsior’s youth squad. He was named Dutch Football Talent of the Year for the 2001-2002 season. Van Persie played U-17, U-19 and U-21 for Netherlands. Van Persie Frank Lampard The 36-year-old captained England’s final game at the group stage, at the 2014 World Cup. This may well have been his last FIFA game. The Romford, London native started his football career at West Ham United (1994-1995) and played for two years on loan with Swansea City, where he made nine appearances plus a lone goal before moving to Chelsea at age 24, in 2001. There he played for 13 seasons from 2001 to 2014, to the peak of his career. Lampard made 429 appearances and scored 147 goals for the club. He was three times Chelsea Player of the Year, Chelsea all time top goal scorer with 211 goals in all its games and runner-up for FIFA World Player of The Year (Ballon d’Or). He also placed England’s most efficient penalty scorer, over previous record players Ron Flowers and Alan Shearer.
Gerard Piqué Gerard Piqué i Bernabeu (born February 2, 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer, who plays as a centre-back for FC Barcelona. A product of Barça’s cantera, La Masia, he initially left the club for Manchester United in 2004, where he remained for four years before returning to Barça under Pep Guardiola’s leadership, helping the club become the first ever to complete a Sextuple. Piqué is one of four players to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams, the others being Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa and Samuel Eto’o.
Piqué Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Garcia Radamel Falcao The 28-year-old striker, Colombian and Monaco player joined River Plate’s youth academy at age 15, but began his professional football career at age 19. He made a comeback from a knee injury in 2007, scoring 45 goals in 109 games and taking the championship in 2008. At Porto FC in 2009, Falcao scored 34 goals in 42 games for his first year, 39 goals in 42 appearances in 2010–2011 and 17 goals in 13 games in the UEFA Europa League. Courted by top European clubs at this time, Falcao joined Monaco Football Club at the end of the 2012/2013 season for the price of €50m. He’s played for the Colombian national team since 2005, but unfortunately, injury did not allow him play in the ongoing World Cup.
Falcao
Lampard
Balotelli Mario Barwuah Balotelli, who was born August 12, 1990, plays as a striker in Serie A club, AC Milan and for the Italian national team. He started his professional football career at Lumezzane and played for the first team twice. He made an unsuccessful attempt at 15 to play for FC Barcelona. Then in 2007, he joined Inter Milan. Interestingly, Balotelli’s parents are immigrants from Ghana who settled in Palermo, Sicily, where he was born.
Ronaldinho Brazilian soccer wizard, Ronaldinho has played at least 97 matches and scored no less than 33 goals for the Brazilian national team. He played in the 2002 World Cup winning team. Ronaldinho’s career began with the Grêmio youth squad. He made his senior side debut during the 1998 Copa Libertadores. He has been named one of the world’s highest paid players.
Balotelli
Ronaldinho
Iniesta Andres Iniesta was born May 11, 1984 in Fuentealbilla, Spain. In 1994, at the age of 10, he joined the Albacete Balompie academy and commenced his youth career in football. He was discovered and invited to DC FC Barcelona in 1996. He has played more than 265 matches for Barcelona and scored more than 27 goals. Iniesta is also a source of pride for the Spanish national team. Iniesta
Steven Gerrard Steven George Gerrard, born 30 May 1980, is an English footballer who plays for and captains both Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfield role, but he has also been used as a second striker, holding midfielder, right back and right-winger. Born in Whiston, Merseyside, Gerrard started out playing for hometown team Whiston Juniors, where he was noticed by Liverpool scouts. He later joined the Liverpool Academy at the age of nine. From club level, Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his international debut in 2000 and has since represented England at the 2000 and 2004 European Championships, as well as the 2006 World Cup – where he was the team’s top goal scorer with two goals – and the 2014 World Cup, as England’s skipper. Gerrard became the sixth player to win 100 caps for England in 2012 and is currently third on the country’s all time appearance list.
Gerrard ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
It is not enough to take good decisions and make good choices. It is necessary to take heed and comply with whatever you plan and that can only happen by the influence of the Lord God, the giver of your dreams. ― Israelmore Ayivor
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World Soccer Greats
Court Dismisses ➔ FROM page 4
amawa State House of Assembly, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, and 19 others to impeach Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy Bala James Ngillari has drawn the ire of some constituents as moves are currently ongoing to recall them. Some electorate and party chieftains across Adamawa State confided in LEADERSHIP that they have concluded plans to begin the recall process against their members who are involved in the Impeachment move, as most of them perceived the move by the lawmakers as an avenue to enrich themselves at the detriment of their constituencies. LEADERSHIP investigation found that the new resolve may be connected to insinuations in some quarters that the lawmakers were prodded to commence the impeachment process after they collected money from a south-south governor who was allegedly influenced by the presidency. A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress and former interim vice chairman, north-east, Dr Umar Duhu, who hails from the same constituency as the Adamawa speaker, said during an interactive session with newsmen in Yola that his constituency was considering the option of recalling the speaker as his actions were purely selfish, as he did not consult with anyone from the constituency. “Despite my political standing in the local government, the speaker never consulted me before going ahead with the move for the impeachment of the governor; so also other members of the constituency,” he said. He stated that the move being made by the speaker is too obvious as he stands to benefit from the process despite its negative consequences, adding that he has allowed his sense of reasoning to be becloud-
ed by overarching desire to make political capital out of the impeachment move. Duhu further warned the legislators to look into the implications of their actions, stressing that, irrespective of party affiliations, the electorate are being mobilized to take action. “They should look into the implications of what they are doing. The common man is now taking the bulk of the heat. “Their move is not timely; politically it’s a bad idea. That should not have been embarked upon. It is sad and it seems that they are not sensitive to the plight of the people. Their highhandedness will not take them anywhere,” he said. He further alleged that some strong forces were behind the saga, saying that, despite the pressure, the speaker should have been circumspect as the deputy governor who hails from his constituency will be the major loser. “People of his constituency have begun to doubt the sincerity of the speaker who has been fighting his kinsman, the deputy governor. We don’t know why he is too ambitious. Unfortunately he is from my constituency. We are preparing for the next line of action against any member that has a hand in this shameless act,’’ Duhu noted. Another politician in Mubi said they had also started consultations to ensure that their member is recalled following his participation in the impeachment process, as he never consulted them. “They have not consulted us; nobody is happy; so their action is selfish and a political summersault. “As it stands today, it’s those members versus the people; it’s no more the lawmakers versus the governor or his deputy. They have pitched their tents against the people of Adamawa by even asking the anti-graft agency EFCC to freeze the accounts of the state government, a situation where even salary could not be paid,’’ he said.
We’re Ready To Die In Sambisa Forest ➔ FROM page 4
try’s oil. There is a continuous fight over oil production.” Alluding to this spate of scandals, Sister Enza said: “Boko Haram will stop only when politicians’ corruption ends. “To defeat terrorism, leaders must build a solid future for the nation by providing education for everybody, creating jobs for the youths, using the country’s natural resources to help Nigerians and guaranteeing the recognition of basic human rights to all the citizens.” “If the insurgency is a religious war, Boko Haram would have focused their attacks on the southwest of Nigeria, instead of the north, mainly inhabited by Mus-
lims and which is close to Muslim-majority countries Chad, Niger and Cameroon,” she said. Terror war: Police top brass holds emergency meeting The inspector-general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday convened an emergency meeting of the Police High Command to appraisal the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents. Police spokesman ACP Frank Mba made this known yesterday in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP. He said the IGP urged zonal AIGs and the command CPs to evolve new intelligence-gathering and crime-fighting techniques.
➔ FROM page 5
Robben Arjen Robben (born January 23, 1984) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Netherlands national team. Robben has appeared at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships, and the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger. Robben is known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate left foot longrange shots from the right wing. Robben first came to prominence with Groningen, for whom he was Player of the Year for the 2000–01 Eredivisie season. Two years later, he signed for PSV, where he became the Netherlands’ Young Player of the Year and won an Eredivisie title. The following season Robben’s signature was pursued by leading English clubs and after protracted transfer negotiations, he joined Chelsea in the 2004 close season. Robben Buffon Early in his teens, Buffon began his football career with the youth system of Parma in 1991. He was 13 then. As a goalkeeper, he plays for and captains Serie A club, Juventus and the Italian national team. Buffon is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He is known for his “outstanding shot-stopping” and for being a vocal organiser of the defence. Buffon was declared by Pelé as one of the world’s best 125 living footballers. He has been named Goalkeeper of the Year a record eight times. Buffon Pirlo Andrea Pirlo was born May 19, 1979. He is an Italian professional footballer who plays for Juventus and the Italian national team. He is usually deployed as a deep-lying playmaker for both Juventus and Italy and is regarded as a leading exponent of this position. Pirlo is the fourth most capped player in the history of the Italian national team. On June 24 in the ongoing World Cup, Pirlo gave a man-of-the-match performance in the game against England. Pirlo Götze Mario Götze, born June 3 1992, is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga and the German national team. In addition to his favoured role as a number 10, Götze is capable of playing as either a left or right-winger and also as a false 9. Götze is a product of Dortmund’s youth academy, first entering the club as an eight-year-old. He made his Bundesliga debut in 2009 in a scoreless draw against Mainz 05, coming on as a substitute for Jakub Błaszczykowski in the 88th minute. During the winter break of the 2009–10 Bundesliga season, Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp promoted Götze to the first team. Götze Bastian Schweinsteiger Bastian Schweinsteiger is a German footballer born August 1, 1984, who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the German national team. A right-footed player, he usually plays as central midfielder. Earlier in his career he primarily played as a wide midfielder. Schweinsteiger has won many awards in his club and in his international career, including seven Bundesliga titles, seven German Cups, a UEFA Champions League title and two League Cups. He was voted as the best German player in 2013. As of October 15, 2013, Schweinsteiger had been capped 100 times and has scored 23 goals for the German national football team since making his debut in 2004. Bastian
Northern Delegates Kick Against Confab’s Voting Procedure By Bode Gbadebo, Abuja
The Northern Delegates Forum has faulted the voting procedure adopted by the National Conference at its plenary yesterday, saying that contentious key decisions so far taken without proper procedure according to the Conference Rule Book should be reversed or ‘bracketed’ to achieve consensus among the delegates.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the spokesman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Ibrahim Biu, after an emergency meeting by the Delegates Forum last night and made available to journalists. The forum also stated that it had already drawn the attention of the conference leadership to the ‘anomaly’ at the Thursday (yesterday’s) sitting. The statement reads in part, “The North-
ern Delegates Forum met following the closure of business today, July 3, 2014 of the National Conference and wish to observe as follows: “We note the decisions made at plenary today on contentious issues and drew the attention of the Conference leadership to this anomaly and strongly suggest that key decisions today such as the removal of the list of local government from the constitution,
local government financing, the adoption of constitution for states, the mechanism on referendum did not follow the usual procedure of trying to achieve consensus and if that was not possible calling for a division.” Biu said the issues in question are “too fundamental” to be resolved though a mere voice vote, especially as it is often touted that the selection of delegates to the conference was lopsided.
NEWS EXTRA / 7
July 4, 2014
Police Nab 5 Robbers, Recover Gun By Matthew Dike, Lagos
Police operatives on stop-and-search duty have apprehended five robbery suspects, recovering arms and ammunition from them. The team of policemen, who LAEDERSHIP FRIDAY understands were attached to the Federal Highway Patrol, were4 on duty at Imota area of Lagos State when a Mazda 323 saloon car with registration number FKJ 952 CM happened by. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the story said when a search was conducted on the five occupants of the vehicle, one gun, ammunition and an expended bullet were found. According to Braide, the driver of the vehicle, one Abioye Yusuf, who resides at Araromi Street, Ikorodu, was arrested with four others. One of the five, Abiodun Oshibajo, who resides at Jagugba Street, Iperi Remo, Ogun State, was found to be in possession of a gun. The hoodlum claimed he was taking the gun to his friend, who he identified as Musa,who also resides around the Ikorodu area. Braide disclosed to journalists that the case is still being investigated by the men of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
Fire Renders Families Homeless By Matthew Dike, Lagos
No fewer than 80 people were rendered homeless in Ajegunle area of Lagos State when fire gutted a building on Tuesday. Though the cause of the firs could not be ascertained, some residents allege that it resulted from a power surge and some thought otherwise. When LEADERSHIP FRIDAY arrived the scene at Ugbenwankwo Street, many residents whose property were destroyed by the fire revealed that, besides rendering them homeless, the fire also claimed their life savings. One of the victims who gave his name as Papa Chukwudi said his wife had gone off to her shop while he had gone to the place where he worked as a security and his children had gone off to school. “But we returned to see this,” he said, pointing to the remains of the place where they once lived. He also confirmed that no one could tell the source of the fire. Papa Chukwudi told this reporter that he has since elocated to his friend’s, where he and his family now put up.
Reps Wade Into Doctors’ Strike By Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja
The House of Representatives, yesterday, mandated its Committee on Health to wade into
Head of operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Gombe Office, Hajiya Zainab Umar, distributing relief materials to internally displaced persons at a camp in Jalingo, Taraba State, yesterday. Photo by Nan
Cultists Go On Rampage, Kill Their Native Doctor, 2 Others By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba
A gang of cultists, members of the Ake Confraternity, has allegedly killed one of their sponsors, a native doctor, and two others in Obiaruku Community of Delta State, after what witnesses called a “fierce disagreement” on Wednesday. LEADERSHIP FRIDAY learnt that the native doctor had been responsible for preparing the charms used by the cultists while the two other victims were allegedly killed by stray bullets during a rival cult war that ensued on the same day. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed that arrests have been made while in-
vestigation is on-going to ascertain the cause of the killings. Meanwhile, a gang of rapists have laid siege on Delta State, raping no less than six married women and a number of minors, especially in far-flung communities. In Ibusa Community, for example, six women have been abused at gun point, in the last two weeks, while they were returning from the market. According to witnesses, the rapists have also turned on minors in Agbor Town and some part of Asaba Community. While reacting to the incident, Kalu confirmed that the victims have been taken to private hospitals where they
were examined by doctors and treated. According to Kalu, the official statistics of rape cases in the state indicate that between January and June 2014 the state has recorded six cases of rape, while eight other suspects who have been confirmed as rapists have been jailed. Kalu said the police are committed to stamping out rape and cultism, which have become major crimes in the state. Kalu also disclosed that the suspected rapists allegedly ambushed their victims around the popular Ibusa Market. Kalu also told journalists that the suspects were currently helping the police at the state CID for further investigation.
Man Remanded For Damaging Palm Trees In Osun For allegedly damaging palm trees belonging to one Raji Misitura in Osogbo, 46-year-old Muliu Popoola, has been remanded by an Osun State magistrate court in the Ilesa Prison. The prosecutor, Inspector Isiaka Ajadi, had told the court at Osogbo that the accused committed the offence on June 30, 2014, at about 7:00am, at Alare Iyiola’s compound, Osogbo.
“The accused unlawfully and willfully entered into the compound of one Mrs Raji Mistura, without the complainant’s permission,’’ Ajadi said. Ajadi said the accused allegedly damaged all the palm trees in the compound, before Raji rushed out to go report to the police. According to Ajadi, the accused arraigned on a one-count charge of unlawful damage, an offence which contravened Section 451 of the Criminal Code cap 34,
Vol.11 Laws of Osun, 2003. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. His Counsel, Mrs Ayoola Popoola, prayed the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal terms. The presiding magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, however, overruled the bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, till the next date of adjournment – July 4 – when the case will come up for mention.
the indefinite strike embarked on by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday. Nigerian doctors are on strike; following the expiration of a two-week ultimatum it issued the federal government to meet its 24-point demand. The committee is expected to liaise with the NMA and the Ministry of Health with a view
to finding amicable ways to end the strike. It also has just a week to submit its report. The resolution followed a motion on “matters of urgent public importance” moved by the House Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie (Edo/APC). “From the NMA perspective, a number of issues, including the appointment of a sur-
geon-general for the federation, payment of hazard allowances to doctors, retirement age of doctors, expansion of the NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme) to cover a wider spectrum of the society, among others, are also some of the issues that the National Assembly (has) passed resolutions on,” Osagie noted.
Joshua Dada, Osogbo
When a once-beautiful piece of cloth has turned into rags, no one remembers that it was woven by master weavers. ― Nigerian Proverb
8 NEWS
July 4, 2014
Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo
Nigerian Varsities Have Over 1m Carrying Capacity - FG As states fail to access N53bn UBEC intervention funds By Kuni Tyessi, Abuja
Supervising minister of education, Nyesom Wike has said that the federal government’s intervention in tertiary education has greatly improved access such that universities in the country can now admit over 1million candidates. He said prior to the establishment of 12 new federal universities in each of the nation’s geo-political zones,the existing universities could only admit a paltry 400,000 candidates, leaving almost 2million candidates who might have emerged successful in their entry level examination to their fate. Speaking at a forum to present the ministerial scorecard of the education sector under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Wike also lamented the inability of some states to access the Universal Basic Education (UBE) grants for intervention in the ba-
sic education sector. The highest defaulting states include Adamawa, Abia, Benue, Cross River, Oyo, Plateau, Nasarawa and a few others. He said despite criticisms that the federal government did not inject adequate funds into the sector, the sum of N53,617,254,621.53 has been lying fallow unaccessed by the federating states. Wike said the situation was because of the reluctance of the states to produce their matching grants before accessing that of UBEC. “The federal government is concerned with basic education which falls under the purview of the states because if the foundation is faulty, you cannot succeed in building any structure. “Despite criticisms, this present administration has spent several billions to support states in educating pupils with special needs these past few years.” At the event which drew participants from all tiers of the education sector, Wike said over N21billion went to states for teachers capacity building, adding
that an average of N588million went to each state for this purpose. On expansion in the technical education sector, the supervising minister said N12.8billion went into the construction of laboratories and other learning infrastructures between 2010 and 2013. Wike condemned parents who send their children to Ghana and other neigbouring countries for tertiary education, saying they are ignorant of the massive transformation in the sector since the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan. Minister of information, Labaran Maku, in his remarks, criticised the North for the current security challenges facing the nation, adding that rather than play politics with the security issue, focus should be on maintaining peace which will in turn foster development. According to Maku, the north is seriously lagging behind educationally, leaving the south and western part of the country to take all the glory.
Southern Kaduna Protests Against Killings In Sanga By MIDAT JOSEPH, Kaduna
Over 5, 000 Southern Kaduna people yesterday staged a peaceful protest against the recent killings in some parts of Sanga local government area of Kaduna State. The protesters, who marched to the chief of Kagoro, Mr Ufuwai Bonet to deliver their letter of protest for onward delivery to the state governor, were however, not received by the chief. The chief of Kagoro, who is the leader of Southern Kaduna Traditional Council of Chiefs, refused to listen to the protesters who stormed his palace to submit their letter of concern over massive killings in the villages. The protesters waited in front of the chief’s palace for 30 minutes without seeing him to receive the letter on behalf of his colleagues. The protesters were carrying placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Stop Genocide in Southern Kaduna Now’, ‘They kill us on daily basis in our land’, ‘Our land under siege’, among others. The protesters started their procession at 10am at Manchok Junction and marched to the Kagoro monarch’s palace, after which they ended the procession at 12:40pm without seeing Chief Bonet who was in the palace but refused to come out to receive the peaceful protesters and their letter. The leader of the protesters, Vincent Bodam, who spoke to the protesters before delivering the letter to the Chief’s servant at the palace, recommended the formation of Southern Kaduna Vigilante Service (SKAVIS) to complement the effort of the military in the zone.
Reps Block FCT’s N271bn Budget By Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja
L-R: Speaker House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal receiving a certificate of commendation from the National Coordinator of National blood Transfusion Services, Dr Oluwatoyin Smith and Dr Omo Izedonwen during a courtesy visit to speaker’s office in National Assembly Complex, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO.
Jonathan’s Re-Election Campaign Amid Worsening Insecurity Callous, Insensitive – APC By George Okojie, Lagos
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as utterly callous and insensitive the ongoing campaign by the so-called GEJites, a pro-Jonathan group, for the President’s re-election at the same spot where the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaigners have been staging daily protests demanding the safe return of the over 200 abduct-
ed girls. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the message being conveyed to all Nigerians is that the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan takes priority over anything else, including the security and welfare of the citizens. ‘’Were this not to be so, no responsible
group will choose this time, when over 200 school girls have been missing for over 80 days and the terror group, Boko Haram, is daily killing and maiming Nigerians, to launch a misguided re-election campaign for the president”. “If their daughters were among the missing school girls, would they be launching a political campaign for re-election rather than pushing for the girls’ release?’’
Members of the House of Representatives yesterday stopped the passage of the N271billion 2014 Appropriation Bill of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The federal lawmakers protested that they did not have the details of the proposed FCT budget, hence they could not contribute meaningfully to the debate when the bill was presented at plenary by House leader, Hon Mulikat Akande-Adeola. Trouble started when the deputy leader, Hon Leo Ogor, began his contribution to support the bill. Ogor was intermittently interrupted by the protesting members. House speaker, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal called for restraint, citing Rule 97(4) of the House Standing Rules, which provide that during debate on money bills, members should submit their names, which would be arranged alphabetically, and allotted five minutes to each to make his or her contributions. Tambuwal ruled that debate on the bill should be put off since no member of the House had submitted his or her name to him to contribute to the debate. Out of the N271billion proposed as FCT’s 2014 budget, N49.2billion is for personnel cost; N62.8billion is for overhead cost, while the balance of N159billion is for capital projects.
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, fresh writer and aviator.
9
conference
July 4, 2014
BY JOE DUDUN, AMINA ALHASSAN AND BODE GBADEBO
Confab Outlaws Unelected Local Councils
Scraps joint State and LG accounts FCT indigenes to get more FG attention Nigeria to revert to old National Anthem
L-R: Principal officers of the National Conference, deputy chairman, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi; chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi and secretary, Dr. Valerie-Janett Azinge at plenary, yesterday.
Confab Okays Creation Of 18 New States Aba, Amana, Aniom, Apa, Ijebu, Katagum, New Oyo, others get nod Backs power rotation for north, south Same for governorship among senatorial districts
The National Conference yesterday took a bold and unprecedented step under a democratic dispensation when it approved 18 requests, in principle, for state creation across the country as a way of meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people. It has also put to rest decades of agitations by promoters of new states. The resolution was among many others adopted by delegates at plenary while considering the report of the Standing Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government, which was subjected to robust debates. The approved requests, subject to the amendment of the constitution, were proposed by the committee and they include Apa State from the present Benue, Kainji from Niger State, Katagum from Bauchi State, Savannah State from Borno, Amana from Adamawa, Ghari from Kano, Gurara from Kaduna, Etiti State from the South-East zone, Aba from Abia, Adada from Enugu, Njaba/Anim from both Anambra and Imo States, Ogoja from Cross River, Anioma from Delta, Ijebu from Ogun, New Oyo from the present Oyo State and unnamed others. Henceforth, it has been resolved that state creation should be on the basis of parity between the geopolitical zones to ensure equality of
zones. Power Rotation gets legal backing Meanwhile, delegates have also resolved that henceforth the office of the President of Nigeria shall rotate between the North and South divide and simultaneously revolve among the six geo-political zones of the country. This resolution applies to the office of the state governors, which shall be rotated among the three senatorial districts of each state while that of the local government chairmen shall be rotated within the local government areas. The Committee, among others, had examined Nigeria’s attendant political challenges and the need to lay a solid foundation for an all-inclusive and cost-effective system of government which would serve the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. Whenever the President dies in office, is incapacitated, is impeached or resigns, Conference agreed that the Vice President shall take over the position in acting capacity for a period of 90 days during which an election to the office would be conducted in order to allow for each geopolitical zone to run the full course of the constitutionally allowed tenure without undue disruption. Delegates also agreed that based on the adopted zoning formula,
whenever a president leaves under any of the circumstances mentioned above, another president would be elected from the same zone where the previous one came from. Conference also voted in support of the recommended Modified Presidential System of Government, which is seen as home-made model of government that combines the attributes of Parliamentary and Presidential systems. New Presidential powers A President elected under this new system shall exercise full responsibility for his government and shall select not more than 18 ministers from the six geo-political zones of the country. It was agreed that henceforth, the Minister of Finance and no longer the President as presently obtained, would present the annual budget estimates to the National Assembly. Conference also voted to retain the existing bicameral legislature instead of the unicameral proposed by the committee. Referendum coming As the conference is about to finish its business in two weeks’ time, delegates have resolved on the need for modalities for the entrenchment of referendum in the Constitution in order to decide the outcome of the confab.
The approved requests, subject to the amendment of the constitution, were proposed by the committee
The ongoing National Conference has outlawed all local government councils not democratically elected as they will not be recognized by all authorities and persons and would not be entitled to any revenue allocation from the Federation Account or the Account of the State Government or exercise any function exercisable by local government councils in Nigeria. This decision was arrived at by delegates at plenary during the consideration of the report of the Standing Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government yesterday. Delegates also approved the scrapping of the controversial Joint State and Local Government Accounts and replaced it with a State Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (SRMAFC). The body would be expected to have as members, representatives of local government areas and a chairman nominated by the state governor for confirmation by the State House of Assembly. In addition to the functions conferred on the local government councils as specified in the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended, a State House of Assembly may by law, confer other functions on a local government. Conference agreed that the Constitution shall fix the tenures for local government councils and not a governor of a state. It was also voted that for functionality, local governments should be politically and economically independent. During consideration of additional recommendations, delegates unanimously adopted a proposal that Nigeria reverts to her old National Anthem, which it said is a more credible symbol of unity, peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, as a policy item, the Federal Government was urged to set up a new commission to address the plight of indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
10 ISLAM
July 4, 2014
When Hajj Administrators Confer In Kebbi
ramadan timing
By Al-Amin Ciroma, Abuja
In the last eight years, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been making frantic efforts to streamline the Hajj Operations in the country with a view to overcoming the perennial problems associated with the operations annually. When NAHCON was established in May 2007, It grappled with a lots of problems, ranging from the inefficiency of the smooth Airlift of the Pilgrims to the Holy Land, non early remittance of the Hajj Fares by the Pilgrims’ for early payment to Service Providers in Saudi Arabia, the shoddy arrangement in the evacuation of the pilgrims’ luggage and Zamzam Water, the ineffective way of managing the activities of our Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators and host of others. All these enumerated problems have now become things of the past. The current policy thrust of the Commission is how to educate and enlighten the pilgrims on the proper conduct of Hajj which in turn could help the pilgrims to attain an acceptable Hajj (Hajj Mabrur) and to be good ambassadors to their Country while in the Holy Land. With this background, it is therefore not surprising that in the last two years, a unit especially in charge of the Pilgrims Education and Orientation has been created and in furtherance of this laudable effort, all the Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/Agencies across the federation, including the FCT have been requested to create the same unit. Today, virtually all the boards and agencies in the states have complied positively to this request. This scenario sets the wheel for pilgrims’ education and orientation in motion. During the last year’s campaigns for the pilgrims education, six of such workshops were strategically executed within the six Nigerias’ geo political zones which immensely contributed to the smooth operation last year. In this operational year alone, the plan for the Hajj Commission on the pilgrims’ education and orientation is to increase the tempo from last year by extending to stage the workshops to all the eleven Pilgrims’ Departure Centres in the country. In this direction, the workshop planned for Sokoto departure point was staged in Birnin Kebbi, the capital city of Kebbi State. The scheduled date for the workshop was the 18th of July, 2014 in a well befitting venue of the presidential Banquet Hall of the State’s Government Lodge, in a quite serene atmosphere. The theme of the workshop is ‘Hajj Mabrur and its Challenges.’ The state’s pilgrims welfare agency worked tirelessly in conjunction with the Sokoto NAHCON Zonal Office and made the Workshop a success story. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, grace the event along with some key Members of the State’s Executive Council, including the State Secretary to the Government (SSG). The Executive Governor in his soft laden speech; provided a good platform which effectively guided the Workshop session. The meeting was steered under the Chairmanship of His Highness, the Wazirin Gwandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar. In his remarks, governor Dakingari expressed appreciation for organizing such a programme in the State. He said he was optimistic that the chosen Ulamas would thoroughly thrash the selected topic. The Governor opined that in the nearest future, there is the tendency that the government would pull out from funding hajj operations. He therefore advised that Hajj Stakeholders should work towards self sufficiency in the hajj operation. He therefore, finally called on the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of their country and desist from unnecessary purchases to enable them utilize their Basic Travel Allowances (BTA) better. Delivering his speeach, the chairman of the programme, His Highness, the Wazirin Gwandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar, reminded the participants of their roles to the welfare of Pilgrims’. He told them that they were here to refresh their experiences of what is expected from them in ensuring the utmost welfare of the pilgrims’. The Chairman therefore, urged the Participants to share their experiences and knowledge with the pilgrims after this Workshop. Also speeking at the event, the chairman, Kebbi state pilgrims welfare agency, Hon. Abdullahi Imam Shema, in his welcome address, highlighted the efforts of the Pilgrims Welfare Agency in ensuring early arrangements on all aspects of Hajj. He informed that the Agency had recently secured good pilgrims accommodation in the Holy Land. He thanked the State
Dakingari
Government for its support to the activities of the Agency which he attributed as responsible for the success of the Agency in the last few years. The Kebbi Chairman counselled the Participants to carefully pay attention to the Workshop’s session so that they can pass the acquired knowledge to the intending Pilgrims. The first session went on recess with the vote of thanks by the zonal coordinator Mallam Abubakar Kaoje, who emphasized that in the past seven years the Hajj Stakeholders were busy discussing on how to improve the smooth airlift of the pilgrims and how to achieve early pilgrims remittance to pay for Service Providers, he said all these are now things of the past. The policy thrust is now on the pilgrims Orientation and Education which would help the pilgrims to attain Hajj Mabrur. He finally thanked the Executive Governor for gracing the Workshop. He also thanked the Participants for honouring the invitation and wishing them safe journey to their various destinations. The most interesting part of the event was the paper presentations. The first Speaker, Sheikh Moukhtar, Walin Gwandu, educated the Participants on the proper conduct of hajj. He enumerated step by step on the proper conduct of Hajj. While, the second Speaker, Sheikh Umar Ika, Sarkin Malamman Gwandu, discussed on the importance of the visit of Madinah by the pilgrims and how to successfully conduct the visit. He emphasized that the visit to the sites of the Prophet (S.A.W.) tomb and his Companions’ and the Muhajiruuns at the sites of Uhud and Baqueeyyah are all significant and could remind Muslims about the death. The Representative of the National Orientation Agency were also not left out at the event, they enlightened the Participants on how the intending Pilgrims would be good ambassadors to their country and Project its image well in the comity of other nations. He buttressed some civic responsibilities expected from the government and as well as from the citizens. He finally advised the intending Pilgrims to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, patience and education on all aspects of Hajj while in the Holy Land. During the second session, after the Zuhur Prayers and Lunch, Dr. Aliyu Tanko, the Head of Pilgrims’ Education and Orientation in the NAHCON Headquarters, Abuja made his presentation. The presentation gave out three stages of what the pilgrims’ require i.e. before the hajj, during the hajj and after the hajj. The presentation provided indepth insights on some vital areas where the intending pilgrims need to be educated and helped. i.e. the use of toilets facilities, lifts, the proper way of putting on Ihram garment (with the practical demonstration), the enlightenment of the value of Naira and Riyal exchange and the need for Pilgrims to protect and safeguard their valuables while on the Holy Land and also emphasized on the need to go in group and the cautioning of the crossing of expressways by the Pilgrims, among others. Some of these vital areas were projected in a video clips and slides for the Participants to practically see.
Towns
Magrib
Alfijr
Abuja
6.59
4.56
Aba
6.55
4.59
Abakaliki
6.52
4.58
Abeokuta
7.09
5.15
Akure
7.02
5.06
Ankpa
7.02
5.07
Argungu
7.11
5.05
Auchi
7.01
5.05
Awka
7.02
5.00
Azare
6.49
4.43
Bama
6.38
4.29
Bauchi
6.50
4.48
Benin
7.04
5.06
Bichi
6.57
4.51
Bida
7.04
5.01
Birnin Gwari
7.03
4.59
B/Kebbi Gwandu
7.12
5.05
Biu
6.41
4.36
Calabar
6.49
4.56
Damaturu
6.41
4.35
Daura/Kazaure
6.59
4.36
Dutse
6.51
4.48
Enugu
6.53
4.58
Funtua/Malumfashi
7.01
4.54
Gembu
6.46
4.42
Gombe
6.44
4.40
Gusau
7.00
4.57
Gwadabawa
7.11
4.58
Hadejia
6.49
4.43
Ibadan
7.13
5.10
Ife
7.08
5.07
Ilesha Baruba
7.10
5.06
Ilorin
7.06
5.08
Jalingo
6.41
4.40
Jere/Suleija
6.58
4.55
Jos
6.55
4.49
Kabba
7.03
5.01
Kafanchan
6.57
4.52
Keffi/Nasarawa
6.57
4.52
Kaiama
7.12
5.09
Kafin Maiyaki
6.57
4.49
Kaduna
6.56
4.55
Kano
6.52
4.50
Katsina
7.00
4.52
Kontagora
7.06
5.04
Lafia
6.52
4.52
Lagos
7.11
5.13
Lokoja
6.56
5.04
Maiduguri
6.34
4.33
Makurdi
6.53
4.51
Minna
7.00
5.02
Missau
6.46
4.42
Monguno
6.37
4.25
Mubi
6.36
4.32
Nguru
6.46
4.40
Ningi
6.50
4.47
Okene
7.06
5.02
Ogbomosho
7.11
5.10
Onitsha
6.59
5.05
Oyo
7.13
5.12
Port Harcourt
6.58
5.09
Potiskum
6.44
4.38
Saki
7.05
5.12
Shagamu
7.06
5.18
Sokoto
7.06
5.03
Umuahia
6.57
4.57
Warri
6.56
5.12
Wukari
5.44
4.52
Wurno
7.10
4.58
Yenagoa
6.38
4.35
Yola
6.35
4.35
Zaria
6.57
4.56
Cotonnou-Benin
7.15
5.15
Ndjamena-Chad
6.26
4.222
Niamey-Niger
7.21
5.14
Zinder – Niger
6.58
4.41
Younde-Cameroun
6.39
4.41
Garoua – Cameroun
6.33
4.34
(Source: Timing Committee, Islamic Research and Timing Organisation Kaduna)
Recommended DU’A for Day 07 Pray a 4 Raka’ah, after the recitation of Surah Al Fatiha, recite Surah Al-Qadr 13 times. After salaam, recite: ALLAAHUMMA A-I’NNEE FEEHI A’LAA S’IYAAMIHI WA QIYAAMIHI WA JANNIBNEE FEEHI MIN HAFAWAATIHI WA AATHAAMIHI WAR-ZUQNEE FEEHI D’IKRAKA BI-DAWAAMIHI BI-TAWFEEQIKA YAA HAADIYAL MUZ”ILLEEN. Meaning: O Allah assist me, in this month, to observe fast in its days and worship Thee in its nights; restrain me from indulging in frivolities and transgressing the divine laws; keep me alive praising Thee day in and day out through Thy guidance and grace O the Guide of those who are apt to go astray. Compiled by Al-Amin Ciroma
Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
Day 7
NEWS 11
July 4, 2014
Osun Guber: REC Was Sent On Leave For His Safety – INEC Says electoral materials will be distributed 48hrs before polls
By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday disclosed that the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ambassador Rufus Akeju, was told to proceed on leave of absence ahead of the state governorship election to ensure his safety. The chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, in a statement, said the request by INEC for Akeju to go on leave was “for his own safety and as his contribution to ensuring the credibility of the state
governorship election scheduled for August 9, 2014 in the state.” The statement, which further exonerated Akeju of any offense on grounds that he had not been indicted by any court, however, noted that he was asked to proceed on leave because of the concern over his neutrality. The commission added that Akeju remains Osun State substantive REC even though another REC had been redeployed to oversee the election. The Kogi State REC,Segun Agbaje, resumed duty in Osun State on Tuesday as directed by the Commission’s headquarters Abuja The statement reads, “The REC (Akeju)
was requested by the Commission to step aside against the backdrop of intense partisan acrimony over his person. He acceded to the request, knowing the effort being invested by INEC to make the Osun governorship election free, fair and credible. He has not been indicted for any offence, and the appeal by INEC for a stay of execution of the interlocutory order restraining the Commission from recognising him as Osun REC still subsist. “The commission hereby reaffirms commitment to spare no effort in ensuring that the upcoming Osun State governorship election is successful, and that it meets the best possible standard of credibility.”
Graduating students of Lagos State College of Health Technology, Yaba, at their 2nd convocation ceremony in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO
Quicken Probe Into Bomb Blasts, ACF Tells FG By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna
The apex northern socio-cultural group, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has condemned the bomb blast of Tuesday morning at Maiduguri Monday market where dozens of persons were killed, describing the frequency of the attack as agonizing and barbaric. We also urged the federal government to fast-track investigation into the various bomb blasts and the immediate prosecution of the arrested suspects rather than keeping them in perpetual detention without trial. A statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the forum, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, described the bombing as “wicked, gruesome and condemnable considering the huge number of children and old women that were killed in the blast and also the destruction of property it caused.” The forum noted that in the last 10 days, 100 persons had been killed in various bomb blasts in Borno, Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and Kaduna. It noted that many states in the northern region, including Abuja, had witnessed too many bomb blasts in the last five years which have killed many innocent lives, displaced many people and brought untold hardship on the citizens. It appreciated governments’ effort in fighting against insurgency and called on it to take more proactive measures that will halt the re-occurrence of these dastardly acts.
BY NAN.
Senate Rejects Presidential Debates Before Elections Reps Want Perimeter Fences In Federal tronic voting. electoral process process will be easily Approves Electronic Voting These are contained in the bill in an act subverted,” he told senators Schools The Senate, after a clause-by-clause to amend the Electoral Act 2010 to provide for the tenure of office of secretary, consideration subsequently passed the By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja
The Senate yesterday rejected the move to make presidential debates mandatory before an election on the grounds that election debates should remain outside the purview of the law. In a similar vein, the Upper House also approved the controversial electronic voting by allowing INEC to determine the procedure for voting at an election thereby removing the prohibition of elec-
power to issue duplicate voter card, and determine voting procedure. Leading the debate on the bill, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba( SAN), said the litmus test for a viable democratic Nigeria will be the extent to which her electoral process and laws are to promote fair, participatory and electoral participation of the electors. “If the electoral law and legislation are weak, deficient or poorly enforced, the
Electoral Act. The Senate also rejected the clause to vest the responsibility of proving the regularity of any election on INEC; it was rejected on the grounds that the burden of proof lies with the petitioner. Also the move to empower INEC to conduct elections into the office of the President, governor, Senate, House of Representatives and state assemblies on the same day was rejected.
Oshiomhole Cancels Competence Test, Recalls Sacked Teachers By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City
The Edo State government yesterday bowed to the public pressure and cancelled the planned competence test for teachers in the state just as the government recalled the 936 teachers whose names had been deleted from the payroll over certificate discrepancies and age falsification. Also, the government announced the immediate extention of the relativity to teachers in the state public schools.
Making the announcements yesterday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole during a meeting with the teachers’ unions and the Nigeria Labour Congress, said: “Coming from my own background, I had obligation to restore dignity to the educational sector in the state. Basic Education is like the foundation of a house. If the foundation is weak, the building will collapse. The state government’s commitment to carry out competency test was informed by these broad facts having discovered that
some of our teachers were not qualified or up to date with recent teaching methods. Our insistence on the fact that competency test must be seen in this light. “However, having listened to all suggestions and consultations with various groups, Government has agreed to set aside the Competency or Assessment test in order to re assure Edo workers that government hasno intention to sack anyone.” Instead, training and re-training for teachers and other civil servants will be introduced
Everything you can imagine is real. Pablo Picasso, Spanish painter and scuiptor
By Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday directed its Committee on Education to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Education to construct and repair perimeter fences in federal government schools. The resolution followed a motion by Hon. Evelyn Oboro (Delta/PDP), which was unanimously adopted without debate when put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. In the motion entitled, “Urgent need for the Federal Ministry of Education to erect or repair parameter fences in all Federal Government Secondary Schools in Nigeria”. Oboro, in lead debates, expressed concern that the absence of the perimeter fences posed danger to the students of the affected schools. She recalled a 2011 media report where hoodlums reportedly forced their way into a school hostel and raped four girls. “These children are exposed to risk of not only harassment from people but also to dangerous reptiles,” she said.
12 NEWS NATIONAL
July 4, 2014
Anioma People Express Confidence In Glo By Millie Ibe, Abuja
Nigeria’s indigenous telecommunications company, Globacom has signed a deal to sponsor the popular Anioma Festival in Delta State. The sponsorship contract which is for three years was signed on Tuesday in Asaba. The president of the Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), Mr Keister Ifeadi, said Globacom was selected because of the company’s ability to take the festival to a higher level and give it its rightful place among prominent festivals in the country. He stated that Globacom’s involvement in the festival would help in deepening cultural allegiance in the clan. Ifeadi, who was represented by his vice, Mr Paddy Ugboh, added that beyond reawakening the consciousness of the Anioma people, “the coming on board of Globacom will further cement allegiance, encourage reciprocity and keep the beautiful flame of our culture in synergy with Nigeria’s cultural heritage for the unity, peace and development of our dear nation”. He added, “I want to seize this opportunity to thank the management of Globacom Limited for this new relationship with the people of Anioma. I believe that in no distant time, the name Globacom will go down in history as having contributed immensely to the growth and development of culture, tourism and community development in Delta State and the country as a whole”. Giving his royal blessing to the sponsorship, the Asagba of Asaba, Prof Chike Edozien, said he had no doubt that Globacom would add great value to the festival just as the Omu of Anioma, Her Royal Highness, Matha Dunkwu, pointed out that the entire “beautiful people of Anioma will now believe that Globacom is complete by coming to identify with our cultural heritage, the Anioma Festival”.
N169m Fraud: EFCC Arraigns ExDelta Scholarship Board Scribe BY Ejike Ejike, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday arraigned the former executive secretary of Delta State Scholarship Board, Peter Amromanoh and the chief accountant, Eloho Otiede before Justice C. O Emifoniye of the Delta State High Court, Asaba on a 5-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. Amromanoh is alleged to have abused his office by approving a sum of N36million which is above his official approval limit of N1million. Also, alongside Otiede, they fraudulently paid bursary to “ghost” students. When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty. In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Sir Steve Odiase asked for a trial date while defence counsel, A.I Omoaka moved an oral application for bail for the accused persons.
Outpatient Department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, deserted as doctors’ strike continued, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.
Emab Plaza Blast: Traders To Close FCT Markets, Plazas To Mourn Victims By Chika Okeke, Abuja
Traders in the Federal Capital Territory, under the auspices of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), FCT Chapter, have concluded plans to shut down FCT markets and plazas for one day in honour of traders who lost their lives in the Emab plaza bomb blast in Abuja. To this end, the chairman of FCT NANTS, Prince Edozie Ugwu, said that traders would sit at home while the mourning exercise lasts, noting that they would also organise a solidarity programme in a bid to assist in the
treatment and rehabilitation of the injured victims. “The FCT Chapter of NANTS shall set aside one day to honour the gallant traders who were killed while on active trading. On the said mourning day, all FCT traders shall sit at home while markets and plazas are shut down. In a chat with LEADERSHIP Friday in Abuja, Ugwu noted that it was part of the resolution reached at an emergency meeting convened by the national president of NANTS, Barrister Ken Ukoha with the executive members of NANTS. On the proposed day of the mourning,
he said, “We are yet to agree on the exact date but I can assure you that it will be soon”. While calling on security agencies to synergise and be proactive in tackling the security challenges, he said that the traders’ union would parley with relevant stakeholders on the security of markets and plazas so as to prevent future occurrence. He further advised traders to remain calm, law abiding and go about their normal businesses, stressing that they should report any suspicious movements by unknown persons to security agencies.
Delta 2015: Non-natives, Opposition Vow To Support Olejeme By Abah Adah, Abuja
The governorship ambition of the only female governorship aspirant in Delta State, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Olejeme has received a boost following a declaration of total support for her by members of the Etsako communities in the state. The group known as Weppa Wanno Union, Sapele branch, vowed to ensure that all delegates under their influence vote in favour of Olejeme whom they described as a defender of democracy. Speaking on behalf of the group during
a visit to Sapele, the president general of the Weppa Union, Comrade Godwin Obilo, commended Olejeme for her humanitarian works, which he said, cut across ethnic, religious and political boundaries. Describing her as the most committed aspirant in Delta with an endless influence, Comrade Obiko said, “Ojeme is an asset to Nigeria, so she cannot be otherwise in Delta State as the first female governor in 2015.” The youth leader of the group and APC chieftain, Mr Paul Ojojo vowed to commit his time and resources to the support of Ojeleme if her party, the PDP, gives her
the ticket. Meanwhile, the frontline governorship aspirant in Delta State, Dr Ngozi Olejeme has dissociated herself from her photograph that is currently being used in the social media to deceive and defraud members of the public. In a statement issued through her media aide, Benjamin Atsu, Ngozi who is the chairman of the State Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and chairman, You and I Development Foundation, said she did not appoint any individual or agency to operate a Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Whatsapp or any other social network in her name.
Beware Of Kidnappers, Kaduna Govt Warns Citizens By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna
Kaduna State government has alerted people within and outside the Kaduna metropolis of activities of kidnappers who have invaded the state using commercial vehicles to lure their potential victims. The state commissioner for information, Hon Ben Bako, stated this in a press statement yesterday made available to
journalists in Kaduna. The statement said, “The attention of the general public is hereby drawn to the activities of some criminal elements who are on the prowl using commercial transport to kidnap or steal from unsuspecting passengers. “People are, therefore, advised to use designated motor parks and avoid indiscriminate use of unregistered commer-
Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
cial vehicles for their own safety. “We also advise our good people to note and report suspicious items or movements to the security agents”. The Kaduna State Police Command yesterday issued a similar alert on the activities of criminals using unregistered vehicles for commercial purposes with the aim of kidnapping unsuspecting passengers.
July 4, 2014
13
14
July 4, 2014
Hearty Congratulations To Our
FATHER! On behalf of the Awobasivwe Family, this is to cheerfully congratulate our father HE, Ambassador (Dr.) Bamanga Muhammad Tukur CON, COM over his well deserved appointment as ‘‘Ambassador-at-Large’’ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As our role model and Guardian, we are not surprised at this historical appointment of Dr. Bamanga Tukur in view of his wealth of experience in economy, diplomacy and political affairs both locally and globally. This appointment is a testimony of Dr. Bamanga Tukur’s hardwork, patriotism, resilience and firm belief in the unity of our great country Nigeria. Dr. Bamanga Tukur’s appointment as Ambassador-at-Large is very timely in view of Nigeria’s gradual match towards and consolidation of our democratic governance among comity of nations. We also sieze this opportunity to salute Mr. President’s wisdom for this historical appointment of Dr. Bamanga Tukur as Ambassador-at-Large, the second of such appointment since the First Republic.
Signed:
ENGINEER STEPHEN
AWOBASIVWE for the FAMILY
AMB. (DR) BAMANGA MUHAMMAD TUKUR CON, COM (Tafidan Adamawa)
15
July 4, 2014
business news Microsoft Introduces Dual SIM Windows Smartphone To Nigeria
By Chima Akwaja, Lagos
Following the successful acquisition of Nokia Devices and Services business, Microsoft has unveiled the first smart dual subscriber identification module (SIM) Windows smartphone, Lumia 630, into the Nigerian market. During a media launch held in Lagos, the technology giant stated the Lumia 630 Dual SIM with Windows Phone 8.1 is now available for consumers in Nigeria. The Lumia 630 Dual SIM delivers an unrivaled smartphone experience with quad-core processing at a price that sits right with our consumers. The head of marketing, Nokia West and Central Africa, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile,
UBA Customers To Get Notifications On Twitter By Bukola Idowu, Lagos
Customers of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc will now have notifications on their account transactions sent to their twitter message boxes in addition to the text messages and email alerts that already exist. The bank announced this in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP Friday, saying that customers will now have the option of receiving transaction
alerts in their twitter direct messages inbox. Before now, customers can only receive transaction alerts as text messages on their mobile phones and as e-mails. This is the first time any bank in Nigeria will offer customers a third option on receiving transaction alerts via the twitter handle. The bank said the Twitter Notification Service will not replace the current Short Message System (SMS) in place
for all of the bank’s customers, but will complement it for added convenience for all those who subscribe to the service. According to UBA’s director, Information Technology, Rasheed Adegoke, “Twitter is increasingly becoming a popular means of communication, especially among young adults. As a highly innovative bank, we are giving those who are banking with us an option to get transaction alerts on their preferred platform.”
Debbie Shepard, noted that all across the world, millions of people are switching to the Lumia Windows Phones and getting a taste of affordable innovation. “We are thrilled to extend this innovation to Nigeria and super excited that the Lumia 630 dual SIM is now available in Nigeria,” she said. Shepard said the company is extending its high-end technologies and apps to more customers across various markets with a seamless Windows Phone 8.1 experience and the first ever dual SIM technology on a Lumia Windows Phone, enabling people to seamlessly switch between their SIMs without switching off their devices.
NAICOM Urges Shareholders To Be Active In Listed Companies by Olushola Bello, Lagos
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has urged shareholders to oversee the performance of the companies listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) if they must get good returns on their investments. The commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, stated this at an interactive session between the commission and shareholders of quoted insurance companies in Lagos, adding that the main objective of every investor in a company is to get returns on his investment by way of dividends, capital appreciation and
bonus issue. According to him, this can only be achieve if shareholders of these companies monitor closely their investment in these companies by knowing how well their companies have done it terms of regulatory guidelines. He said, “It is often said that the best managers of businesses are the owners of such businesses because they are better focused at achieving their set goals and objectives. So if it were possible, shareholders, being the owners of these insurance companies, are in the best position to manage the companies to achieve the primary objective of their investments.”
CBN Extends Complaints Resolution From 14 To 30 Days By Bukola Idowu, Lagos
Bank customers with complaints of excess charges and unauthorised deductions on their accounts will now have to wait for a longer period for their issues to be resolved as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the timeline of the resolutions of complaints from 14 to 30 days. The CBN in a circular signed by the director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Kevin Amugo, and issued to all Deposit Money Banks (DMB), discount hous-
es and other financial institutions, said it extended the resolution time line from 14 to 30 days because the previous time line was inadequate. The CBN had in August 2011 directed all DMBs, discount houses and other financial institutions to establish consumer help desks which would resolve customers’ complaints within the stipulated 14-day timeline having observed with concern the rise in the number of complaints it received from customers on various banking products and services.
WORLD: L-R Special adviser to Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Agricultural Programme, Engr. Victor Egoh, protocol officer, Mr Bayo Ogedengbe, and senior special assistant to the President on School Agricultural Programme, Dr. Baraka Sani during a world press conference in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI
Auto Policy: Vehicle Prices Will Not Go Up, Say Manufacturers By Samson Echenim, Lagos
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (NAMA) has given the nation assurances that there will not be a price increase by any of their members involved in the local assembly and manufacture of vehicles in Nigeria. The association refuted news reports allegedly sponsored by car importers who, it said, are opposed to the new auto policy by the federal government, saying they are the ones behind the reports that car prices will rise. In a statement reacting to published reports early in the week, the NAMA said that going by the new auto policy, it is cars assembled overseas and brought into Nigeria that will cost more, not those that are assembled locally. The statement signed by the association’s executive director, Arthur Madueke, gave
a strong assurance to Nigerians that the prices of locally produced vehicles will gradually come down, citing the nation’s experience with the aviation and telecommunications sectors as examples. Madueke said, “We pledge our support to the Nigerian people that there would be no increase in the prices of vehicles as being heralded by harbingers of doom, who wish themselves well at the detriment of the growth of Nigeria for the benefit of all.” He added that no member of NAMA was contemplating a price increase and that there will be none. The NAMA accused opponents of the automotive policy of using scare tactics against a progressive policy designed to make cars cheaper in Nigeria, domesticate production, create jobs and bring about transfer of technology. “It was clear that the country needed to gravitate in a new
Not every movement is progress; Some movements are just a way of burning fats!
― Israelmore Ayivor
direction, away from the import mind-set, if it was going to embark on sustainable industrial development. Only a select group of traders benefitted from a high end auto market with massive resource drainage in form of foreign exchange outflow and littering of the landscape with a scrap heap in the name of fairly used cars.” The NAMA said it is against this background that the federal government launched a reformatory and revolutionary programme to reposition the economy on an industrial platform. “This necessitated a structural change, one that entailed a re-shuffling of resource allocation away from finished goods importation and distribution. It was clear non-value adding businesses in the auto sector had to give way to more productive linkages.
16 BUSINESS NEWS
July 4, 2014
NESG Chair Advocates 10% National Budget Funding For Agric Sector By Kingsley Alu, Abuja
Increasing investments in agriculture, developing strong rural institutional frameworks, and implementing strategic policies for transforming the sector are instrumental to fostering an environment in which economic opportunities in agriculture abound
for youths and smallholder farmers alike, the chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Foluso Philips, said in an interview with LEADERSHIP Friday in Abuja. The NESG chair wants efforts towards revitalising the sector to be supported by the federal government in fulfilment to the promises made in
the 2003 Maputo Declaration. In 2003, key stakeholders in the agriculture sector endorsed a Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) as a framework for contributing to the reduction of food insecurity and poverty in Africa and to contribute to the millennium development
goal (MDG) of reducing poverty and hunger by half come 2015. In order to ensure that adequate resources were made available, the 2003 African Union (AU) Maputo Declaration directed all AU member countries to increase investment in the agriculture sector to at least 10 per cent of their national budget
by 2008, but a 2007 AU/NEPAD survey found that 50 per cent of the countries spent less than five per cent of their national expenditure on agriculture development. But Foluso stressed that the 10 per cent intervention from government was integral to creating an enabling environment for the youth to thrive.
Bribery In Nigeria: Oil Firm Cuts Deal With US SEC Ahead Of Trial By Chika Izuora, Lagos with Agency Report
Two executives from the offshore drilling contractor, Noble Corp have agreed to settle civil claims that they participated in a bribery scheme to obtain permits for oil rigs in Nigeria, days before the case was set to go for trial. Jury selection had been scheduled for Monday (July 7) in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s case against Mark Jackson, Noble’s former chief executive officer, and James Ruehlen, director of the oil and gas services company’s Nigerian subsidiary.
The two men were sued under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which bans US companies from bribing foreign officials. A federal judge in Houston, Texas called off all trial deadlines on July 2 (Tuesday) pending a final settlement. The terms, which must be approved by a judge, were not disclosed in court papers. The SEC sued Jackson and Ruehlen in 2012, two years after Noble agreed to pay $8 million to resolve related FCPA civil and criminal charges. Noble in 2011 agreed to pay $2.5 million as part of a nonprosecution agreement with the Nigerian government.
Glo b: (L- R) Globacom’s head, Sales, Rajesh Srivastava; head, Broad Access, Manish Kochhar; minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and the permanent secretary in the Water Resources Ministry, Baba Umar Farouk at the official commissioning of Globacom’s telecommunication facility at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja on Wednesday.
2013 Non-Oil Exports Hit $2.97bn – Export Council By Samson Echenim, Lagos
The executive director and chief executive officer of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Olusegun Awolowo, said the value of non oil exports from the country in 2013 grew to $2.97 billion from the $2.561 billion recorded in 2012. Awolowo, who disclosed this at a business forum in Lagos, said that about 117 products were exported to 93 countries across the globe in 2013 as provided by
Cobalt International Limited, adding that Nigeria’s exports are no longer limited to the traditional markets of Europe and products such as cocoa, beans, palm produce, groundnuts and solid minerals. He added that the increase in the number of products being exported and the destinations are strong indications of export diversification as that is a measure of improvement in the Nigerian export culture. “In the year 2013, 13 of such
outings were spearheaded by the council. A total number of 126 companies, mainly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) benefited. On-the-spot sales and orders generated by companies amounted to $627,108.23 and $3,716,920.51. “Executed order as at the end of February 2014 that was reported to NEPC was $763,247.85. It is also on record that made-inNigeria products, especially in the West African sub-region market, elicit great demand as
FBN Insurance Bids For 100% Stake In Oasis Insurance By Bukola Idowu, Lagos with agency reports
Nigeria’s FBN Insurance said it will launch a bid next week to buy out the 28.8 percent minority stake in Oasis Insurance, giving it a 100 per cent ownership of the insurer, in a deal valued at N1.03 billion. FBN Insurance, jointly owned by FBN Holdings and South Africa’s Sanlam, had in February this year acquired a 71.2 percent stake in the
motor and fire insurer. FBN Insurance in a statement on Thursday said it will offer N0.55 per share to buy the remaining 1.87 billion shares. The buy-out process opens on July 10 and will last for three weeks, after which FBN Insurance intends to delist Oasis from the Nigerian Stock Exchange. As at close of business on Thursday, the shares in Oasis were trading at N0.50, giving the company a market capitalisation of N4 billion.
Sanlam has said FBN Insurance’s acquisition of the 71.2 percent Oasis stake gave it an entry point into the general insurance sector in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation. A statement on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange announcing the takeover bid called on shareholders of Oasis who wish to participate in the offer to submit their completed and stamped acceptance form to First Registrars by 4pm on July 28, 2014.
customers marvelled about the quality and wondered if they were ever produced in Nigeria,” Awolowo said. He further said that a number of indigenous SMEs that were introduced to the market in the year 2013, especially in processed foods and condiments, were already making waves in Togo and Ghana markets amongst other markets being penetrated in the region. “Efforts to scale up the penetration of the regional
market by made-in-Nigeria products led to the “Lome Trade Hub” initiative which was kickstarted by the staging of a solo exhibition in Lome, Togo, in 2013 and was closely followed-up with Nigeria’s participation at the 11th Lome International Trade Fair the same year. Already, large numbers of Nigerian companies that participated in the two trade events at Togo, have their Togolese representatives selling their various products in the market,” he explained.
Consat To Break Cable TV Monopoly By Chima Akwaja, Lagos
Cable television providers in the country are in for fierce competition with the launch of Continental Satellite Limited (Consat), an indigenous satellite television provider which has vowed to entrench local content programming for over 160 million Nigerians who have been deprived of watching satellite TV because of the high cost of ownership. Consat is leveraging on global and reliable technology platform from Eutelsat to
launch its channel cuttingedge satellite service to herald digital experience for Nigerian subscribers at a time Nigeria is joining the rest of the world to migrate from analogue to digital television transmission starting this month. Consat CEO, Mr. Mayokun Okunola said the firm is focused on ensuring the growth of the Nigerian entertainment industry by delivering the best in Nigerian culture, news, music, entertainment and lifestyle to a worldwide audience.
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Not every movement is progress; Some movements are just a way of burning fats!
― Israelmore Ayivor
July 4, 2014
17
18 / TOURISM
July 4, 2014
Hospitality Industry: Revenue Projected To $1.1bn In 2018 – Report
Afrique cultural troupe performing during a 3-day food and cultural fair organised by the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) in Abuja recently. PHOTO BY CHIKA OKEKE
Celebrating 100 Years Of Food Culture, Hospitality In Nigeria Stories By Chika Okeke, Abuja
The National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) recently organised a 3-day Food and Cultural fair in Abuja that was aimed at celebrating 100 years of food culture and hospitality in Nigeria. The food fair was designed to showcase the rich and diverse cuisine inherent in Nigeria, promote all facets of the Nigeria food and beverage industry, reposition the food and beverage sector as a dominant player in Africa as well as provide of avenues for one-on-one contact between players in the industry, investors and guests. The event attracted major food and beverage industries in Nigeria such as the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dala foods, Tantalizers, Transcorp Hilton, Dansa foods, Biobak and delegates from Ethiopia and among others. In his address, the minister of tourism, culture and national orientation, Edem Duke, called on Nigerian engineers to unearth indigenous ways of accelerating and processing food to last longer on shelves. “We implore our Nigerian engineers to look for indigenous ways of accelerating and facilitating the processing of food so that they last longer on the shelf and some of them can also be repackaged and sold in major shops and super markets. “There is need for us to aggregate our efforts from the NIHOTOUR, government, farmers’ association, hotels across the land to strengthen this industry, put food on the table for our people and generate wealth for ourselves,” Duke said. He further solicited the support of the
federal government and stakeholders to assist in developing the tourism industry to ensure enhanced revenue generation for the country. “The government of President Goodluck Jonathan have become a global leader in the advocacy for the development of agriculture, not only to nourish the population of the continent of Africa and Nigerians, but to also identify and strongly counsel that agriculture is where we must focus our attention because a nation that is unable to feed itself can only be a perpetual beggarly nation. “We have to move this sector beyond the shores of Nigeria, be champions of the food industry and make sure that our vision to improve the nutrition of our people will be realigned to the ultimate benefit of our future. A nation cannot be 100 years without being nurtured by its food. That is why we are paying respects to indigenous farmers that till the soil, with little or no mechanisation, to grow the food that feeds the population,” Duke stated. He said that countries like China and Italy have used their food as tool for cultural diplomacy, noting that America had developed the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) to extend their influence across the world. Duke added that Nigeria was not only leading the cassava revolution all over the world but have used it in the production of bread and pastries. “Today, Nigeria is leading the cassava revolution not just as the biggest producer of cassava all over the world but also in terms of using it in the production of bread and pastries as well as staple food,” Duke said. On his part, the director-general of
the NIHOTOUR, Munzali Dantata, said that the food fair was targeted at transforming the hospitality industry and repositioning the Nigerian food and beverage sector as a dominant player in Africa. “Our intention is to demonstrate the transformation in the hospitality sector because when we got independence, the agriculture sector was the bedrock of the economy before oil took over. With this exhibition, we are celebrating food which is the most important need of mankind followed by shelter and clothing. “We have seen a lot of initiative from the federal government, like the Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution of 1980, ban on wheat importation in the 1980s which was reversed by the federal government. These are some of the initiatives undertaken by the federal government to reduce food importation into the country,” Dantata said. He was hopeful that it would also encourage direct foreign and local investment in the food industry, saying that it would be turned to an annual festival since it was a centenary initiative. “Nigeria is already famous for its food but with certain efforts, it will go further. Though it’s a centenary initiative, it has the capacity to be an annual festival by bringing together families Also speaking, the chairman of the governing board of the NIHOTOUR, Kanayo .O. Kanayo, was optimistic that the exhibition would provide a platform for the government on best ways to promote indigenous food as a tool for socio-economic development in line with President Jonathan’s transformation agenda.
A recent report released by South Africa’s PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a network of firms currently operating in 157 countries with more than 184,000 people committed to delivering quality assurance, tax and advisory services, has projected a significant increase in revenue generation for Nigeria’s hospitality industries from $413 million in 2013 to $1.1 billion in 2018 even as the number of hotel rooms, the report also said, would triple within the next five years. This report was released at the 4th edition of the Hospitality Outlook and is a reflection of likely changes that would occur in Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritus and Kenya hospitality outfits from 2014 to 2018. According to the report, “The number of hotel rooms is expected to triple during the next five years, rising from 8,400 in 2013 to 24,000 in 2018. Overall hotel room revenue is also anticipated to expand at a 22.6 per cent compound annual rate from $413 million (R4.4 billion) in 2013, to $1.1 billion (R12.1 billion) in 2018. “The hotel market in Nigeria grew to nine per cent in 2013, which was the smallest gain since 2010. Stay unit nights increased to 6.3 per cent in 2013 and have grown faster than room availability over the past three years. Average room rates have grown slowly in the last two years, rising by only 2.5 per cent in 2013.” The report also quoted the leader of the PwC Hospitality and Gaming, Nikki Forster, as saying that despite the dwindling South African economy, the hospitality sector would witness tremendous growth in the next five years due to the number of inbound travellers into the African continent. “By the year 2018, the overall occupancy rate across all sectors in South Africa will increase, rising to an estimated 58.4 per cent. Total room revenue is expected to reach R28.7 billion in 2018, a 10.7 per cent compound annual increase from 2013. “Occupancy rates are expected to increase for hotels over the next five years, overtaking guest houses, bush lodges and guest farms to again become the leading category. Occupancy rates for hotels are projected to increase from 58.9 per cent in 2013 to 71.1 per cent in 2018,” the report stated. It was also revealed that due to the number of renovations and projects taking place in Mauritus, the average occupancy rate would edge down from 63.3 per cent in 2013 to 61.5 per cent in 2018. “Due to the number of renovations and projects taking place in the industry, the number of available hotel rooms is expected to increase at a 2.9 per cent compound annual rate to 14,250 in 2018. “Mauritius competes with the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Seychelles for the tropical tourist market. The average hotel room in Mauritius costs €170 (R2 492); 2.7 times higher than the average rates in South Africa and 28 per cent higher than South Africa’s average five-star room rate,” the report indicated. As a result of terrorism, the United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) issued travel alerts discouraging people from visiting Kenya, a situation that led to a decline in Kenya’s hotel market from 6.6 per cent in 2012 and 2.6 per cent in 2013. The report also stated, “Kenya’s hotel market declined during the past two years, falling 6.6 per cent in 2012 and an additional 2.6 per cent in 2013. Concerns about terrorism led several countries, including the USA and the UK, to issue travel alerts that discouraged people from visiting Kenya.” However, the number of available rooms in Kenya was projected to increase from 17,500 in 2013 to 19,400 in 2018 with an expected revenue of $589 million (R6.2 billion) in 2013 to $668 million (R7.1 billion) in 2018, according to the report.
The system will always be defended by those countless people who have enough intellect to defend but not quite enough to innovate. Edward de Bono, Maltese physician, author, inventor and consultant.
MARITIME 19
July 4, 2014
127 Jetties, Terminals Met US Entry Conditions –NIMASA Contrary to reports that 127 jetties and seaport terminals in Nigeria have not met the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that Nigeria has a total of 127 jetties and terminals out of which 22 have been confirmed to have complied fully with the ISPS Code. Recently, the United States (US) Coast Guard placed Conditions of Entry (COE) on vessels coming from a number of Nigerian terminals and jetties, with only 22 port facilities scaling through the US’ safety parametres. A NIMASA official told LEADERSHIP Friday that reports that 127 jetties and terminals in Nigeria lack compliance with the ISPS Code is wrong as there are a total of 127 port facilities. According to a diplomatic note signed on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security by the deputy commandant for operations of the US Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, 13 more port facilities in Nigeria are now fully compliant with the ISPS Code bringing the total number of compliant port facilities in the country to 22, up from nine since the last visit of the US agency in August 2013. The 22 ports that have maintained effective anti-terrorism measures and their International Maritime Organisation (IMO) port numbers are Apapa Bulk Terminal with IMO port number NGAPP-0009, AP Moller Terminal NGAPP-0001; Greenview Terminal and Bonny Rivers Terminal. Others are NLNG Bonny Terminal, Bonny Offshore Terminal, CBQ FSO YOHO (Exxon Mobile) with number NG638–0001; CBQ Logistics Base and CBQ McIver Wharf. CBQ Port Terminal A, CBQ QIT BOP, ESC Escra BOP, ESC LPG–FSO and Forcados Offshore Terminal also made the good list. The rest are Onne FLT and Onne FOT. At the Tin Can Island port, the US cleared Dantata MRS Terminal, Five Star Logistics, Port & Cargo Handling Terminal, PTML Terminal E, Snake Island Integrated Free Zone and the Tincan Island Container Terminal B. The NIMASA official, who did not want his name in print, also stated that the US Coast Guard have not visited up to half of all port facilities in Nigeria. This, according to him, implies that more ports and jetties will be observed to have complied with the ISPS code as the American maritime agency carries out more visit. He, however, questioned the authority of the US Coast Guard for determining which ports and jetties meet the security recommendations as it is just a maritime agency of another sovereign state as NIMASA is to Nigeria.
A typical Nigerian jetty
Shippers’ Council Moves To Cut Shipping Costs Stories By Samson Echenim, Lagos
In a major regulatory intervention since its appointment as the seaports economic regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has slashed some shipping charges imposed on importers by 50 per cent. The ports regulator has also given shipping companies 10 days within which to refund container deposits once the importer returns the empty container. Shippers alleged in May, this year, that over N7 billion container deposits were not refunded to importers in the last few years after seaports concession. The NSC, in its latest intervention, also gave shipping companies a 21-day ultimatum to effect the new reduced charges in the ports or face sanctions. LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the decision of the new regulator came after weeks of investigation by officials of the council who established that the charges were inappropriate. The ultimatum
which was handed down to the shipping companies took effect last week. The decision asking the shipping companies to reduce the charges by 50 per cent was, however, reached during a stakeholders’ meeting between the council and the shipping companies in Lagos recently. Affected charges include the shipping line agency and container cleaning charges. During the meeting, the director, Commercial Shipping Services, Mrs Dabney Shall-Holma, noted that the Shipping Line Agency Charge (SLAC) was not part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) which the council signed with the shipping companies. ShallHolma, at the meeting, asked the shipping companies to justify the charge and the service rendered under it. In their response, one of the representatives of the shipping companies who preferred anonymity told the meeting that the committee set up by the NSC and
the shipping companies to review an existing MoU had recommended the SLAC as one of the charges but only disagreed on the rate to be collected. He added that the SLAC was part of the terminal handling charges which shipping companies charged before concession of the ports to cover documentation and administrative charges. After due deliberation on the issue, the port regulator told the shipping companies to reduce the charge by 50 per cent, following which the shipping companies pleaded for a 21-day grace period to do so. With this development, the importers are now to pay N14,550 on the SLAC as against the N29,100 earlier paid. On the Container Cleaning charge, Shall-Holma expressed surprise that cleaning fees were being imposed on imports instead of exports. “It may be pertinent to inform everyone that the Global Shippers Forum to which Nigeria belongs had discussed this and taken a decision to abolish the container cleaning fee globally,” she said.
Annual Global Container Loss At Sea Hits 1,679 By Samson Echenim, Lagos
The World Shipping Council (WSC) has said that an estimated 1,679 containers are lost at sea annually. According to an update to the council’s survey and estimate of containers lost at sea which it released recently and published on its website, 1,679 containers were lost at sea each year, including catastrophic events, such as the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) Comfort disaster in 2013. The survey entitled, “Containers Lost at Sea 2014 Update,” includes data for years 2011, 2012 and 2013. For the combined six-year period, from 2008 to 2013, the WSC estimated that
there were 546 containers lost on average each year, not counting catastrophic events. The report noted that 2011 and 2013 each saw rare catastrophic events that resulted in complete and total vessel losses.In 2011, there was the grounding and loss of the M/V Rena off New Zealand which resulted in a loss overboard of roughly 900 containers. There was a total annual loss of 1,514 containers that year. In 2013, there was a total loss of 5,578 containers – 77 per cent of which occurred with the sinking of the MOL Comfort in the Indian Ocean. The complete loss in 2013 of the MOL Comfort in the Indian Ocean and all of the 4,293 containers on board was described as the worst containership loss in history.
On active safety improvement initiatives, the report stated that while containers lost overboard represent a very small fraction of the roughly 120 million container loads shipped each year, the industry has been actively supporting a number of efforts to enhance container safety that should help reduce the number of containers lost at sea, including the amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has before its amendments to the SOLAS Convention said it will require container weight verification as a condition for vessel loading and will consider these amendments for adoption in November 2014.
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, fresh writer and aviatorny
20 / AGRICULTURE
July 4, 2014
2nd Quarter: 2014 Agricultural Projects Awaiting Implementation The nation’s agriculture sector is a major contributor to the nation’s economy. RUTH TENE NATSA looks at the delay in implementing 2014 projects due to poor funding and wonders if 2014 will be as successful as the preceding years
Nigeria should be part of the modernised food processing, storage and marketing strategies existing to compete with the world while improving the nation’s economy, reducing unemployment and putting food on the table of all Nigerians
The nation’s agriculture sector is said to contribute 30.9 per cent to gross domestic product (GDP) in the new rebased economy, making it one of the highest contributors to the economy since 2012. In 2012, Ministry of Agriculture generated a revenue of N2,531 billion made up of N1.787 billion generated as withholding tax (WHT), all fully remitted to the FIRS and value added tax(VAT), while N743million was generated as independent revenue remitted to the Sub Treasury of the Federation(STF). Also, 2013 was an improvement on 2012 as the ministry generated N2,600 billion from internal revenue made up of N1.909 billion generated as taxes and N690,919 generated as independent revenue, making the total remitted internally generated revenue for 2012/2013 N5,132 billion. With the above, one would be tempted to think that succeeding years will ensure better funding and accomplishments in agriculture. However, observations following the passing of the 2014 budget show that with the first half of the 2014 fiscal year gone, the Ministry of Finance is yet to release the needed funding to implement programs that would have ensured revolution in the agricultural sector. 2013 was a year filled with lots of developmental projects in agriculture. It saw the expansion of the growth enhancement scheme (GES) where over 10million farmers were registered and captured, with several other programs targeted at achieving the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). While a lot was achieved, players in the sector expected to see greater implementation of government policies as well as an overhaul in the transformation of the sector in 2014. Meanwhile, the minister of agriculture and rural development, Mr Akinwumi Adesina, had said, “For 2014 farming season, N1 billon has been approved for GES on mechanisation. Farmers will only pay 50 per cent of the cost of off-taking services from the centres while the mechanisation GES will cover the other 50 per
AGRI REPORT
Nasarawa Farmers Commend AlMakura Over Fertilizer Distribution BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia
Adesina
centbalance.” In view of the proposed budget, the implementation of several new projects by the ministry would not only have been a developmental process, but a revolution which would ensure a total overhaul of the agriculture sector as well as help in poverty alleviation and wealth creation. Among several projected activities by the ministry were the feminisation of the nation’s agriculture sector where women would be given greater consideration in both access to inputs and training. This is expected to be done through the development of a gender audit of the agriculture transformation agenda (ATA) value chains, development of national agriculture gender policy and publication of 5,000 copies of national agriculture gender policy handbook. The training of 3,000 women in 10 agriculture value chains including planting, storage, processing and marketing as well as the supply of starter packs for 2,500 women in the ten value chains was to ensure that women farmers are able to access most of the facilities and loans provided. It is hoped that in 2014, women farmers will not only be able to access necessary inputs but will be protected through new policies and laws. The launch of NAGROPRENEURS in 2013 was also to attract young people into agriculture through mechanised farming. As it stands, not much has been heard about the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE) just as the farming season has kicked off. It
will be unfortunate if this promise becomes just a policy statement where the farmers do not get the promised mechanisation, as the call for practicing agriculture as a business rather than a development activity has taken root and farmers are keen to expand their activities. Based on the 2014 budget, youth empowerment in agriculture was to be achieved through the training of 3,500 youths in 10 value chains including planting, storage, processing as well as marketing, the provision of startup packs, as well as the mentoring of 3,000 youths by commercial farmers will ensure the development of the youth in agriculture. In 2013, a corps member Daniel Ariahu, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Friday, said that the agriculture sector is greatly improved compared to what obtained in the past and is looking forward to 2014, hoping he can take advantage and be part of the new agricultural revolution. In his words “Nigeria should be part of the modernised food processing, storage and marketing strategies existing to compete with the world while improving the nation’s economy, reducing unemployment and putting food on the table of all Nigerians.” This, he said, can be achieved if government will fully implement all the programmes and activities being touted through ATA. But that was then, it is now July 2014 and the budget is yet to be remitted to the various sectors to implement the projects outlined for the year, what hopes then remains for the remaining half of the year.
A cross section of farmers in Nasarawa State have expressed satisfaction with the uncommon methods adopted by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, towards ensuring that fertilizer procured by the state government for sale to peasant farmers at subsidised rate gets to the intended target. This is coming on the heels of previous experiences were the commodity is diverted by stakeholders charged with the responsibility of distributing it to farmers in various communities across the state. It ends up in the open market at over twice the government approved rate. A farmer in Assakio, Lafia local government, Iyonye Ishaleku, said that two truckload of fertilizer allocated to the development area were delivered for onward sale to local farmers. He said after the comprehensive list of farmers who expressed interest to purchase the commodity was taken, each farmer was given what he could afford or the stipulated maximum number of five bags per farmer. Mr Fidelis Agwadu in Andere, Obi local government area of the state, said the sale of the fertilizer is timely unlike in other years when the commodity comes towards the end of the farming season. He commended Governor AlMakura for ensuring that the state Ministry of Agriculture and local government officials are mandated to ensure that the intended peasant farmers get the commodity. However, he called on the governor to increase the allocation to Obi local government, saying two trucks are grossly inadequate to service the demands of local farmers given the peculiarity of the soil texAl-makura ture in the area.
21
July 4, 2014
TERTIARY EDUCATION TRUST FUND
AN INVITATION TO ATTEND A TWO (2) DAY CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON TETFund GUIDELINES FOR ACCESSING INTERVENTION FUND This is to invite all Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, Registrars, Directors of Works/Physical Planning, Directors of Academic Planning, Bursars, and Librarians of all Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Benefitting Institutions to a (2) Two-Day Capacity Building Workshop in each of the Six (6) Geo-Political Zones scheduled as follows: S/N ZONE 1 South South
STATE Edo
VENUE University of Benin, Benin City
DATE 1st & 2nd July, 2014
2
South East
Enugu
University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Campus
1st & 2nd July, 2014
3
North Central
Abuja
4
North West
Kaduna
National Universities Commission, 7th & 8th July, 2014 (NUC) Abuja Kaduna State University, Kaduna 8th & 9th July, 2014
5
South West
Lagos
6
North East
Yola
Julius Berger Hall of University of Lagos (UNILAG) Modibbo Adama University of Technology, yola
17th & 18th July, 2014 15th & 16th July, 2014
The Capacity Building Workshop will create avenue to critique the Draft Guidelines/Accounting Manual produced by TETFund for its beneficiaries before producing a final copy that will eventually become a working document for all benefitting institutions. Benefitting Institutions will also be sensitized and enlightened on the need to comply with Public Procurement Act, 2007. All invited participants should endeavour to attend and be seated by 8.30am, please. Signed:
Management Tertiary Education Trust Fund
No.6, Zambezi Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja www.tetfund.gov.ng Tel: 07098818818, 07098818817
22 / tax f0cus
July 4, 2014
Administration Of Withholding Tax (2) Where there is a dual relationship between parties in a business transaction An example of this contract is where a manufacturer/ producer require raw materials from a supplier for its production. This is dual relationship between both parties and the transaction will not be liable to the withholding tax (WHT). For example, a farmer supplies groundnut to a manufacturer of groundnut oil; a manufacturer of glass supplies bottles to a bottling company or a soft drink manufacturer or an oil marketing company supplies diesel directly to a user. Where there is a tripartite relationship between parties in a transaction In a tripartite contract relationship involving a manufacturer, supplier and agent, there could be either two options, depending on the level of financial arrangement. For example, where Manufacturer A engages Agent C to procure or source for raw materials from Supplier B for his production line, there is a tripartite arrangement. There is nothing preventing Manufacturer A from dealing directly with Supplier B in order to achieve a dual contract relationship. (a) If Agent C is mobilised by Manufacturer B with fund to source for materials for its operation, there will be need to segregate the service cost from the entire contraction, and only the service component will be liable to the WHT. (b) If the Agent C entirely finances the sourcing of the raw materials for Manufacturer A, the entire contract value will be liable to the WHT at the time of payment. Where a manufacturer delivers its normal
BY Embuka Anna
products to its distributors and dealers for sale In this situation, the income accruing to the manufacturer will not be liable to the WHT as it is regarded as transaction in the ordinary course of business, but the commission earned by the distributors/ dealers will be subjected to the WHT. Agency transactions and arrangements Agency arrangement implies a contract between a principal and agent. The reward payable for services rendered by the agent is commission, which is subject to a WHT of 10 per cent. However, if the principal is a non-resident, any sales proceeds from the arrangement will attract five per cent WHT, where any of the conditions in Section 26(1) (b) of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) holds. The organisations making the payments are required to withhold tax from such payments and pay over the withheld amounts to their respective relevant tax authorities within 30 days of receipt of payment or credit by the person or entity suffering the tax. The relevant tax authorities to receive the WHT tax transactions made by companies is Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and for individuals and unincorporated bodies subject to Rules of Residence is SIRS or FIRS. Person liable to deduct WHT The payer of the WHT in respect of any of the activities covered under its regime shall include company (Corporate or non-corporate), government ministries and department, parastatals, statutory bodies, institutions and other established organisation approved for the operations of Pay As you Earn System.
tax in focus
Who is taxable All persons, companies, etc, whose incomes are liable to income tax, are subject to the WHT. However, exempt entities like educational institutions, government ministries, parastatals and other agencies of government, are agents for the collection of the WHT. They are required to deduct the WHT on any payment made to a Acting chairman, FIRS, Kabiru Mashi taxable body and remit Nigeria same to the relevant tax are not liable to the WHT in authority. Nigeria. Thus contracts and Withholding tax implication on foreign transactions Non resident companies/ enterprises: The revenue practice is that nonresident companies are not empowered to deduct anytype of WHT. These categories of enterprises are practically outside the regulatory monitoring and control of the the FIRS. It will be impracticable for the revenue office to inspect the accounting books of these companies in order to confirm due deduction and remittance of the WHT. Double taxation agreement (dta): Transactions that are ordinarily not liable to tax in
supplies of goods and services performed entirely outside Nigeria by non-resident individuals are not liable to the WHT. Nigeria has treaty agreements with about eight countries and these countries are granted a reduced rate of WHT deduction, usually at 75 per cent of the generally applicable WHT rate of 7.5 per cent. These countries include the United Kingdom (UK), Northern Ireland, Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and Romania. The permanent establishment (pe) principle under the nigerian taxation system The rules construe a PE where:
• The company has a “fixed base” in Nigeria. • The company operates in Nigeria through a dependent agent authorised to conclude contracts or deliver goods on its behalf, or • the company is executing a turnkey project in Nigeria, or • the operation between the company and its Nigeria affiliate does not appear to be at arm’s len gth. “Fixed base” implies some degree of permanence and will include facilities such as a factory, office, branch, mine, oil or gas well; activities such as building, construction, assembly or installation; and provision of services in connection with the activities listed above. Principles of PE The rules construe a PE where: • The company has a “fixed base” in Nigeria. • The company operate in Nigeria through a dependent agent authorised to conclude contracts or deliver goods on its behalf, or • the company is executing a turnkey project in Nigeria, or • the operation between the company and its Nigeria affiliate does not appear to be at arm’s length. Other types of income not liable to the WHT • Companies operating within the free trade zones (FTZ)/export processing zones (EPZ). • Insurance premium. • Turnover/income from dealership or distributive trade . • Telephone bills are not subject to the WHT. To be continued
Shifting Tax Monies: Transfer Pricing Phenomenon
When a subsidiary of CocaCola in Ghana transfers (i.e. sells) goods, services or knowhow to a Coca-Cola subsidiary in Nigeria, the price charged for these goods or services is called transfer price and the transaction is referred to as a transaction between connected persons. The transfer price may be purely arbitrary (i.e. unrelated to costs incurred, operations carried out or to added value)
or it could be different from the price which unconnected persons would charge for similar transactions in an open market. Where the latter is the case, both the taxman and the treasury are content. In the former circumstances, the taxman is drawn into investigating the operations involved. Transfer pricing has become a buzz word, steeped in controversy and not very well understood. However, transfer
pricing per se is not illegal or a crime. This is because tax planning is allowed by law.
It
is
transfer manipulation or mispricing that puts the taxpayer on the wrong side of the law where the venture effectively lowers or completely erases the tax burden of the taxpayer. The attention transfer mispricing is getting is justified on account of the volume of international trade within the control of multinationals. With transfer mispricing, transfer price is set at a level which reduces or even cancels out the total tax which has to be paid by
the multinational. Research available on a UK website, www. taxresearch.org.uk estimates that about 60 per cent of international trade happens within, rather than between multinationals; that is, across national boundaries but within the same corporate group. Suggestions have been made that this figure may be closer to 70 per cent. In addition to the foregoing, the attention cannot be dissociated from the current orientation towards payment of “fair tax”.
motoring / 23
July 4, 2014
Toyota: A Popular Brand And Its Recall Problems STORIES By Samson Echenim, Lagos
Japanese’s Toyota is no doubt a household name in most part of the world, more so in Nigeria. The brand is known for its relative flexibility and costsaving maintenance, giving it an advantageous position in second-hand value over other automobile brands in Nigeria. However, in a widening safety problem, about 2.3 million Toyota vehicles are being recalled worldwide because a defective air bag component made by Takata Corporation could injure passengers. Soon after Toyota’s announcement about the recall on Wednesday, the United States (US) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it
was opening an investigation into the other automakers that used parts made by Takata to see if those companies’ vehicles should be recalled too. Wednesday’s recall is the second time Toyota has had to recall its vehicles because a defective inflator for the passenger-side air bag could crack, possibly sending metal fragments into the compartment or causing “thermal damage” to the instrument panel. The first recall came in April 2013, when Toyota said that 170,000 cars in the US had the defective component but that all of the vehicles needed to be inspected to find the faulty ones. Over all, about 3.3 million vehicles worldwide were involved in that recall, including about 1.7 million Toyota vehicles.
Koncept Autocentre Seals Distributorship Deal With Isuzu Koncept Autocentre Limited, a division of the Kewalram Charai Group, has sealed a new distributorship deal with Japan’s Isuzu. The company solely dedicated to distribute only the Isuzu brand will begin with the newly built DMAX Pickup and Isuzu’s various range of trucks that will service the logistics support industry in Nigeria. It will also consolidate a leading position for the automobile brand which was a household name in Nigeria. At the sealing of the deal yesterday in Lagos, the chief executive officer of Koncept Autocentre, Mr Siva Subramanian, said the new partnership with a globally
renowned company as Isuzu would see the hitherto household name brand take its former place in Nigeria’s automobile market. He noted that the country’s rebased gross domestic product (GDP) had placed it as the largest economy in Africa, adding that the newly reinforced National Automotive Policy is a great policy and a right step in the right direction. “With this policy, the country will bring back its competitiveness slowly,” he said. The vice president of Isuzu Japan, Mr Takanobu Furuta, said it was gladdening to bring back the Isuzu vehicles to Nigeria with the Koncept Autocentre partnership.
Renault Inaugurates New Dealership With Dana Motors French automaker, Renault has announced fresh dealership contract with Dana Cars and Services Limited, relishing its intention to key into the federal government’s new automobile industry initiative with the aim of overhauling Nigeria to a globally recognised manufacturing hub from an oil dependent economy. Renault gave this hint at the inauguration of the first Renault full-fledged facility for sales, service and spares with its new distributorship partner Dana Cars and Services Limited, following the re-launch of the Renault brand under its global slogan, “Drive the
Change” in Lagos. The company’s vice president, Strategies and Corporate Planning, Africa, Ms. Christel Galbrun, said this new partnership is committed to a strong representation in Nigeria, a key market that is expected to deliver significant growth and contribution to Renault’s global strategy, while boosting its share of the African market. Noting that Nigeria is a key market in its strategy, Galbrun said the Nigerian market remained the first economy in Africa with the fastest growing middle class. Remember the two benefits of failure. First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn’t work; and second, failure gives you the opportunity to try a new approach. Roger von Oech, American author, inventor and speaker
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July 4, 2014
Your Entertainment and Lifestyle Guide
July 4, 2014
Why Davido Is Africa’s Biggest Artiste If your cornfield is far from your house, the birds will eat your corn.
ESSENTIALS PLAYLIST World Cup Anthems
RAZAK’S DIARY TATTLES ― Congo Proverb
26
STARTERS
July 4, 2014
EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome, home, Super Eagles!!! Our boys played well and I’m sure we are all extremely proud of them. They gave us a good show, something positive to immerse ourselves in, despite troubling times back home. Over the past weeks, we have watched them progress from a draw in their first match to their final and,
painstakingly, challenging match with France. I believe that in seeking positivity in every situation and I am glad we had such an opportunity. This week, Tattles is back with celebrity talk and an insight into Davido’s dominance of the African music scene. A relatively new singer, he has made a lot of impact
Sound Sultan Ft. Babayaro & Yung Grey C – Super Eagles (No Tension)
The world cup season has spewed a lot of tunes dedicated to Nigeria’s Super Eagles and this is one of them. Sound Sultan enlists the help of former footballer Emmanuel Babayaro and his label mate Yung Grey C for this very inspiring number.
Ice Prince, Dammy Krane, Sasha P, Nosa and Seyi Shay – Fly Like the Eagle The world cup buzz has also caught up with Chocolate City artistes Ice Prince and Nosa. They joined forces with Seyi Shay, Dammy Krane and Sasha P to release the Etisalat official World Cup theme song.
Oscar Ft. Banky W & IBK Spaceshipboi – Nigerian World Cup Theme Most people might not know who Oscar is, but after listening to this song you’ll be itching to know more. Oscar is a superproducer who has worked with the likes of Simi, Omawumi, Tuface, Praiz, Retta, Bez, P-Square, Niyola, Banky W, Chidinma, Darey and Phyno. Wherever your patriotism has gone, this song will help you find it! Also, on this song, Banky W, once again, proved why he is regarded as a good musician.
song and dance and, though many find it difficult to take him seriously as an artist, he has a catalogue of music, including beats that can rival those of some of the big boys in the game. He also has a number of endorsements to boast of and in this track he brings you up on the gist that he recently signed a deal worth $6,000,000. This great production and a compliment to his unique style says something; there is more to music than just ‘bars’. Nigerian Songs
Xo Senavoe – The Gift. I had to mention
this guy, because I think he is probably the most intelligent lyricist in the country. Rap seems hard to sell in Nigeria but it doesn’t mean that there isn’t talent [to that effect] in the country. Senavoe’s name has circulated for a while but he has not been able to enter the mainstream market yet. This song says it’s all a matter of time. His word-play is something to love, with some hard hitting punch lines. XO is a name to remember.
Mode9 – Bigger than this. Keeping it Hip-
ArtQuake – Go Super Eagles
hop-inclined for now, let me introduce one of the veterans…Mr Mode9. He has been very vocal in recent months on how he felt when he was essentially abandoned by many of his fans and people in the industry. He is now reminding us of why he was once the best thing in Nigerian rap [and still has the credentials to stake such a claim]. They say class is permanent while form is temporary. It seems that Modey has not lost that touch. Great Hip-hop track with a message for all haters to fear.
Solidstar – Super Eagles
Oritse Femi ft. D’Banj – Double Wahala (part 2). Oritse Femi is one Nigerian artiste
According to tooxclusive.com, this song is an upbeat, properly arranged gyration track aimed at motivating the super eagles of Nigeria at the FIFA world cup in Brazil. You think they are wrong? Only one way to find out! Listen to the song. This is the only world cup song supported officially by the Nigerian Supporters Club. A very catchy song that will make you sing along before even know what it is they are singing about. Foreign Songs
Gunplay Ft. Rick Ross – Aiight. Just as
his name suggests, Gunplay is back with another street anthem. We are all very aware of his antics outside the studio, but the dude has definitely made himself a force to be reckoned with in the rap world. He teamed up with the MMG boss on this one and they have made it clear that they are not to be ‘tested’. Ross will surely appreciate Gunplay’s loyalty.
Soulja Boy – Wassup. Soulja Boy will
always be remembered for a certain hit-
Lerato
lerato.umah@leadership.ng fridayleadership@leadership.ng follow us on Twitter @essentialsng
one TO WATCH
Essentials Playlist With Abisola Alawode 2014 World Cup anthems
in so short a time. It’s Ramaddan once again. May we continue to pray for peace in our country and the safe return of the missing Chibok girls. Have a most pleasant weekend!
with enviable street credibility. Reason: his songs are popular with everybody and he appeals to a very large audience. Proof of this is the presence of D’Banj on the remix of the popular Double Wahala. As catchy as the original was, the addition of a little more flavour from the Koko Master, shows that he (D’banj) is starting to show his old self. Great song, set to conquer the airwaves.
Ice Prince – Tears for Naija. Many have
released songs in relation to the recent troubles in Nigeria. However, Ice Prince has keyed into the present to remind us of his vast ability. In this number alone, just like in most of his songs, a list of genres can be pointed out. This is a fantastic fusion of cultures and stories with a very important message. Great work from Ice Prince. God bless Nigeria.
Trophy Wife The fact that this series has been cancelled shouldn’t discourage you from watching it. It revolves around a young, attractive, blonde, party girl, Kate, who marries a professional middle-aged lawyer named Pete. With the marriage comes Pete’s two exwives; the stern perfectionist doctor, Diane, and the flaky, flamboyant Jackie; as well as Pete’s three children: overachieving good girl Hillary, slacker Warren and adopted Asian-American son Bert. The series explores the marriage between Kate and Pete, along with the modern family dynamics between them, the ex-wives and their respective children.
Trophy Wife received very positive reviews. Melia Robinson of Business Insider named it the “tenth best new TV show of 2013,” saying that it “delivers fresh humour, steeped in irony with a surprising sweetness”. Hank Stuever of The Washington Post gave the series a ‘B’, praising the adults as “entertaining to watch and believably flawed” and the kids as “talented wiseacres”. Matt Webb Mitovich of TVLine called it one of the best and strongest new situational comedies (sitcoms) of the year. The show stars Malin Åkerman, Bradley Whitford, Marcia Gay Harden, Michaela Watkins, Bailee Madison, Ryan Lee, and Albert Tsai.
movie review
Numb
Genre Short Film Director Tosin C. Ogwe Year 2013 Numb touches on the seldom remembered causes and effects of abuse as it links domestic violence with physical abuse. Numb focuses more on psychological abuse and its root. Numb also chooses to reverse fortunes to explain what some have
chosen to shut out of their minds, the fact that domestic abuse is a twoway thing (note that it could also be from the female to the male). Where the actors tried their best to embody the characters they were given, I am of the opinion that the director’s job wasn’t top notch and the editors didn’t do a fine work with the audio. — Reviewed by Innocent Ekejiuba of nollysilverscreen.com
group EDITOR Lerato Miriam Umah REPORTERS Abisola Alawode, Patience Ivie Ihejirika DESIGN & LAYOUT Chukwudi J. Nwabueze, Iniobong Ekong
ACTING EDITOR Hassan Gimba Ahmed
Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe GRP MANAGING DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GRP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere, Dr. Kazeem Durodoye
Your weekly ESSENTIALS is filled with exclusive interviews, amazing articles from guest columnists and contributors.
FEATURE / 27
July 4, 2014
‘Our Society Discourages Upcoming Artistes’
Aiah is Nigeria’s newest music sensations. In this chat withABISOLA ALAWODE, she wonders why the society does not give the rising artiste a chance, while sharing her goals and passion for music.
Aiah
1 2 3 4
For those who are hearing of you for the first time, how would you describe yourself as an artiste?
I have a lot of people I’d like to work with in the My stage name is Aiah, though I was born Jennifer industry. I really like Asa, so I’d love to work with her. Esiri. I'm a Nigerian artist who loves music. Music is not only a passion; my whole life revolves around it.
What informed your decision to take up music?
Our society doesn't encourage upcoming artistes, especially if you don’t sing a song considered to be a ‘party jam’. Nigerians do not love sounds that are not mainstream or commercial
5 7 8 9
vIf you had to work with one person in the industry, who would it be and why?
Are you signed onto any record label or decided to become an independent artiste?
I'm not signed onto any record label, I'm just focused Music is a gift to me from God and every time I sing, on my music now and I’m pushing myself. I feel the life in it, how I easily connect to everyone who listens. This inspiration shows me who I am. I have found out that music is truly food for my soul. Which famous musician did you love
Your song I Deserve has been getting a lot of air-play. What is the inspiration behind the song?
the most before you became a singer yourself?
As you know, learning is a continuous process and, as a musician, you have to continue learning if you want to be I’m just happy [that] the song is getting a lot of better. I admire a lot of artistes and I listen to a lot of music positive reception and reactions. It was written at a time from all around the world. People like Cece Winans and Alicia Keys challenge me to sing better and grow in music. when I was confused and feeling low.
Have you been in competitions? Won any prizes?
What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way and what do you hope to achieve in the near future?
I was on MTN Project Fame West Africa (season 2, back in 2009). I got as far as the academy but, apparently, I didn’t win. In all, it was an incredible experience. Our society doesn't encourage upcoming artistes, especially if I learnt a lot of things that have helped my career as a you don’t sing a song considered to be a ‘party jam’. Nigerians musician. do not love sounds that are not mainstream or commercial. That's why it has taken me years after Project Fame to establish my sound and to get it to a place where I want it. The point is this; in the near-future, I am going to be on top of my game. To be without a friend is to be poor indeed.
― Tanzanian proverb
28 TATTLES RayJay J’s Z‘Interesting’ Gift to Kim Did cheat on Beyonce?
July 4, 2014
In an interview with Sky News, English singer-songwriter, Sir Elton John, confessed that he believes he knows “where Jesus would’ve stood in the same-sex marriage debate”. Isn’t that a trifle blasphemous, John? He also said Jesus would not discriminate against gays.
The Carters are, indeed, going through some troubled times. Feelers say singer Beyoncé supposedly addressed hubby Jay Z’s alleged infidelity while performing at their On the Run tour. While performing over the weekend (June 28, 2014) in Ohio, Beyonce allegedly switched the lyrics on her 2006 song Resentment, sparking speculation that she was making some reference to infidelity on the part of hubby Jay Z. “I know she was attractive, but I was here first. Been riding with you for 12 years / Why did I deserve to be treated this way by you?” She sang, as she strutted the stage in a white wedding dress. It has been rumoured that the couple might part ways after concluding the concert. We hope not! Beyonce was also named as the world’s most powerful celebrity by Forbes. Is there a storm coming?
Kim Kardashian has officially cemented her status as the queen of fame (if fame does have a queen). The reality star has (finally) been recognized by Forbes on its Celebrity 100 list. She made an estimated $28m over the last 12 months.
Nicki Minaj Almost Died Of ‘Weed Overdose’
I Am Not Fighting Funke Akindele – Eniola Badmus
During her acceptance speech for Best Female Rapper at the recently held BET Award, Nicki Minaj revealed that she almost died last week but she was afraid to call an ambulance because she “didn’t want it to end up on TMZ!” “The other day, literally I didn’t tell anybody this, I really thought I was about to die. Like, I was saying my prayers to die. And I didn’t even want to call the ambulance because I thought, ‘Well if I call the ambulance, it’s going to be on TMZ.’ According to mediatakeout.com, Minaj was in the studio with Lil’ Wayne and a bunch of his crew, as they smoked tonnes of weed and, possibly, other substances. Since Nicki does not smoke weed, she got contact high. When she arrived home, Nicki began having palpitations and difficulty breathing. She thought she was dying, but did not call for emergency help.
I Will Marry At The Right Time – Denrele Of course, you read it right. Video jockey Denrele Edun does want to be married like every other person. Is there something wrong with that? No way. In a recent interview with a national daily over the weekend, when he was asked why he is still single, he answered, “I think when that time comes, I will marry. I have been into many relationships. I have dated girls who would want to do anything I tell them. I want a woman who can hold her own. I don’t want a woman who cannot make dialogue with me. I don’t want a woman who will want to change me. She should already know who Denrele is. I don’t want to hear ‘my father said you cannot dress like that’. I’ll be like, ‘Oya, come carry your witch go and return me my bride price before you go.’ “I want a woman who is not pretentious, hypocritical or a fameseeker.
I Want More Babies With 2Face – Annie Idibia Annie Macauley-Idibia had a lot to say in her recent interview with presenter Toolz on The Juice. The model, actress and celebrity wife talked about her marriage, career and children. She also talked about the possibility of having more babies with the Implication singer. On how she met the singer “It wasn’t love at first sight but I just know there was that strong attraction. It was at the Even Ezra Studio. I had just finished secondary school and was working on a talent show and I had to use the studio. I think he was recording then – just him and Blackface. I don’t think Faze was part of Plantashun Boiz then. It sounds like a movie but that’s how it actually happened. He was seeing someone when I met him.”
‘Nigerians Are Bunch Of Hypocrites’ Nigerians are “backward in thinking as regards sex toys.” At least, that is what Nollywood actress Bisi Ibidapo-Obe thinks. It must be related to public reaction to the news that she has begun to trade in sex toys. In an interview with a national daily, Ibidapo-Obe wondered why “Nigerians pretend a lot about their sex lives”. Though, she corrected the rumours: “I sell mostly male and female underwears; but if I sell sex toys nko, is it a crime? If I sell sex toys so what? Nigerians are a bunch of hypocrites. They make issues out of non-issues. When I travelled to London I saw some newly wedded couples buying sex toys, but back here Nigerians believe that those who buy sex toys are harlots. In fact, there is dignity in the use of sex toys.
TiSPY
Which popular V.J says he will soon marry?
Eniola Badmus has denied ever fighting Funke Akindele, stating that the rumours stating just that “have no grounds and are baseless”. The actress revealed this while receiving the Best Actress award at the City People Entertainment Awards held over the last weekend. ”I am so excited to win this award, because I never expected it. More so, this is my first award ever. Even if I didn’t win this award, I still feel highly honoured to be recognised among others in the industry. It is not easy to be on the nominees’ list of City People, let alone win it. I appreciate the organisers and my fans who took their time and money to vote for me. “Let me say here that the rumour that I and Funke Akindele are in a serious cold war is not true. I can never engage in a fight with her, because she is a strong pillar behind me in the industry. She brought me into the industry and I have featured in so many movies through her before my name got registered in people’s minds. So, why should I be fighting with her? Moreso, what would have warranted that? We are not fighting, we are in good terms,” she stated. That should do it, rumour mongers.
The Things
THEY SAID “I am not a Yahoo! boy” – Musician Olu Maintain
“‘Be Wise and focus on the aim rather than the source.”
– Musician Adokiye
FLiRT “RMD is every woman’s dream” ALERT –Gambian actress Marie Kumba.
GOT A CELEB GIST? GET IN TOUCH!
FRIDAY EXTRA July 4, 2014
Almajiri System: The Hushed Child Abuse By Arif Kasim Bala
The issue of almajiris has long been a source of worry to every true Northern Nigerian and every well-meaning Nigerian leader. Evidently, this is because the practice has become a source of embarrassment to Islam and the region. In traffic everyday around major northern Nigerian towns, it is common place to see boys cuddling plastic plates under their armpits, begging. It is easy to mistake these children for orphans but they are not. They are students of Islamic boarding schools, known as almajiri. People send their children from all over northern Nigeria to get Islamic education from respected Islamic teachers known as mallams. This practice is common in many West African countries and goes as far as Gambia and Senegal. Some children come from as far as Chad, Niger and Sudan to learn at the feet of some mallams in Nigeria and, in most cases, these children may be as young as four or five years of age. A system is born The word almajiri emanated from the Arabic word al- muhajirin. The concept of almuhajirun came as a result of Prophet Mohamed’s (PBUH) migration from Mecca to Medina, meaning ‘the emigrant’. Under the almajiri system of education, as practiced during the pre-colonial days, the pupils lived with their parents for moral upbringing. All the schools were located within the immediate environment from where the pupils came from. The Dan-Fodio revolution came with some modifications; the establishment of an inspectorate of Qur’anic literacy. The inspectors reported directly to the Emir of the province concerning all matters relating to the Quranic school. This period was, arguably, the height of Qur’anic education in northern Nigeria. The schools were maintained by the state, communities, parents, zakkah (alms-giving), waqf (endowment) and supplemented by the teachers and students through farming. Bara (begging) as it is known today, was completely unheard of: teachers and their pupils availed the communities of Islamic education, reading and writing Arabic, in addition, to the development of ajami (writing and reading the Hausa language using Arabic alphabets). Based on this system, which is founded upon the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadith, the then Northern Nigeria was largely educated with a complete way of life, governance, customs, traditional craft, trade and even the mode of dressing.
INSIDE
State Of Almajiri System Having aimed to achieve some good at its founding, the almajiri system has now become alarming, because it has taken a different dimension from the initial idea. Almajirai (plural of almajiri) are children sent to school to learn but, instead of doing what
Almajiri mendicants are always at the mercy of their society
they were sent to school to do, they can be seen roaming the streets, begging and engaging in unnecessary activities. In this way, they eventually become a burden to the society, no thanks to a lack of parental control, as well as guidance and counseling. Begging, an act which parents and teachers (mallams) of these children pushed them into, so as to aid their survival, has been frowned upon by Islam. Islam commands and encourages labouring for your meat. That said, it forbids and disapproves of laziness and begging. The Prophet (PBUH), regarded begging (which many have taken up as an occupation) as a disgrace, according to the following quotes; “Some among you do not ever abandon begging. Finally, on the Day of Resurrection, that dishonuorable person will meet Allah with no flesh left on his face.” (Muslim, Zakat, 103) “Whoever continues to beg people for their property in order to accumulate much property, surely asks for a piece of fire…” (Muslim, Zakat, 105). “It is better for one among you to bring a load of firewood on his back and give charity out of it (and satisfy his own need) and be independent of people, than that he should beg from people, whether they give him anything or refuse him.” (Muslim, Zakat, 107). Occasionally, well-meaning individuals do what they can to feed these children; either by paying for their meals or cooking meals for them. In another development, a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – Malama Adama Usman Foundation, Tanmiyya Foundation, Rochas Foundation, Jammatul Nasrul Islam Foundation, NASFAT – and others help to take care of these children, making their pain and their cause theirs’ altogether. A stand-out example is the Kano State
government, which has tried to put up a scheme which will cater for both the children and their teachers. The presidency also keyed into the drive to help the lost cause by getting the children back to school, via President Goodluck Jonathan’s Almajiri project which was launched in 2012. Equipped with modern facilities, the first school to cater for the children was launched in Gagi, Sokoto. The school is the first of 400 to be built in the 19 northern states of the federation, which will be handed over to the state governments upon completion. But there remains the nagging worry: will these projects outlive the current administration, both at state and federal levels? When a new administration came into being in Kano State, the existing scheme came to a halt. On the federal scene, President Goodluck Jonathan may not return for another spell in office. This means that, by the time the federal government hands over these schools to the state governments… the state of schools handed over to state governments only comes to mind. Recently, though, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has announced that Nigeria has about 8 million almajiris. Can the government continue to cater for them and provide uniforms, books and free feeding for these 8 million in the long run when the number of jobless graduates roaming the streets cannot be ascertained? Solving The Almajiri Problem In approaching a persisting problem, the best way to solve it is to use the 1. Historical school of law approach. That is, to pass laws first by looking into the factors which brought about the problem. Since the primary excuse is to seek for knowledge, any parent who is willing to send his/her ward out of the communi-
ty must cater for him. Penalty or punishment should be ascribed if the government needs to send out an earnest message. 2. Massive enlightenment and education scheme on family planning should be embarked upon to reach out to core villages. Most northerners have more than one wife and tend to give birth to a number of children who they, sadly, are unable to take care of. This has become a nagging problem for the nation. 3. If the above points are achieved, NGOs with relevant foundations should ensure that new and existing almajiri schools are up to standard, in order to complement the efforts of the various tiers of government. With time, Nigeria will experience a drastic reduction (or total absence) in the number of almajiris who roam our streets. 4. For states that have adopted the Sharia penal code, the zakkah provision can be used to tackle the problem. The zakkah, if properly implemented as is the case in Sudan, can provide a permanent solution, as it is better than any social welfare system anywhere in the world. This phenomenon is an ugly scar on northern Nigeria. Imagine 8 million potential judges, accountants, engineers and a number of other professionals being wasted away. The system, as is presently practiced, has outlived its usefulness. These children are the leaders of tomorrow, our future hope and without them the future of the country and the region may be bleak, development-wise. Adversely, they have contributed their youth to the propagation of crime. Therefore, the system must be stopped, remodeled and integrated into our educational system. The northern states must put their heads together, through such bodies like the Northern Governors Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum, to tackle this menace.
Why is the sea salty? Big Questions & Answers nobel ultimate top list Why... answers to scientific questions
30 FRIDAY EXTRA/Best places to FIND...
July 4, 2014
Shopping for special, one-of-a-kind items is what makes travel an even more enriching experience-even long after you’re home, you have mementos to remind you of your trip. But full credit goes to my childhood friend, Suzy Gershman, who literally wrote the book on this-or I should say books: the immensely successful “Born to Shop” series. Suzy knows all the backdoor stores, the hidden alley merchants, and not only where, but when to shop. So, with a lot of help from Suzy as well as my own world shopping experiences, here are our picks for the best inside shopping.
Specialty Shopping Y
ou can’t go wrong with a custom-made suit from WW Chan & Sons in Kowloon, Hong Kong. This unassuming little store on Nathan Road creates bespoke tailoring for men and women, using only high-quality European wool, Irish linen, and Italian cashmere. Each pattern is hand drawn, and every suit is made by hand. You can also find business attire for women at its sister store, Irene Fashions. There’s also a WW Chan outpost in Shanghai, but another local favourite for high-end custom suits is a man named Dave. Tailor Dave, to be exact. Like WW Chan, he uses the traditional Savile Row methods of tailoring, but for a fraction of London prices. Best of all, he can do a one-day turnaround, if necessary, although a typical waiting time is about 7 days for custom fitting, cutting, and sewing. Then there’s the best tailor for copying suits and other outfits you already know. What I do is have a great tailored suit done in the United States, then take it to Bangkok. When visiting Boston, you know you can head straight to Newbury Street for high fashion. But savvy travellers go to the suburb of Hanover to visit Natale’s Men’s Clothier of Ha-
nover, an unexpected home of high-end men’s clothing. Owner Natale Agostino began his tailoring career as a 7-yearold boy in Reggio Calabra, Italy, where he was a tailor’s apprentice. At Natale’s, you’ll find high-quality, custom-tailored items for mature men, designed by Natale himself, who creates on his own conception of what should be fashionable for the season. He claims he has never stepped foot in a retail store, but makes up his own mind on trends based on his travels to fashion shows in Europe and Brazil. J. Mendel of New York started out as a luxury furrier in 1870 but has since branched out in all directions and now makes a wide variety of items that blend fur and pelts with such fabrics as cashmere, silk, and leather. You can still buy the standard mink coat, but you can also get mink bikinis, fur-trimmed jeans and denim jackets, and sable-lined lace skirts with cashmere. Corniche Furs has been selling furs, shearling, reversible raincoats, and cashmeres from its home on Seventh Avenue in New York City since 1991. But the great thing about this store is that it specializes in fur repairs, alterations, and “remodelling.” Corniche will also refurbish and restyle your older,
outdated garments into something fresh and fabulous. Scotland is naturally the best place to buy kilts, but the place you want to go is Geoffrey Kiltmakers and Weavers in Edinburgh, for a traditional hand-sewn, made-to-measure tartan. It’s worth a visit just to see the complete array of tartan waistcoats, trousers, blazers, and accessories such as buckles, sporrans, pins, and brooches. On the other end of the spectrum is 21st Century Kiltswhich specializes in cutting-edge kilts (yes, there is such a thing) made from modern materials and designs such as leather, denim, camouflage, and pinstripe. It seems like there are a million places to buy saris in India, but Anokhi stands out because it combines bold, innovative designs with sustainable business practices. All saris are block-printed cotton and handmade by a team of 300 artisans in Jaipur. Its headquarters are also in Jaipur, along with the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. The proprietors have made it a point not to pay kickbacks, so don’t let your driver or guide try to steer you to an alternate sari shop. Muumuu Heaven in the town of Kailua, Hawaii, is a family-run shop that
Having beauty doesn’t mean understanding the perseverance of marriage.
sells “repurposed” muumuus. That means vintage muumuus are de constructed and refashioned into one-of-akind dresses and tops in modern silhouettes. As a bonus, you can also pick up pillows made from Hawaiian shirts. You can’t go to Bermuda without coming back with a pair of Bermuda shorts. But don’t just pick up a tacky pair at a souvenir shop. Get the real deal at Sampson’s Too Tailoring in Hamilton, where you can get a custom-made pair or two-one in bright island colours, and one more subdued.
— African Proverb
July 4, 2014
FRIDAY EXTRA/...Volunteer Vacations 31
Perfumes
The best place to buy perfume is often at the source: the factory. Not only can you buy direct from the manufacturer and save money, but chances are you’ll have a great behind-the-scenes experience, too. At the Fragonard perfume factory in Grasse, France (on the Mediterranean coast), you can take a tour on which you’ll watch the entire creation process, from distillation to bottling. Even entering the factory is like walking through a garden, literally, since you walk through a collection of flowers and fragrant plants. And don’t miss the museum, which contains artifacts and art that cover 3,000 years of perfume history. When you’re done, go ahead and stock up on famous Fragonard scents like Belle de Nuit and Suivez-Moi, at factory prices. That said, sometimes it’s those tiny shops that have the best selection. You can’t shop for perfume in Paris without checking out Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido, which showcases the creations of renowned perfumer Serge Lutens. The trick is choosing the right scent: Shiseido sells an export line, which you can purchase in high-end shops around the world; and an “exclusive” line, which can only be purchased in the shop (or online if you-or a friend-live in Europe). You’ll know it from the distinctive 75 milliliter bell jar bottle and the exorbitant price tag. Not all high-quality perfume has to come from Paris. In Bermuda, make sure to stop by Bermuda Perfumery at Stewart HalL Not only can you shop for your signature perfume, but you can also actually see how master perfumer Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone creates her one-of- a-kind scents the old-fashioned way, using Bermuda flowers and citrus trees for inspiration
Art and Crafts
Your memories of Paris may linger far longer if you pick up one of the dozens of music boxes at Boites a Musique Anna Joliet, a tiny shop that may have the exact style and tune that you didn’t know you were looking for. The town of Stoke-on-Trent in England is known as “the Potteries” or the “world capital of ceramics” because it is home to more than 25 factory stores. You’ll find famous brands such as Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Portmeirion, Aynsley, Churchill, and Moorcroft. Then there’s the Wedgwood Visitor Centre and Museum, the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, and the Gladstone Pottery Museum where you can get behindthe-scenes tours and learn about the history and craftsmanship of fine ce-
ramics. Though it’s got fewer stores than it used to, rue de Paradis in Paris’s 10th arrondissement is known for its shops that sell discount glass, crystal, and porcelain. The same pieces that can be found in Parisian department stores can be found here for less. Brands include Baccarat, Hermes, Lalique, and Rosenthal. A favorite is the Cristallerie de Paris, at 1, rue de Paradis. In Vietnam, Bat Trang isn’t just a store. It’s an entire village dedicated to pottery and ceramics, including the coveted Bat ‘I’rang porcelain. Located about 8 miles from the center of Hanoi, this vil-lage is chockfull of workshops and stores where you can purchase affordable and distinctive dishes, vases, jars, and more.
Jewelries For good-quality gemstones and jewelry at reasonable prices, Bangkok is the place to be. But that comes with a caveat, since some vendors are more reliable than others. Here’s a tip: If your driver or guide insists on taking you to a certain shop, you can assume they’re getting a kickback. Make sure you’re going to a place that’s a member ofthe Thai Gems and Jewelry Traders Association. Johny’s Gems on Fueng Nakorn Road (near the Grand Palace), which focuses mainly on rubies and emeralds, is one of the more trusted shops. This 50-year-old family-owned store has necklaces, earrings, pendants, and rings at all price points. Hundreds of other reputable stores can be found in Bangkok’s gem and jewelry district, which is spread out over Charoen Krung Road, Yaoworat Road, Silom Road, Mahesak Road, and Khaosan Road. Don’t be afraid to negotiate if you see something you like. There’s no shortage of jewelry shops throughout India, but the can’t-miss stop is Jaipur’s Gem Palace. This unique and historic shop (which opened in 1852) has been run by the same family for eight generations and used to be the jewelry maker to maharajas. Today, it supplies high-end off-the-rack and custom-made baubles. They also display (and sell) an unbelievable collection of antique Indian jewels and artifacts from the Mughal period. It’s not the best place to find bargains, though you can haggle on price. But what’s really fun is that you can watch jewelers create highend pieces in the in-house workshop. Gem Palace also sells its jewels at Barneys in New York and Los Angeles. For the best quality pearls, why not go to the original cultured pearl maker, Mikimoto? Its flagship store is in the Ginza district of Tokyo where you can get top-quality pearls at better prices than you can back in the United States. And the store itself is an amazing sight, with five floors of pearls in all sizes and arrangements.
Accessories On Rua do Carmo in Lisbon, behind an ornate facade is Luvaria Ulisses, a miniscule shop selling all kinds of exquisite leather and lambskin gloves. This shop has been around since 1925, and trust me, when you find the right pair, they’ll fit you like ... well, you get the picture. The famed Panama hat actually originates in Ecuador. Homero Ortega P. & Hijos has been one of the top makers in Ecuador for more than 40 years. It
carries not only the classic men’s straw ver- sion, but also contemporary styles. You can buy an authentic hat in Quito, but the factory is located in the town of Cuenca, along with a museum dedicated to the process of the famous accessory. CA4LA (which is pronounced “Ka-shila” and means “head” in Japanese) is a major trendsetting hat designer in Tokyo, taking traditional styles and adding add a hip, youthful edge.
Toys Hakuhinikan Toy Park in Tokyo’s Ginza district offers four floors of nothing but fun. The first three floors display the latest dolls, board games, model kits, puzzles, stuffed animals, and more, while the top floor features a “radical” game arcade, complete with a life-size slot car racetrack. Oh, and they offer a small selection of toys from vending machines outside the front door-how very Japanese. For more than 250 years, Hamley’s has been delighting the kids of England with
Furniture
If some hotel beds can send you straight to dreamland, you may wonder where you can find your own feather nest. Turns out it’s in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The Pillow Factory and Outlet makes everything from feather beds to down comforters, pillows, and decorative throws. Chances are you’ve slept on the bedding, as it manages to supply major hotel chains while catering to individual customers with
Insider's Tip
their high-quality toys and enormous selection. The seven-story 54,000-squarefoot flagship store in London has entire floors for boys’ toys, girls’ toys, soft toys, games and puzzles, and interactive toys. Don’t miss the newer range of Hamley’s-branded wooden toys, including a wood model of the famous red London double-decker bus. There are branches all over England, but you want to see the Regent Street store near Piccadilly Circus.
custom-designed items. Talk to owner Jim Crossno to determine if you want a feather-light 8-ounce pillow or a firm 10-ounce mattress pad. He’ll make sure you’re happy with your selection and will even make adjustments after you’ve slept on it for a night or two. Jerome, Arizona, was once known as the Wickedest Town in the West during its days as a thriving copper mining town.
In Paris, a shop window sign that says soldes gras means ‘wholesale’ only, so don’t bother. Look for signs that say soldes detail, which means ‘retail.’ You are beautiful because of your possessions. — Henry Baguirmi
32 FRIDAY EXTRA
nobel
July 4, 2014
A Century Of Prize Winners
Murray Gell-Mann
For his writing, which - in new forms for the novel and drama - in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation.
Samuel Beckett
LITERATURE
(1906-1989) Poet, novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett waited almost half a century for his work to be recognised at an international level. It was from Paris, the city in which he lived from the 1930s onward, that the Irish writer became known as the “father of the theater of the absurd,” with the publication of Waiting for Godot in 1952. Although awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature, he did not attend the award ceremony. Beckett was born in Foxrock, in the outskirts of Dublin, in 1906 and attended protestant schools in Northern Ireland and Dublin before entering Trinity College in Dublin. Between 1928 and 1929 he was an English reader at Ecole Norrnale Superieure in Paris, but he returned to Trinity College the following year to act as a French reader. Before he rejected both Ireland and an academic career, Beckett traveled to England, France and Germany before finally settling in Paris, where he lived until his death at the age of 83. In 1929 he had his first work published, which was an essay on his compatriot James Joyce. This essay was followed by another entitled Proust (1931). Samuel Beckett nearly lost his life in 1938 when he was knifed by a stranger while out walking with some friends. He later went to visit the assailant in prison and asked why he had done it, but the man was unable to explain. While recovering from his injuries he met his life-long partner, Suzanne Deschevaux-Dumesnil, with whom he joined the French resistance during World War 11. To escape the Germans they fled to the south of France in 1942. From there, Beckett sent messages for the resistance and worked in farming. Beckett did not achieve fame until, in the space of three years, he had five pieces published in Paris: the novel Molloy and its sequel Malone Meurt (Malone Dies) both published in 1951, the play Waiting for Godot (1952) and the novels The Unnamable (which completed the trilogy begun with Molloy) and Watt, both published in 1953. In Waiting for Godot, an austere tragicomedy in two acts that most critics consider his masterpiece, Beckett escapes convention in terms of characters and dialogue. Just as in his other works, the author’s bitter irony results from the contrast between the hope people have for their existence and the often-brutal reality. Beckett thoroughly explored themes such as solitude, suffering and the absurdity of the human condition, and he presented new means of expression in fiction and drama. Beckett married Suzanne Deschevaux-Dumesnil in 1961. Both died in 1989 in Paris, France.
PHYSICS
(1929-) The American physicist Murray Gell-Mann was particularly noted for his work in developing the field of classifying sub-atomic particles. It was he who suggested the possibility of the existence of quarks, and his research was the subject of international recognition in 1969, when he went to Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics. Gell-Mann was born in New York and began his higher education at Yale University, where, in 1948, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in physics. Three years later he received his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), after which he became a member of the Institute for Advanced Study. Between 1952 and 1955 he taught at the University of Chicago, which he left to become an associate professor at the California Institute of Technology. He began the research that would lead to his Nobel Prize while he was still in Chicago, and he concluded it in California. The questions that motivated him were related to the interactivity of protons and neutrons. Gell-Mann was able to group related particles in multiples or families based on a property, which he called the “strangeness number,” that he attributed to particles in strong electromagnetic interaction. It was from these notions that he was able to put forward the quark theory in 1963, which was also put forward by his colleague George Zweig around this time, although the two had not worked together. What Gell-Mann concluded was that quarks - particles with fractional electric charges - are the smallest particles of existing material. This idea has since been used as a starting point in particle physics research, and researchers in this branch of physics have discovered evidence to support the theory. (The name ‘quark’ comes from Finnegans Wake, the 1939 novel written by the Irish writer James Joyce.) Ten years before receiving the Nobel Prize, Murray Gell-Mann was awarded the Dannie Heinemann Prize of the American Physical Society. He became a fellow of this society and was also made a member of the National Academy of Sciences, which acted as a type of scientific conscience for American political power. He married J. Margaret Dow in 1955, and the couple had two children. GellMann was widowed in 1981 and married his second wife, Marcia Southwick, in 1992.
For his contributions and discoveries concerning the classification of elementary particles and their interactions.
You are beautiful, but learn to work, for you cannot eat your beauty.
Culled from the book ‘Nobel’ ― Congolese proverb
INVALUABLE TIPS FOR LIFE 04.07.2014
10 Dumb Lies That Lousy Bosses Tell
It’s always a mistake to set expectations for which you can’t really deliver the goods
Finances
Tips For Raising Money-Smart Kids
Leadership
Core Beliefs Of Extraordinary Leaders
Marriage 7 Keys to a Happy Wife
Motivation 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Stress
Health Herpes Zoster
34 FORESIGHT
July 4, 2014 DIFFERENT SIDES, DIFFERENT PROCESSES
WORK & CAREER
PERHAPS YOU’RE IN THE HABIT OF ALWAYS TRAVELLING THE SAME WAY TO WORK OR PARKING IN THE SAME PLACE IN THE CAR PARK. THE MORE YOU DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE MORE YOUR BRAIN CELLS ARE PROGRAMMED TO REPEAT THE ACTION UNTIL IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE.
10 Dumb Lies That Lousy Bosses Tell
INFLUENCE PLUS By Joy Jones Joylifechangers@gmail.com
T
elling the simple truth is far more productive than trying to fool your employees. By its very nature, managing employees requires a certain amount of discretion. However, there’s a fine line between discretion and deception that, when crossed, creates resentment and job dissatisfaction. Here are ten lies bosses tell, along with suggested true statements that do the job much better. Some of these lies would be perfectly reasonable to tell if they were true. You are paid a competitive salary Unless your employees are very stupid, the first thing they’ll do after you make this statement is hop on the Web and research average salary levels and find out what people in their position generally get paid. If it’s less than they’re making, they’ll assume that either you’re lying or uninformed. A truth to tell instead: “You are paid what the company can afford to pay.” It’s his job is to make you more successful It’s always a mistake to set expectations for which you can’t really deliver the goods. If you’re secretly more concerned with your own advancement rather than in being of service to your employees, you’ll inevitably create resentment when your actions don’t match your fine words. A truth to tell instead: “Your job is to make us more successful.” One big happy family This can only be true if, you yourself came from a happy family and everyone else came from a similar happy family. Chances are, however, that some of your employees come from dysfunctional families and the last thing you want is for them to bring their family dynamics into the workplace. A truth to tell instead: “It would be great if you are happy working here.” The organisation is following a five-year plan Take a look at your five-year plan from a couple of years ago. After you’ve stopped laughing, take a good long look at how you and your organisation really make decisions and prioritise activities. In all likelihood, you’re using a three- to 18-month window, like everyone else. A truth to tell instead: “The Company is doing its best to adapt.” His sister was the best person for that job Who do you think you’re kidding? Everybody,
Every leader needs help including the sister, knows that she got that position because she’s your sister. Attempting to sugar-coat obvious nepotism as some kind of planned business strategy is embarrassing to everyone involved. A truth to tell instead: “It was either that or me sleeping on the couch.” This is a 9-to-5, salaried job Let’s face it: In today’s business world, there simply isn’t such creature as a 40-hour workweek for salaried employees. Unpaid overtime has become the norm inside most companies and it’s absurd to pretend otherwise. A truth to tell instead: “If you meet your goals, you get extra vacation days.” There’s no truth to those layoff rumours Though you may want to keep people working hard when they’re probably soon to be axed, the minute you deny the rumours, anyone with half a brain will be in their office rewriting their résumé. Pretty much all but the most naive workers know that no layoff rumour is true until it has been officially denied. A truth to tell instead: “Worrying about stuff that might happen is pointless.” Employees are our most valuable asset. Most employees are intelligent enough to realise that most companies, including yours, have plenty of assets that they value more than their employees. This kind of platitude, rather than reassuring employees, simply convinces them that you can’t be trusted to tell them the real truth. A truth to tell instead: “You value their contribution.” Your participation is entirely voluntary. Once again, it’s fine to say this if it’s really true, but most of the time what they really mean is that participation is somewhere between ‘highly encouraged’ and ‘absolutely mandatory.’ After all, if the activity were truly voluntary, there would be no need to point it out, right? A truth to tell instead: “You expect full participation.” CULLED FROM INC.COM
foresight
Hassan Gimba Ahmed
group FOUNDER CHAIRMAN GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
or meetings that have the capacity to expand your mind and broaden your horizon only once in a year. Today, if you have a smart phone you will understand this example of how often you get notifications to update the apps on the phone. In reality, it is almost every two weeks or less. There is no time to wait for one year anymore before you discover what is new or what has changed in your industry. Well your office needs to arrange that for you, you might have thought, but the truth is that the subject or issue of your personal development should be top on your own list of priorities and responsibilities as you are your best investor and only you know the dream within you. So, invest your time, money and energy in you. Ask yourself now and again, how far do you want to go in life? Begin the journey today by preparation. Use all the resources available to you today and enhance yourself. Go out of your way to meet with peers in your industry to keep yourself challenged while going for trainings and seminars to keep yourself updated.
INFLUENCING PEOPLE
CONTENT Ehinome Osezua GRAPHICS Igwe-Ngerem Michael AG. EDITOR
It has been said that the greatest achievement of the 21st century is the ability to ‘learn’, ‘unlearn’ and ‘relearn’. Why is that? This is because there is so much knowledge on earth today, which can be gotten from the day you are born till the day you die. Information is constantly being updated as new research emerges. In other words, no knowledge is conclusive. And so, what if someone stuck to their old beliefs and refused or rejected new and improved information? He will quickly evaporate like the oldies did. The beautiful thing here is that there is no sector left behind. Technology, medicine, business, agriculture and leadership all are experiencing unprecedented breakthroughs. New industries and sectors are also springing forth! How can one benefit from this deluge of ground breaking information? Here is a very simple answer: everyone can benefit only through simply training and retraining. Gone should be the times where you go for seminars, trainings
Sam Nda-Isaiah Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Azubuike Ishiekwene Michael Okpere, Dr Kazeem Durodoye
Foresight published as an insert in LEADERSHIP Friday. A number of the articles here are sourced from diverse sources. Please do send your feedback and enquiries to: foresight@leadership.ng
Chatting Up Your Contact USE THE EMPATHY YOU HAVE DEVELOPED
When you eventually get through to the person you’re aiming for, you are effectively a guest on their telephone line; you should conduct your conversation with that in mind. You have certainly interrupted this individual in the middle of something. You don’t know what kind of mood they are in; they might be in the middle of a meeting; they could be at the height of crisis; they may have just come back from an
overseas trip that morning or they could even be recovering from an illness. But whatever it is, you can be sure they would not tell you. It is up to you now to ask, use the empathy you have developed, which is a quality most people are short of. Get inside the mind. Acknowledging that they are busy is courteous so better be brief after you have made a positive move towards ensuring you get their attention.
FORESIGHT 35
July 4, 2014 MONEY
FINANCE
After a while you may find that money is no longer a motivating factor in your life. Feeling less motivated by money can be for different reasons, such as when the pressure of work becomes so great that it cancels out the value of your bonus.
Financial FUTURES
Basics of...
Buying a House There are some basic things you must put into consideration before buying yourself that dream house. Yes in the long run having a house of yours will save you from the insensitivity of landlords who feel nothing every time they have to increase your house rent or rates you pay for light or water bills. Don’t buy if you can’t stay put If you can’t commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner – even in a rising market. When prices are falling, it’s an even worse proposition. Start by shoring up your credit Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover. Aim for a home you can really afford The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about twoand-one-half times your annual salary. But you’ll do better to know or to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford. If you can’t put down the usual 20 per cent, you may still qualify for a loan. There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a small down payment. Buy in a district with good schools In most areas, this advice applies even if you don’t have school-age children. Reason: When it comes time to sell, you’ll learn that strong school districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values. Get professional help Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, if possible, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.
MAKE YOURSELF
UNFORGETABLE
Choose carefully between points and rate When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points – a portion of the interest that you pay at closing – in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time – say three to five years or more – it’s usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run. Before house hunting, get pre-approved Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can’t afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history. Do your homework before bidding Your opening bid should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighbourhood. So before making it, consider sales of similar homes in the last three months. If homes have recently sold at 5 per cent less than the asking price, you should make a bid that’s about eight to 10 per cent lower than what the seller is asking. Hire a real estate agent Sure, your lender, which is in most cases the bank, will require a home appraisal anyway. But that’s just the bank’s way of determining whether the house is worth the price you’ve agreed to pay. Separately, you should hire your own real estate agent, preferably an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying. His or her job will be to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road. culled from money.cnn.com
Patience With A Purpose
In the last twenty years or so, literally thousands of books have been published on success and personal development. Almost every possible emotion and experience has been explored and analysed. Yet one of our most common experiences in the modern world has yet to get the attention it deserves – especially since it is not only common but difficult. It is the experience of waiting. Not a day goes by, and usually not even an hour;
when you don’t face the considerable challenge of waiting for someone or something. Waiting at a traffic light, job interview, at a doctor’s office or waiting for a delayed flight. The list could go on and those are just the relatively harmless ways of waiting but you must have experienced even frightening ones. It is important therefore to handle pervasive experiences with good humour, class and most of all with patience.
Tips For Raising Money-Smart Kids
Plenty of adults get into financial trouble through no fault of their own, especially in a sluggish economy with triple-digit unemployment. But often, those who learned valuable financial lessons at an early age fare better when times are tough. That’s why it’s important for parents to be intentional about imparting their financial values and good financial habits to their kids. While schools can reinforce these lessons, it really needs to come first from the parents. Remember, it’s never too early to start talking about money with your kids. Begin by explaining to them why you work – to make money for the family. Explain to them the reality that the items they use each day all cost money, and you must work to make and save enough to make sure all things are paid for. Never forget that the trusty piggy bank is a good tool to use to help children learn to save, or you can choose to open a bank account in their names. When children are ages five, six and seven they can’t really understand the idea that one day something may happen, and you may need to rely on your savings. But if somebody has a habit of saving and they always have, they will get that when they need it. Use three separate piggy banks for each child and label them ‘give, ‘save,’ and ‘spend.’ When you give them an allowance, have them divide their money into thirds to learn the importance of all three. Rather than spend your shopping time saying ‘no’ to everything your kids want to buy, let them get involved in the shopping. It’s a good way to learn how much money is required for various everyday items and begin figuring out the importance of spending wisely. A farmer’s market is an ideal place to teach a family shopping lesson. Send your kids to one section of the market with a list of fruits and vegetables that you want and give them $20 to spend. They will ask questions, figure out how much of each thing they can get and start to understand the principles of money. To put yourself in your children’s shoes, think about how it feels to go to a new country and become accustomed to the value of a different currency. After a couple of purchases, you start to
understand and use it more freely. Take your kids on a personal shopping trip with a specific amount of money to spend and no buying guidelines. They will eke out every cent, they’ll be more specific on their wants, and will end up buying more of what they really want than what their impulse buying would be. To make the trip more educational, make your kids do their own math. If they come to you in the store and want to buy three things, hand them a paper and pencil and have them add the prices together. Give them a big bill and ask them how much change they should expect – based on the total amount of the items subtracted from the amount of money they have. These are simple, practical and meaningful money lessons. Children will make mistakes, but parents must let those mistakes teach children the lessons they need to know. If you want to help them, rather than simply giving them a hand-out, take the chance to teach them about borrowing and lending. Lend them the money and then explain that when it’s paid back, they’ll have to pay you more. Helping them to learn the discipline of money management while they are children making only $6 is far better than them learning as an adult when they are making $60,000. If your kids have spent money unwisely and beg for your assistance to refill the coffers, you must not feel sorry and bail them out of a penniless state. Instead, use the opportunity for a teaching moment: Encourage them and ask, ‘what they could do next time to plan better? culled from bankrate.com
36
37
July 4, 2014
DR. IBRAHIM SHEMA’S FORWARD LOOKING DEVELOPMENT STRIDES IN KATSINA STATE Achievements Of The Education Sector From 2007 To Date ACHIEVEMENTS:As a result of the above huge investment in the education sector the following achievement were recorded. i. Proliferation of schools from 2007 – 2011
ii.
Student Enrolment: - between the year 2007 to 2012, there was a remarkable increase in students’ enrolment. This is as a result of the following reasons: i. Waiver of all forms of schools fees ii. Construction of more classrooms/ laboratories/workshops iii. Rehabilitation of existing infrastructures iv. Provision of teaching and learning materials v. Recruitment of additional qualified teachers vi. Promotion of teachers as at and when due vii. Increase in teachers’ salaries and wages, etc.
MATHEMATICS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
EDUCATION COMMISSIONER, KADO KURFI AND OTHER STAFF OF THE MINISTRY ON INSPECTION TOUR OF SCHOOLS
The tables below shows increase in students’ enrolment from 2007 to date. 1200 SITTING CAPACITY AUDITORIUM AT UMYU
A CROSS SECTION OF BRAND NEW BUSES PROCURED AND DISTRIBUTED TO ZONAL INSPECTORATE OFFICES BY THE SHEMA ADMINISTRATION
DR. IBRAHIM SHEMA
Executive Governor, Katsina State
...continued from last week edition
STUDENTS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME This programme started in 1985 essentially to forge Nigerian Unity to make student gain lifelong friends. It exposes the student to the culture, food, prospect and difficulties of other part of Nigeria other than their own. All the nineteen northern states have been participating in the programme. Below is amount expended by the government from 2007 to date.
Science Technical Education Board (STEB) Katsina State Science and Technical Board was established in 1991 with the objective of promoting science and Technical Education in the state to take care of the acute demand for the professionals with such backgrounds. Currently there are 16 schools under the schools. Below is the amount released to the board from 2007 to 2011.
State Agency for Mass Education:Capital projects from 2010 to 2012
EDUCATION COMMISSIONER KADO KURFI ON A MONITORING TOUR OF GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL MALUMFASHI
FEMALE HOSTEL AT THE UNIVERSITY
GOV SHEMA LAUCNHING THE DISTRIBUTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS TO SCHOOLS
FEMALE STUDENTS IN AN ALL GIRL SCHOOL AS PART OF MEASURES TO BOOST GIRL CHILD EDUCATION
INSIDE ONE OF THE VARSITY’S LABORATORIES
38 FORESIGHT
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY July 4, 2014 HOW TO ORGANISE YOUR LIFE
GROOMING
ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THE GOLDEN RULE; YOU IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS MOST EFFECTIVELY THROUGH PRACTICE AND FEEDBACK.
ALL THINGS SOCIAL
The Family Circle
By Chioma Agwuegbo dfairygodsister@yahoo.com
authority and will encourage the workers to assume a privilege interest in matters which are none of his or her concern. Instances of this have regrettably been known even in royal circles, both past and present, throughout the centuries. In a household where prying eyes and gossiping tongues are encouraged, no employer’s secret can ever be safe. There is no maid, driver or steward who does not know the whole story of a family before the end of the day. Be guarded: servants have ears Because servants in any well-ordered
Establish a bond of mutual regard With servants who are loyal, trustworthy and hardworking, the ideal relationship is one of mutual esteem, as well as respect – which may lead to many years of faithful service. Endeavour to earn their good opinions. What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant? Have a cordial man-to-man treatment of your domestic workers, this shows the master and worker relationship at its best; and it can be underscored by the declaration of your well-bred neighbour. Your maids, drivers or stewards could be the delight of your lives , they make your shoes so well blacked, clean your plates and also would wait extremely well, be attentive, handy, quiet and quick. A point of the utmost delicacy may perhaps be touched on here. There can be no grosser impropriety or greater transgression of every rule of morality, let alone manners, than any form of guilty association between master (or worse mistress) and domestic helper. Such matter do occur, both in and literature. Never be over-familiar with servants Because they perform so many intimate tasks, from preparing food and nursing children to brushing hair, assisting with dressing and others , it is easy for the unwary or underbred, master or mistress to make a confidante, or even an ally, of a favoured servant. This should be avoided at all cost. It will lead to a diminution of the employer’s
HOW TO GET PROMOTED
“
IN NO SPHERE OF DAILY LIFE IS THERE A GREATER NEED FOR STRICT ATTENTION TO THE DEMANDS OF ‘POLITENESS AND PROPRIETY’ THAN IN TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC HELPERS..
establishment, public or private, are trained to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible, it is very easy at times to overlook their presence. It is important however, to be mindful on all occasions that even the most loyal or apparently disinterested – may pass on what they see or hear, for their own pleasure or even profit. While gossip about your family will be of interest only to your own neighbourhood, for those in more elevated circles, information from these workers may lead to revelation in the newspapers, which are regrettably, only too ready to pay for salacious items about the aristocracy and other celebrated people. Disgraceful as such revelations may be, however, you will still read them. Consider the driver A gentle man’s cars or motor bikes are among his most valuable possessions: they, and his family will be entrusted only to a driver of impeccable steadiness, skill and sobriety. The driver’s opinions as to the state of roads, the welfare of the cars or motor bike should be respected and his comfort considered. It is bad manners to keep him waiting; likewise, at the end of an evening engagement, during which he must have seen that the cars are cleaned and in good condition. It is important to also show concern for the family of your driver; such courtesy should come naturally – as an aspect of a good heart, and good principles, as well as good manners.
The Real First Rule Of Communicating
An important government document could cost a country over $100 million simply because a writer uses a semicolon rather than a comma. That document may seem clear enough to the writer just as your entire communications do. No one ever sends a document thought to be may be unclear. Yet everyday,
people receive documents that are. When individuals communicate, they think that the first rule is, “Communicate so that you are understood.” But it is not. The first rule is: Communicate so that you cannot be misunderstood. In analysing extraordinary business relationships, you
soon learn that clarity places high on the list – among the most significant eight or nine influences. Clarity inspires trust; people who you do not understand may be concealing something and then, you suspect that confusion might be a smoke screen, intended to keep you from the truth. Clarity inspires faith.
Staying safe online – pins and passwords
There is a campaign that’s been ongoing in the United Kingdom for a few months now, which is all about getting people to be ‘cyber streetwise’. The most interesting of all the ads is one about a lady needing to make a payment in a store using her debit card. As she enters her pin into the POS machine, the numbers are broadcast to everyone in the store using a public address system! Then there’s the pay-off advising person to keep their pins and passwords safe. Music, and then the ad ends. While this story might not have impressed you very much due to insufficient storytelling skills, this is hoped to impress upon you today the importance of having passwords that are true to their name. Now, if you have a password or Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is your birthday (day, month and year), your partner’s first or your middle name, or the numbers 1-9, you are one of those on the need-to-be informed list. Do you park your car on the street and leave your keys in the ignition with the doors open and a sign saying, “Yours for the taking”? Do you walk around with an open bag stuffed with cash? That’s what you’re doing if you have any of the passwords listed above. A good password should be random, alphanumeric, containing letters and numbers, with some the letters capitalized, and with random symbols just for added security. It might sound silly but you may have seen people with ATM cards and their PINs inside the same wallet. Please, don’t do that, it totally defeats the purpose. Simple things like refraining from sending assistants to withdrawing money for you, staying vigilant when using POS or ATM machines, and checking for a small padlock symbol before the URL on any website you want to make a payment on make the difference between safety and sorrow. Off you go to change your passwords.
FORESIGHT 39
July 4, 2014 STRENGTHEN YOUR MOTIVATION
MOTIVATIONS
You can strengthen your motivation by bringing your senses into play. Your senses help to explain the meaning of what’s going on around you, the way you are communicating and how you are recording events.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Stress Everyone experience varying levels and lengths of stress, triggered by an array of scenarios – some logical, others not. Managing this powerful emotional and physiological response to adverse or demanding circumstances comes more naturally to some, but can certainly be taught to even the most nervous of them all. The first step to controlling stress is to know your own personal anxiety, down to its deepest core. What causes your stress? What alleviates it? What affect is it having on your mind and body and what can you do to stop it? To assist you on your journey of stressdiscovery, here are five truths about stress that you may not know – but definitely need to be made aware of. Stress is contagious Anyone interacting with someone who’s stressed, especially for prolonged periods of time, has an increased risk of being affected by empathetic stress. Caregivers and family members of chronically stressed individuals are most at risk here, but even watching TV shows involving confrontations of stress can transmit the tension. This empathetic stress negatively impacts the immune system and is toxic to the mind and body in the long term. Know your limits when it comes to how much stress you can healthily expose yourself to. Also, be cognizant of how your worry may be negatively impacting those around you. If you reach out to a sorrowful friend, a mourning parent, or a downhearted colleague who has suffered a sudden reversal of fortune or fate, be careful not to be overcome yourself by the apparent hardship. Remember to discriminate events themselves and your interpretations of them. It is not a demonstration of kindness or friendship to the people you care about to join them in surrendering to negative feelings. You do a better service to yourself and others by remaining detached and avoiding unnecessary emotional reactions. Still, if you are associated with someone who is depressed, stressed or hurt, show them kindness and give them a sympathetic ear; just don’t allow yourself to be pulled down. Stress is detrimental to Sperm Stress can and will seep into every facet of your life if you let it, including the bedroom. Stressed men are found
to have fewer, slower sperm, which can diminish fertility. While not conclusive yet as to how stress affects the quality of semen, it is possible that stress may trigger steroid hormones known to blunt levels of testosterone and sperm production. Two stressed people equals less stress. Seems counterintuitive, yes. But, when especially stressed, it is extremely helpful to share your feelings with someone who is having a similar anxious reaction to the same situation. Consider giving a presentation at work – perhaps nothing will ease your stress more than talking it out with a colleague who is undergoing the same scenario. There is tremendous benefit gained by conversing with others whose emotional response is in line with your own Optimists are better at regulating stress A glass-half-full mentality may be the ticket to a more stress-free life. The ‘stress hormone’ cortisol tends to be more stable for those with positive personalities. Pessimists have difficulty regulating their emotional and physical responses to particularly stressful situations. Optimists tend to be more solutionoriented and thus better react to the stress hormone – allowing it to amplify their get-upand-go attitudes. Not all stress is bad While stress is oftentimes the enemy, you can’t ignore its ability to push us to optimal alertness and performance. Short, but significant bouts of stress cause our brains to proliferate new nerve cells that improve mental performance. Stress hormones are an incredible adaptation that provides us with the ability to remember not only anxiety-ridden situations themselves, but more importantly, how one deals with them – ingraining one with the power of resiliency, allowing one to be ready for whatever life may throw our way. Like most things in life, stress is only beneficial in small doses. Chronic stress leads to increased risk of chronic obesity, heart disease and depression. Stress is like spice - in the right proportion it enhances the flavour of a dish. Too little produces a bland, dull meal; too much may choke you. culled from inc.com
Get Productive Even When You Feel Unproductive Some mornings you just don’t feel like working. Here is how to get productivity going. Some days you wake up feeling more productive then others. But on those days when you get up and feel really lazy you have to find some sort of stimulus to get by right brain and left brain active and producing. Getting a solid caffeine buzz works for many, but somehow energy drink or coffee induced work makes one feel more tired and drained when eventually done. Ironically the thing that ultimately gets one feeling the most productive is actually accomplishing productive tasks. It’s the grinding have-to-do work that drains you and makes you want to go watch TV instead. So when you really feel sluggish take five minutes and write down the two or tasks you have been most motivated about tackling. Then make a pact with yourself to complete them both that day. Now here’s the trick. Start your day with one of those tasks agreeing that you don’t get to start the other one until you work through all the not so interesting work that you also have to complete. This way you get to start and finish the day with positive productive energy. Plus you get a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the day as well. Here are additional insights Hit the sauce It starts from a simple principle: Work for 25 minutes on a single project without stopping. After 25 minutes, even if you’re in mid-sentence, you must stop for a five-minute break. Each 25-minute chunk is called a ‘pomodoro’ after a tomatoshaped kitchen timer the
technique’s (Italian) inventor used. It’s also a good way to track and manage your time: You plan before you start a job how many ‘pomodoros’ it will take to finish, and then compare the final results to your estimate. Rock out When feeling unproductive, know it’s time to do something to shake things up – and fast. Sometimes the quickest solution is just to put away whatever work it is you are doing at the time, and to switch to a different project. If that doesn’t do the trick, then know it’s time to change the scenery. Get up out of your chair and take a quick, 5-minute walk to get your mind off whatever fit that was sapping your energy and productivity. When you return to your desk, you’ll be fresh and re-energised. When things get really bad, grab a game you keep in your office and pretend that you are in a competition for five or ten minutes. That is always guaranteed to get your groove back. Do a little dance. Sometimes it’s the unexpected that produces the best results. When you wake up to a busy schedule, thinking how nice it would be to snuggle up with a good book instead, turn the table on your normal routine. Then toss on some old clothes and do a bit of gardening or crank up the music and bust a groove, this really gets the energy moving. A simple activity can change your energy as well as your attitude. What’s a little out of the norm for you? Break out your best moves and start the day with a bit of fun. culled from inc.com
WHAT MOTIVATORS ARE SAYING... “A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.” Billie Jean King
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Oscar Wilde
“A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.” Marcus Aurelius
40 FORESIGHT
July 4, 2014
HEALTH
CREATE A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE If you have never experienced a healthy lifestyle, it can seem like an unrealistic dream. Or worse, a healthy lifestyle may not appeal to you at all.
Herpes Zoster GENERAL INFORMATION Definition
Herpes zoster is a condition that causes pain, rashes, and blisters on the skin. You get it only if you have chickenpox in the past.
BODY PARTS INVOLVED
Sensory nerves of the skin on the body.
SEX OR AGE AFFECTED
Both sexes and all ages but most common in adults over 50
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• Starts with pain, tingling or burning on the skin. • A rash appears a few days after the first symptom begin. It appears as a band of reddened skin on one side of the chest, neck or face. The rash turns into fluid-filled blisters. These may itch or be very painful. The blisters then begin to dry out and crust over within several days. • Mild chills and fever. • General ill feeling.s • Mild nausea, stomach ache cramps or diarrhoea. • Chest pain, face pain or burning pain in the skin of the stomach
CAUSES
Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. After a chicken pox infection, the virus remains inactive in nerve cells in the body. In some people the virus becomes active again and causes zoster. Why this happens is unknown.
95%
• 9,152 incident cases of Herpes Zoster (95 per cent confidence interval 3.1 to 3.2 per 1,000). • Annual rates per 1,000 person-years were higher among females (3.8) than males (2.6). • Herpes Zoster rates rose sharply with age, and were highest among individuals over age 80. • The incidence of Herpes Zoster per 1,000 person-years among patients with evidence of recent care for transplantation, HIV infection, or cancer was greater than for individuals without recent care for these conditions. SOURCE
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
RISK INCREASES WITH
• Anyone who has hidden chicken pox. • Adults over 50. • Cancer. • High stress situation. • People who have a weak immune system due to drugs or illness.
HOW TO PREVENT
A vaccine is available to help prevent shingles. Ask your health care provider about its use.
WHAT TO EXPECT DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES
• Your own observation of symptoms. • Your health care provider can usually diagnose the disorder by skin examination of the affected area and asking questions about your plain symptoms. If the rash has not appeared, it is more difficult to diagnose. • Medical tests are usually not needed
APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE
• Goals of treatments are to relieve the itching and the pain as much as possible. This is usually done with topical and oral drugs. • The nerve pain that remains after the skin clears up is the most difficult to treat.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
• Skin infection in the herpes zoster blisters. • Post –herpes neuralgia which involves chronic pain. It can last for months or years in the nerves where the blisters have been. • Zoster spreads over the body or in internal organs. • If the face is affected, eye problems can occur. • When blisters are present, herpes zoster patients can spread the virus and cause chicken pox in people who have never had it. • Avoid physical contacts with pregnant women, infant and those with weak immune systems.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
The rash usually clears in 14 -21 days. The nerve pain may last for a month or longer. One attack usually
provides immunity against herpes zoster, but a few persons have had more than one attack.
HOW TO TREAT GENERAL MEASURES
• For self care: • When bathing, wash blisters gently. • Don’t bandage the blistered area. • Try applying cool moist compresses to help decrease the pain. Soak in a tub of water to which corn-starch or oatmeal product (e.g Aveeno) has been added.
MEDICATION
• Use calamine lotion capsaicin ointment for the blisters. For minor pain and discomfort, you may use drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. • Oral antihistamines may help itching. • You may be prescribed one or more drugs to help treat the symptoms. Anti-viral drugs can help if the disorder is diagnosed early. Injections of a nerve block may be recommended in severe and long- lasting cases. • Other drugs for pain may be prescribed. Different types may need to be tried as they are not always effective for every person.
ACTIVITY
No limit, except those caused by the symptoms
DIET
Maintain a healthy diet
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
• You or a family member has symptoms of herpes zoster. • Pain gets worse despite treatment. • New symptoms develop. Drugs may have side effect. SOURCE: COMPLETE GUIDE TO SYMPTOMS , ILLNESSES & SURGERY, 2012
QUESTIONS ANSWERED: WOMEN’S HEALTH My wife and I want to start a family. She is very slim. Weighing only seven and half stones and being five foot five tall. She doesn’t want to put on weight, because she says she will ‘balloon’ if she does. Will being underweight lower her chances of conceiving? She is at least a stone underweight, and this may well lessen her chance of becoming
pregnant. However, much depends on why she is too light. Does she exercise a lot, yet eat normally, or is she starving herself, in a minor form of anorexia? If it is the first case she has a better chance – but she should still try to put on weight before she conceives. Women who are poorly nourished during pregnancy tend to give birth prematurely to babies who are underweight for
their delivery dates. So please discuss with your wife and see if she can change her attitude to her weight. I have osteoporosis. I was told to take a pint of milk a day to increase my calcium levels, but my friend says that will put me at a risk of heart attack. What’s the answer? Some friend! Is he or she qualified in giving such advice?
A pint of milk contains enough calcium to maintain your bone calcium level each day – so it will help your osteoporosis. And a pint of skimmed milk actually contains more calcium than too much fat and without increasing your heart risk. Eat plenty of leafy green vegetables as well – they will also boost your calcium levels. Exercise as much as you can: that will help you bone strength too.
FRIDAY EXTRA 41
July 4, 2014
kids
QUESTIONS
Why don't we recycle styrofoam?
QUICKFIRE
Styrofoam is a brand name for material called polysterene. The squishy white stuff is made from oil, so it’s expensive to recycle safely. We have many ways to re-use aluminum and plastic, for example, but almost none for polystyrene, so it ends up staying in landfills for a long, long time.
Why do same places ban plastic bags?
Why is the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England? Earth is divided into 24 north-south lines of longitude, also called meridian. Each Meridian is a different time zone. The Prime Meridian is the line of 0 longitude, which is the imaginary line that divides the earth into two halves, or hemispheres. This line passes through the Royal Observatory in Greewich, England. At a meeting of scientists in 1884, that site was chosen.
Every year, billions of plastic bags are distributed and few are recycled. The flimsy bags are harmful to the environment and to wildlife. Animal eat them and die, and the bags take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. Plus, making these bags takes millions of barrels of oil. To help the environment, many Americans have made the switch from paper and plastic bags to reusable grocery bags. In some cities, it’s the law.
Why do imaginary lines divide the Earth?
Why is it hotter near the Equator? The equator is an imaginary line drawn around the middle of the planet, exactly between the North and South poles. As the Earth moves around the sun, the temperature in the planet’s mid-point are higher than at the northern and southern ends of the planet. That’s because the equator receives mostly direct sunlight yearround.
The tropics of cancer and Capricorn are imaginary lines that circle the Earth. Between those lines lie the equator and a region called the tropic zone, an area known for having steady high temperatures. The tropic lines got their names 2,000 years ago from stars that could be seen along those lines during the summer and winter solstices.
Why do scientists say the planet is getting warmer?
WEIR D FACT !
Flowers are supposed to smell sweet, right? Well, don’t get a whiff of the massive Titan arum. This plant, which only flowers every four to six years, smells like rotting meat!
Scienetist believe that human beings are partly to blame for the Earth’s changing climate. Every year, people burn more and more fuel (coal, oil and gas). The gasses they produce fill the sky, forming a hazy blanket around the earth that traps heat inside its atmosphere. Because that heat stays around for a very long time, the earth has been slowly heating up... a process called ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’.
The surface of the water is beautiful, but it is no good to sleep on.
Culled from the book ‘TIME for kids Big Book of Why’ ― Ghanaian proverb
42 FRIDAY EXTRA
July 4, 2014
why?
... ANSWERS TO EVERYDAY SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS
the sea salty?
Europe colonised the New World and not the other way round because the Eurasian continent runs from east to west and the Americas run from north to south. The shape of the continents meant that Europeans had more advanced technology and worse diseases than Native Americans, and that is why Europe colonised the New World instead of the other way round. In 1492 Christopher Columbus reached the New World and started claiming chunks of it for his Spanish patrons. Over the following centuries European powers and colonists from Europe took control of all of North and South America, and went on to colonise Africa, Australia and Oceania. Most of these places played host to mighty kingdoms and empires of their own at one time or another - indeed the Spanish crushed the Aztecs and Inca, two of the greatest empires in history, in their conquest of Central and South America. So why did Europeans colonise the rest of the world, and not vice versa? The answer may be linked to the shape of the continents, according to the bold theory of geographic determinism proposed by anthropologist jared Diamond. Europe and Asia form a single continent known as Eurasia. Although Eurasia is up to 7,590 km (4,717 miles) across from north-south at its widest point, its north-south axis is for the most part much shorter than its eastwest axis, which runs for 10,726 km
(6,665 miles) at its widest point. In the Americas, on the other hand, the north-south axis is much greater than the east-west axis. It is around 17,000 km (10,500 miles) from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia, but only 4,654 km (2,892 miles) from Point Arena, California to West Quoddy Head, Maine, the widest part of the continental United States. Why is this important? It means that the main axis of Eurasia crosses many degrees of longitude but stays within a narrow band of latitudes, but the main axis of the Americas crosses a very wide-range of latitudes. Climate tends to vary most across latitudes i.e. along a north-south axis - whereas if you stay at the same latitude you can cross many degrees of longitude without much change in climate. In other words, Europe, the Near and Middle East, India and China all share broadly similar climate and ecology. Climate and ecology vary massively as you travel from Canada through the Mississippi Valley to Central America and Amazonia and on to the Argentinian grasslands. Africa also has a similar north-south axis to the Americas, and a similarly wide variation in climate and ecology. This has had massive implications for the development of human society and health. In Eurasia, technological and cultural innovation were able to spread easily from medieval China to Europe. This is how Europe got hold of world-changing technology
Giving vent Salt also gets into the ocean from hydrothermal vents - fissures in the Earth’s surface. So much water blasts out of these vents that if the oceans were drained dry it would only take 10 million years for the vents to refill them. Once the salt gets into the sea it is concentrated by evaporation. such as paper and gunpowder. In the Americas and Africa, it took a very long time for innovations such as metalworking and new crops to get from one empire to another. As a result, all of the largest empires in world history have been Eurasian. The sixth biggest empire in history, the Ummayad Caliphate of around 750CE covered 13 million km, whereas the largest pre-Columbian American empire, the Inca empire in 1527, covered just 2 million km”. Diseases are also more likely to spread across longitudes but not latitudes, so that people in Eurasia suffered from many epidemic diseases
The one who loves an unsightly person is the one who makes him beautiful.
like smallpox and measles (known as herd diseases), but also had the chance to build up immunity to them over a long period. People in the New World had no immunity, and this is one of the main reasons the Spanish were able to conquer the Aztec and Inca. According to some estimates the population of Mexico fell from 25 million to 6.5 million in just 10 years after the Spanish arrived carrying smallpox; the disease killed 75 per cent of the population. In all, European herd diseases probably killed about 65 million Native Americans during European colonisation. Culled from Why?: Answers to everyday scientific questions
― Ganda proverb
FRIDAY EXTRA 43
July 4, 2014
titans
of history
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
356-323 BC
He would not have remained content with any of his conquests, not even if he had added the British Isles to Europe; he would always have reached beyond for something unknown, and if there had been no other competition, he would have competed against himself. — Arrian, The Anabasis (C.AD 150), translated as Alexander’s Expedition, 7.1
A
lexander of Macedon stretched the limits of the possible. In little more than a decade of brilliant military campaigning, he forged the most extensive empire the world had seen, stretching from Greece and Egypt in the west to India in the east and taking in all or part of 17 modern states. It is said that he wept that there were no more worlds to conquer. With some justification, the statue erected to him after his death bore the legend ‘I hold the Earth’. Alexander was one of the greatest military commanders who has ever lived. Julius Caesar, a superb general in his own right, was plunged into deep despair whenever he pondered Alexander’s achievements. Alexander was distinguished by his personal beauty, grace and courage and above all for his tolerance and chivalry, but he was also ruthless in battle and in court politics, a hard drinker who personally murdered one of his top commanders. Within two years of inheriting the Macedonian throne on the assassination of his remarkable warrior-king father, Philip of Macedon, the 4ft 6in (1.35m) 22 old had united Greece’s disparate citystates under his leadership in order to wage war on the mighty Persian empire. It was the Hellenic world’s most prized dream, and a goal Philip had spent his life working towards. Alexander set out on his mission in 334 BC. Within two years the Persians had been totally defeated in victories such as
that at Issus, which showed Alexander’s military genius and tactical virtuosity. He went on to establish himself at the head of his own empire, one that included not only Greece and Macedonia but also the entire Middle East, from Egypt and Asia Minor to Mesopotamia, Persia and beyond, into Afghanistan, parts of central Asia and, on the far side of the Hindu Kush mountains, the rich valley of the Indus. Only the final, stubborn refusal of his Macedonian army to breach the limits of the known world prevented him from going further. When he died in Babylon, aged just 32, he was planning the conquest of Arabia and may have had designs on the western Mediterranean. Alexander’s rule united East and West for the first time. Perhaps influenced by his boyhood tutor, Aristotle, Alexander was determined to govern well. He ordered his ministers to ‘break up the oligarchies everywhere and set up democracies instead’. He forbade his armies to plunder conquered lands, and he founded new cities galore - usually named Alexandria. The greatest of these, at the mouth of the Nile Delta, became for many centuries the intellectual and commercial centre of the Mediterranean world. Alexander wanted to create an empire fusing the best of both Greek and Eastern cultures. He recruited Persians into his armies and assigned Persian wives to his generals, sending back to Europe any Macedonians who resisted this enforced equality. He himself married the daughter of the dethroned Persian king.
Alexander was revered as a god in his own lifetime. He was reputedly a descendant of Achilles on his mother’s side, and rumours of Alexander’s supernatural abilities abounded, reinforced by his unnatural speed and apparent personal invincibility in battle. Described by a friend as ‘the only philosopher whom I have ever seen in arms’, he loved poetry and music. As a boy he declared that if he could only save one possession it would be Homer’s Iliad. He was always alert to symbolism. On first setting foot on the shores of the Persian empire, in Asia Minor, his first act was to make a pilgrimage to Troy to honour his ancestor Achilles. He named Bucephala, a town on the Indus, after his beloved horse Bucephalus, which had died in battle. Alexander also had a more brutish side: he drunkenly killed one of his officers in a row at a banquet, a crime he deeply regretted. His own death is said to have resulted from too much carousing. ‘Sex and sleep alone make me conscious that I am mortal; he reportedly declared. He had several wives and mistresses, but his great love was his boyhood friend Hephaistion. Alexander could be merciless. On succeeding to the throne after his father’s assassination, he executed all rival claimants, including his infant halfbrother. He executed one of his greatest friends for treason, and also the friend’s blameless father, his veteran general, Parmenion: Alexander refused to run the risk of paternal vengeance.
Anyone who sees beauty and does not look at it will soon be poor.
He enslaved or crucified all the Tyrians after they resisted his siege of their city and razed Thebes to the ground, a warning to the restless Greek city-states of what they could expect from rebellion. Towards the end of his life he became increasingly despotic. Alexander’s treatment of his enemies, however, often demonstrated his nobility of spirit. When an Indian king demanded to face him in battle, Alexander fought and defeated him, but rewarded him with the restoration of his kingdom and that of a less fortunate neighbour as well. He treated the wives of Darius, the defeated Persian king, with ‘the utmost delicacy and respect’ and allowed the Jews, Persians and others to worship as they wished. Alexander changed the face of the world by making Hellenism - the Greek way of life - into the global culture. When asked on his deathbed to whom he would leave his kingdom, Alexander replied: ‘To the strongest.’ After his death, his empire, which had spanned half the world, disintegrated. No one could match him.
— Nigerian proverb
Culled from the book ‘Titans of History’
44 FRIDAY EXTRA
July 4, 2014
ultimate top list BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW THE ANCIENT HAD
FLAMETHROWER
1
GLASSWARE The earliest known use of glassware occurred in ancient Mesopotamia. Its use was later copied and refined by several civilisations including, but not limited to, the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians. MECHANICAL ASTROLOGICAL CALCULATOR The earliest known example of a mechanical calculator used in the calculation of astronomical objects is the Antikythera Mechanism. Its gears were used to compute the position of the sun, the moon, and possibly other astrological objects. Its complexity rivals that of clocks produced in the 1700s. The Antikythera Mechanism was produced sometime between 1 SO and 100 BC.
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CONCRETE The Romans are credited with inventing “modern” concrete as a building material. It was a completely revolutionary material at the time. It was lightweight, extremely strong, dried underwater, and highly pliable when wet. The basic components of concrete haven’t changed in several thousand years, and in some ways, Roman concrete is superior to that which is used-today.
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POSTAL SYSTEM Ancient postal systems were normally used either for official business conducted by the government or by the military. They were often the fastest form of information conductivity available.
5
HEATED INDOOR SWIMMING POOLS The Baths of Caracalla were one of the largest bathing complexes built in ancient Rome. The baths boasted both heated and cooled rooms, heated and cooled baths, a gymnasium for sports, and a ‘hat check room’ where garments and personal effects were held under guard by a slave. An ingenious network of under-floor rooms and tunnels, coupled with heating furnaces arrayed around the lot, created the marvelous thermal differences used by the patrons.
Odometer ASTROLOGICAL CALCULATOR
6
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS With the increase in medical knowledge through the ages, there has also been a marked increased reverse engineering of the same knowledge to produce biologically based warfare tactics. In medieval times, besieging armies would hurl rotting carcasses into a city with catapults and trebuchet. Longer ago, there is evidence that plagued prisoners were thrown into rivers and streams leading to a city, poisoning its water supply and demoralising the defending forces.
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MEDICINES There is much archeological and historical evidence to support the use of complex medications and medical procedures within the ancient world. Honey was used as a topical antiseptic, honeysuckle often for spleen problems, horsehair for stitches, fine needles for cataract corrective surgery, and maggots for wound cleaning (as they eat dead tissue). Most medical procedures used today haven’t changed significantly in several thousand years. Boils are still lanced, drained, cleaned and closed; bones are still set; and teeth are still pulled, although pain medication has come a long way.
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FLAMETHROWER The ancient Byzantines first used flamethrowers as a naval device, usually to set alight the rigging and sails of an enemy vessel. Although handheld devices were cumbersome and dangerous, naval ones were much more efficient. Working on a simple siphon pump concept, they would be pumped, and the action would pull flammable liquid out of a reservoir tank, forcing it past an open flame igniting the spray in a lethal barrage of a panic-inducing inferno. ODOMETRE Although first used effectively by the Greeks in their measurements between cities, the Romans employed a very simple cart odometre that had four-foot wheels. Each time the wheel completely turned, a pin would engage a cogwheel one notch out of its four hundred teeth. Each time the cogwheel turned the cart had traveled one Roman mile.
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COSMETICS Roman women would put metal compounds on their faces in order to enhance their colour. Tin-oxide or lead-oxide was used as a paling agent; arsenic (though they knew it was poisonous) as a rouge or blush; and charcoal was used as eye-liner. Romans also were the first to use a pocket mirror.
If there is character, ugliness becomes beauty; if there is none, beauty becomes ugliness.
Culled from the book ‘Ultimate top 10 list’ ― Nigerian Proverb
July 4, 2014
TATTLES with Abisola Alawode
OUR EAR-ON-GROUND
Why Davido Is Africa’s Biggest Artiste Davido has been in the news lately. ‘Why?’ you may ask. Well, the Omo baba olowo is touted as Africa’s biggest artiste and these are, arguably, the reasons for his current dominance: King David is born… In early 2011, a young, upcoming artiste David Adeleke emerged on the Nigerian music scene. Three years later, he can proudly boast of being Africa’s biggest artist. Truthfully, it’s taken Davido less than three years to attain his present status. His journey started back in May 2011 when he released his first official single Back when featuring a stunning verse from Naeto C. The song was mildly accepted by critics and was just enough to get him the attention he needed at the time. Thus began the then 19-yearold’s journey to superstardom. He seemed to have the perfect team; a young and zealous manager in the person of Asa Asika, a hit making producer Shizzi, a lively crew made up of B.Red and Sina Rambo and, most of all, a whole lot of money. ‘Omo Baba Olowo’ Talking about money, the chatter and buzz around Davido increased when it was discovered that his father was billionaire businessman Deji Adeleke. He was immediately tagged a ‘trust fund kid’. Davido didn’t seem bothered and didn’t shy away from his privileged background. His sophomore single Dami Duro was to remind us of his financial status. The song shot him into and up the A-list category, an well envied and sought-after status occupied by singers like P-Square, D’banj, 2Face Idibia and Wizkid. He morphed into Omo baba olowo, the rich kid who had plans to dominate the music industry. The rich-boy-trying-to-do-music status stuck to Davido, with many
saying the singer used money to bulldoze his way into the Nigerian entertainment scene. Some said his music and videos got heavy rotation on radio and TV, because he practiced payola. But David didn’t seem to care. Unfazed and refusing to back down, he continued pushing out more songs and, within nine months, he was rated. He performed at more shows, got more spins and his career grew rapidly. Only one word could describe his progress: phenomenal. A year after his 2011 debut, the comparison with fellow Pop star Wizkid (who had blown up a year earlier) began. They were both compared on all fronts – talent, label strength, financial stance and lifestyle. Tension between both acts increased their competition, with each one trying to outdo the other. As far as the Nigerian market was concerned, it did seem like Davido had come to replace Wizkid. In April 2012, Davido went on to sign an endorsement deal with MTN worth N30m. Only then did critics begin to take him seriously. In July 2012, he released his highly anticipated debut album O.B.O: The Genesis. Despite the huge marketing budget put behind it, the album was received with mixed reviews, with many saying the record fell below expectations. Some smiled and called him a ‘flash in the pan’ artiste. It only spurred Davido on. He went on to release multiple singles off the album and shot videos for every single one of
PUBLiC “I want more babies with 2Face” DiSPLAY – Annie Idibia
them. In 2013, he released a new single Gobe. Its instance popularity was no fluke. The club-friendly tune was on everyone’s playlist. By this time, the public’s general opinion started to change. “He may actually be talented,” they said. The Birth Of An African Star Davido’s rise in the African music scene started in April 2013 when he released his single One of a kind. The song was written, particularly, for the African market, with the singer naming several African countries in the chorus. The music video followed the theme of the song, highlighting several African flags. That was all the Pop star needed to break into the Eastern and Southern African markets, two regions where only the likes of Psquare and Flavour held ground. Months after, Davido moved his music from Nigeria and Ghana into Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Liberia. In fact, he metamorphosed into an international star. His next single, the intoxicating Skelewu, blew him into space. The controversy behind the music video somehow played to his advantage, causing millions to log onto YouTube to watch the video. Davido went on a European tour, returned and visited several African countries. Photos and video clips show the young singer now pulls close to 30,000 fans outside Nigeria. It should also be noted that despite a cartload of controversies, Davido’s career has still soared, steadily gaining more momentum. His latest single Aye is a fan favourite, because of its demographic apeal. On June 7, 2014, Davido was crowned the Best African Artiste at the Music Television (MTV) Africa Music Awards in South Africa and, on June 29, he was named the Best African Act at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards in Los Angeles. But does he consider himself Africa’s biggest? “I thank God. I want to be bigger [because], there’s still a lot of work to do. I can’t think I’m the best now,” Davido told a Nigerian entertainment magazine. However, longevity will be his biggest enemy, because it has become a major barrier for some of the Nigeria’s and the world’s biggest artistes. Material from Osagie Alonge’s report for NET was used here.
TATTLES 45 Toyin Aimakhu in a recen t interview with a nationa l daily has defended the photos of her family which she always posts on socia l media. The actress adde d that the posting of photo s was “just the beginning”. She also said “there’s no way I can ever stop putti ng out photos of my hubby and myself on social me dia”. Elyjah Marrow, legendary rapper Ice T’s grandson, was recently arrested after he accidentally shot and killed his roommate. According to police, 19-year-old Marrow was fiddling with a handgun in his Georgia apartment on Tuesday when it accidentally went off, fatally wounding roommate Daryus Johnson, who was also 19. Marrow was charged with involuntary manslaughter, possession of firearm in the commission of a felony and reckless conduct Did you ever hear that Kokomaster D’banj dated one Jennifer Obayuwana? Well, the ex-girlfriend finally broke the silence about their relationship. The singer has always kept his relationship status shrouded in mystery, but his former lover has confirmed that they actually were together. “For the record, I am no longer dating D’Banj. It’s true we dated about four years ago and we have since called it quits,” Obayuwana told a soft-sell sometime in June 2014. Why did she leave him? “I left him (D’Banj) because he is a… (wait for it) womaniser.” Comedian Tee A has announced that he’ll be going on a three-country tour in 2014. According to him, his variety and comedy show, Tyme Out with Tee A, will be visiting the cities of London, Johannesburg and Accra this summer. The comedian promised guests “a unique tour comprising of live personality interviews, ribcracking comedy sketches, musical performances and special guest appearances”. Good luck to you, Tee A.
TiP FOR “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” THE TOP –Arthur Ashe
Call Bisola on 08126995258 Or e-mail at friday@leadership.ng
46 / ESSENTIALS Taste
July 4, 2014
By Patience Ivie Ihejirika
Cherry Walnut Bread Ingredients for Pete
more antioxidants, both free antioxidants and antioxidants bound to fibre. According to a report published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2010, walnuts and walnut oil improve reaction to stress. A recent study has also suggested that consumption of walnuts increases fat oxidation and reduces carbohydrate oxidation without affecting total consumption, suggesting that walnut consumption may improve the use of body fat in overweight adults.
• 2/3 cup dried tart cherries • 6 tablespoons softened butter, softened • 1 cup, plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar • 2 eggs • 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream or low fat sour cream • 1 large, very ripe banana, mashed • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cup flour • 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon • 1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350 C. Soak dried cherries in very hot water for about 15 minutes and drain thoroughly before chopping them. Set aside. In a bowl, mix cream, butter and sugar until it turns light and fluffy. Beat in eggs until smooth. Beat in sour cream, banana and vanilla until blended. In a separate medium bowl, combine dry ingredients; add to banana mixture beating on low speed until just mixed. Fold in nuts and chopped cherries. Spread into loaf pan that has been coated with non-stick spray, bake for about an hour or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
Allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and allow to cool completely on wire rack. Sherry walnut chocolate bread is ready to be served. You can store in a sealed plastic bag in a fridge.
Walnut
Walnut is one of the most popular nuts in the world. The nut is nutritious, with a unique flavour, taste and a range of health-promoting qualities. Health benefits of walnut Compared to other nuts, walnuts (especially in their raw state) contain
Why not give your family and friends a wonderful moment with cherry walnut chocolate bread this weekend? This is not just the conventional bread; it is a special delicacy whose taste will stick in the memory of your guest any day. Try it out!
Making The Best Of Melon
Recipe For Egusi Soup
Like most African foods, melon (traditionally known in Nigeria as egusi) is a regular meal in most Nigerian homes. It is used in making cakes and other fruit snacks and, also, widely used as a soup-thickener in various other soup preparations. Egusi Soup is one of the most generally accepted soups in Nigeria. It is consumed in every part of the country and is usually eaten with any of pounded yam, eba, semolina or fufu.
Different Nigerian ethnic groups have a number of ways of preparing egusi soup, but this is the most common or generally accepted method;
Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Cherry Walnut Chocolate Bread
Ingredients 2 cups egusi (grounded) 2 cooking spoon palm oil 2 fresh tomatoes (blended) Vegetables (as desired) 2 handful crayfish (grounded) Pepper (to taste) 2 stock cubes Salt (to taste) 1 medium size onions 2 big smoked, dried or stock fish 2kg goat meat, beef, chicken
Nutritional value of Melon
Recent research has shown that melon is made up of 30-40 per cent protein and about the same proportion of oil which is cholesterol-free. It also contains alphatocopherol, a component of vitamin E that helps in maintaining smooth young skin and good fertility.
Direction
• If you are using stock fish, soak it in hot water to make it soft and cook faster. • Put your meat into a pot. Add salt, sliced onion and a little water (about 2cups), add stock cubes and allow cooking for about 30 minutes, until soft and tender to taste. • Put the grounded egusi into a bowl, add little water to a part of grounded egusi in the bowl and stir to form a paste. Some people do not do it this way. They leave the grounded egusi,
choosing to fry it in palm oil. • Place a pot on the cooker and allow it to be hot. Pour the palm oil into the pot and allow oil to get warm for about 1 minute. Pour the blended tomatoes, pepper and onion paste into
the oil. Stir and stir fry for another 10 minutes. • Add cooked meat to this base of stew, cover the pot and allow boiling for some minutes. Stir intermittently to prevent burning.
The friends of our friends are our friends. ― Congolese Africa
The egusi paste can now be added, then the meat. Add vegetables, salt and stock. Stir intermittently and allow boiling for about 5 minutes. The soup is ready and can now be served with pounded yam, eba, fufu or semolina.
COLUMNS 47
July 4, 2014
Diary
Razak’s
RELATIONSHIPS FOR YOU, BY ME
Coping With A Friend’s Happiness
co s y raz z y @ ya h o o. co m
I’m an impulsive guy with an insatiable thirst for adventure. This is all about my dalliances & escapades. Caught Out Just like that, Ramaddan was upon us. In fact, a week away. So much had happened: all the madness with Shade, the arrival of Bose the new HR woman, the accident with Bhaira, recuperation and the madness with Shade with Etim. I was thinking about all these while I sat in my seat, getting back-slapped by almost everyone. It’s been two weeks since my return to work and everyone still treats me like some guy who just won the lottery. Hmm. That was a Tuesday. It was Friday and I was at a party which Etim had invited me to. I had told Bhaira to meet me there, because I had gone there from work. I was surprised to see the new HR woman, Bose, there. She was dancing and wiggling away like a worm. I saw Shade holding onto her man, Etim, with strong strings. I steered clear of them for her sake. She could go ballistic if she dared set her eyes on me. I was so busy thinking about what Shade would do in a mad rage, when, suddenly, someone had me by the family jewels! I almost started sweating. Who could be doing that in a room full of partying youngsters? Ah, it was Bose o! She was not squeezing to cause pain; rather, she was seeking another reaction. She was smiling, cosying up to me, her eyes soft and her mien demure. Evil come in lots of packages, I thought to myself. She rubbed them jewels as gently as she could, looked me in the eyes and rubbed against my thighs. I sighed, rolled my eyes and held her hand. “Let it run its course,” she said. “Let what run its course? Are you nature? Kai, stop this before I…” I did not finish. I was shocked beyond words. Reason: I had an upright elephant trunk and two ears in my possession. That was when she let them jewels go. She moved back and motioned towards the balcony of the club (now I recall the name, it was ‘Mists’). I followed, with thoughts of Bhaira niggling at a corner of my mind. But I still trudged on. Bose did not wait for me to get set. She was all over, I think she really wanted to see the ‘family jewels’ so badly, she nearly zipped it. After all was laid bare, she got down to the basics and leaped onto me. There was no way she could fall: the trunk was buried in deep. We went ‘ahhing’ and ‘ooh-ing’, as if our lives depended on it. I was faintly aware of evil fingers being dug into my back and my ears nearly chewed off like suya. But every good thing – even ‘bad’ ones like this – always came to an end. When it finally came to end, she nearly fell off, but for my outstretched hands. I felt drunk, though I hadn’t grabbed any drink since I ventured into the party venue. I had had more than my fair share of ‘drink’ and my head was reeling from it. Like many others, I expected Bose to go away, but she decided to have a little chat. “Boy, that was hellish,” she said, clearly in high spirits.
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Silence. I was not going to oblige her. “I now see what all the talk’s all about. I now know why Shade’s still bitter; she missed out on a sweet deal,” she added. More silence. I wasn’t feeling smug about this. “I should get us some drinks,” she said, jumping down from where she sat. She was off, sashaying. I stared after her, morosely. What was I missing? How did she get onto me so fast? I didn’t need telling that I was in trouble. She returned with four glasses of drinks while I was still in a haze. I downed two of mine and needed some more. She was happy to go back for more. She thought she was plying me with drinks, but I knew I was clearing my head…or so I thought. “Why are you so melancholic? You need to cheer up, especially when you get something good, instead of being all preachy and s**t,” she said. I was getting some vibes and seeing her in new light. She was cute and all, but I was seeing a gentler form of Shade. How did I get here? I wondered. The spider had weaved in the fly, but when he was about to go out for more food, he discovered that he could not leave, as well. After the fifth glass of drink – I didn’t know what it was; I just drank to retain my sanity – the real bad behaviour set in. Bose had a well sculptured leg on mine and she was back at the family jewels. Did she want them for keeps? Was she rearing for another hit at the temple of the jewels? Behind us, the party raged and the loud whoops of the drunk reached us. Young ladies could be heard yelping as some marauding drunk caught a portion of their ‘fatty’. It was bedlam of a certain kind. Perhaps, I thought bitterly, by the time morning rolled around, many wouldn’t know who had gotten the better of them. Bizarre. “Ooops!” I was being frisked. Perhaps, I thought, to see if I was still in possession of the family jewels. “Well, let’s see what you’ve got there,” she cooed. “Ah, em, you…” I was tongue-tied again. In a moment, I was flying and crashing, flying and crashing…continually. At a point, I thought everyone in the party had come out to cheer us. The creams and whoops were getting louder and I was enjoying the cheering. The stupid grin on my face said it all. Bose and I went at it like two dolls on oiled wheels. The cheers and whoops were reaching a crescendo. It was building, gradually, like the cone of an ice cream turned on its head. I was about to stretch my hands and touch the cone’s tip when the noise suddenly became louder. That was not normal. I stopped. “La illa!Razak!” I looked at Bose. She was still dreamy-eyed, so she did not even hear it. I turned, determined to get my elephant trunks back into hiding. I stopped, gripped by horror. The exclamation had come from Bhaira and Fanta.
Most times, it is hard watching your friends being happy. No, not necessarily because you are a wicked person, but because there’s ’something’ missing in your life [which] you are watching someone else enjoy. Sometimes, it is a thin line between genuine happiness for another person and jealousy. Having attained a certain age, I guess we tell ourselves that society wants us to get married, ‘settle’ down and all that kind of stuff. Good. But then – let’s be honest – loneliness kicks in and you want a partner. You have a friend who maybe forever complaining about her boyfriend or girlfriend and you can’t take the drama but somewhere deep inside, you want that one to call your own, have your own drama, your own make-up, break-up and make-up cycle. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. A lot of people make this mistake of wishing for someone else’s relationship, just because you see them in ‘and co’ at a wedding, rolling up in the new Mercedes he just bought or him giving her his car to drive around or seeing her carrying designer bags or buying all sort of things for her man. People don’t seem to understand that a lot of times in relationships, financial compensation is used to replace love or make up for something horrid which the other may have done or plan to do – perhaps, that could be the only way they know how to show love without the emotional and friendship bond lovers should have. Being a friend to someone in a ‘happy’ relationship isn’t always easy. You always feel like a third wheel, alone during the weekends (because you have lost your ‘wingman’ or ‘wing woman’). I have also found that there are friends who genuinely love being around their friends’ relationship, because it brings some sort of happiness for them. There’s actually a psychological condition where people don’t look for lives of their own but latch on to other people’s happiness as compensation for what they have been missing in their lives; this also causes the person to get much more emotionally involved and invested in their friends’ or family’s relationship. It really happens and I am sure a lot of you reading this now are having a de ja vu and things are slowly adding up. There are a lot of instances with friends and relationships, especially the insecurity bit, allowing your friend get close to your partner and for good cause. You hear a lot of times when some people try to be kind by introducing their friends to their boyfriend or girlfriend. The duo forms a bond behind the lines and next thing everyone knows this caring friend is out of the picture and her two friends get engaged – behind her back. Love is a risk and friendships are still a risk. It is not easy loving and caring for another person but with every risk there’s a claim of higher reward. It is important to not reduce your time with your friends, because you are now in a relationship. Trust me; when the dirt hits the fan, or good news comes, these friends are the same one you will have to depend on. Do not discard your friendships because your lover is now your ‘best friend’. Nurture the good friendships that kept you company before your ‘one’ came along. It’ll save you always and don’t forget to put God in all you do – that’s your northern star.
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— African proverb
www.miseducationofmimi.blogspot.com Mimidoo Achineku is a PR consultant in the SME, TV & Film industry. She is a blogger, fabulous, old, depending on who you ask and she isn’t lonely!
48 FRIDAY SPECIAL/BOOKS & ARTS
July 4, 2014
With Chikelu Chinelo & Onukogu Kanayo Jubal
A Combination of Music, Theatre And A Drowned Parade Contemporary America Bluegrass group, Henhouse Prowlers are set to perform in the Abuja Music Festival, tomorrow at the FCT Pavilion in continuation of its month-long tour of West Africa this year. Meanwhile, the Arojah Royal Theatre, in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy, Nigeria, will feature a stage performance of Swedish playwright, August Strindberg’s Dance of Death 1. The play, directed by Jibrin Ahmed and produced by Om’oba Jerry Adesewo, is hosted by the Swedish ambassador, Svante Kilander, and will feature twice (3pm and 5.30 pm) on Saturday, June 28, at the embassy’s premises in Asokoro, Abuja. The nine-year-old group, made up of four string instrumentalists, major in bluegrass music, ranging from original story-lined pieces, traditional songs and contemporary covers. The group’s recent album, Breaking Ground, draws from its well of experience, heightened by time, collaboration and an almost countless tour of US cities, as well as Europe. The album, which features guest stars Josh Williams of Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass, was produced by Grammy-nominated band leader Greg Cahill. Described by Sound Fuse as “straightlaced, tight-knit, bam-bumming bluegrass,” the group is a proud winner of 2013 American Music Abroad Award, 2010 RockyGrass Festival Award, Tell-Uride Bluegrass Festival 2010, Chicago Music Award 2010 and a couple of others. The group has performed in over 13 festivals. The group includes 38-year-old banjo player, Ben Wright, bass player and vocalist Jon Goldfine, 26-year-old guitarist and Latino advocate Starr Moss and Dan Andree, the latest entrant of the group. The Prowlers hands-on involvement in musical education programmes in Chicago during off tour seasons and free schedules combines a career in musical teaching and performance which has culminated in a successful hour-length orchestra instruction schedule and performances in schools on the basics of bluegrass music and the importance of music in the American culture. The group will be visiting public and private schools, as well as universities and orphanages in the FCT, Nassarawa State, as well as the US Mission, Nigeria, for the Fourth of July (Independence Day) Celebration next week Friday. Meantime, heavy downpour last Saturday disrupted the entire parade of the musical repertoire set to thrill the audience at the Institute Francais’ World Music Festival. The music festival which everyone eagerly waited for, after the poor talenthunt show (which was riddled with unexpected changes and ill advised contender pickings), was disrupted by heavy downpour which lasted over three hours, from 5.30pm to 8.00pm. This greatly discouraged music lovers who had all come to witness the event scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm.
Death And The King’s Grey Hair Is About Abuse Of Power – Abdullahi
Revolutionising Environmentalism With Multi-media, ‘Upcycled’ Art
Author Denja Abdullahi talks about his newest work and explains a few things about its theme and surrounding ideas with ‘Books & Art’. The title Death and the King’s Grey Hair calls to mind one of the early works of Soyinka Death and the King’s Horseman, you mentioned, in the author’s note, that the book came to mind after you heard your lecturer talk about the Jukun tradition. How much inspiration was drawn from Soyinka’s work?
You may wish to know that the original title of the play at the time it was written in 1994 was Never Grow Old, King! The title it carries now which echoes Soyinka’s own work is just my attempt at giving it a title in contemporary times that will draw some critical attention, which is not altogether farfetched from the contents of the work itself. Agreed [what] I had in mind as I was writing the play [was] to give it a kind of language that will compare with Soyinka’s mastery of the form in Death and the King’s Horseman. The success of Soyinka’s experiment in the aforementioned work is that the language in its heightened form befits the high tragic propensity of the subject matter. In my own piece, I tried to achieve that same marriage of content and form. That much was the inspiration I drew from Soyinka. What themes did you address in the work? What do you expect readers to take away from it?
The themes are about the transitory nature of power and glory, sacrificial leadership and adherence to societal norms and traditions. I expect the readers to take away the value of eternal vigilance in face of power and authority. The lead literature has movements instead of acts. Would you call this an experiment?
There is nothing novel about the movements as many writers before me have used such format. The novel thing about it is that it was our own homegrown way of demarcating our dramatic enactments in line with the African performance reality. How much of the events in the play is fiction and how much portrayed the extinct tradition of the Jukuns?
The whole events in the play are fictional and never a portrayal of any remembered reality of the Jukun’s extinct tradition. It was a
myth I overheard and ran away with to write a play on power and its possible abuses. Surprisingly, I haven’t even bothered to find out if the myth even exists in the remembered history of the Jukuns. Now that I have written and published the play, someone can carry the investigation further. The book is published this year but the author’s note was written in 1994. What made you decide to publish this year?
I decided to publish this year, because the play is now ready for wider dissemination. Since it was written, the play has been produced as a play – and you know a play has to be produced on stage first before it is deemed fit to be reduced to a permanent print. It has stayed in the closet long enough for public airing. In your opinion, what is the role of a writer in the society?
The writer is the conscience of the society and the unacknowledged legislator of his society like someone said. The writer is also the visionary functionary of his society. Do you support the notion that authors have no need to be activists (or emotionally involved) in the polity, since it is bound to affect their writings?
Yes, I am in full support of that principle; anything otherwise can be just an exercise in mere narcissistic futility. The writer has to be found somewhere contributing his or her worthwhile quota to building the society. He may not necessary be the firebrand activists in the mould of Wole Soyinka or Ken Saro Wiwa, but he can be the quiet affirmer of communal ethos and memory like Chinua Achebe and his ilk. You have such characters as ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘youth’. Why did you make the characters faceless, without personalities?
In drama you can have such characters who appear faceless but are carriers of communal resolve and aspiration. That is why they are often left like that without identifiable personalities.
Nigerian artists have revolutionised movement to protect the environment through the sensitisation of the public to imbibe environmental practices, appreciate and embrace a clean and green environment in a multi-media exhibition organised by the International Institute for Creative Development (IICD) in conjunction with the United States of America Mission in Nigeria. The eight artists commemorated the World Environment Day sensitising the public to appreciate and embrace environmental conservation practices through exclusive multi-digital media and ‘Upcycled Art’. Multi-media arts include photography, constructed photography (CGI), videography and installations. Upcycling means the use of material in its original form to create something beautiful and useful, but recycling is the altering of a material to produce another useful substance or material. The CEO, IICD, Ndubuisi White, explained that both organisations chose to exhibit an exclusive and unpopular genre of art in the country, and in an upper class society, because it is most suitable for young people, who are a huge part of their audiences. According to White, the reason for this is because a large number of youths today, no matter their residence, use ‘smart’ phones, through which they can easily download, upload and share images and information. “The first thing that registered in mind when I came to Nigeria was the [amount of] discarded satchets and empty bottles of water that littered almost every part of the (Abuja) city. These, when compacted and decomposed over time, pose problems to the environment,” noted U.S Cultural Affairs Officer Bill Strassberger. Reflecting on human contribution to environmental pollution and degradation, Chinenye Godsproperty’s photographs, Under Siege 1 & 2, tell a wonderful story with its thousands of non-decomposable empty plastic water bottles. Like its name, our vegetation is under siege by poor disposal of both. In Mama Africa, Osagie David constructed a photograph which personalises Africa, as she is bombarded by several environmental disasters from gas emissions to floods, storms and erosions which lead to displacement of people or desertification, as the case may be. Kenny Odili’s photograph freezes to a perfect balance and proportion, the endless villainous smoke of burning petroleum left behind in the sea by ‘oil bunkers’ in Rivers State. His style is the implied juxtaposition of two opposites – beauty and the eyesore – as seen in another photograph that reveals layers of decay and odour beneath the popular Slaughter Area Bridge in Port Harcourt.
BOOKS FROM BACK THEN
My Mercedes Is Bigger Than Yours (Nkem Nwankwo, 1975) My Mercedes Is Bigger than Yours is actually a morally cautionary tale narrated in acerbic, socially realistic style. Although the snobbery and false values of the young man on the make, Onuma Okude, are the main targets of the narrator’s im-
plicit disdain, the narrative does not, in general, uphold the traditional village lifestyle as an ideal in contrast with Onuma’s ‘city slicker’ preferences for glamorous activities and conspicuous consumption. In fact, the author does little to off-
set Onuma’s revulsion at the general squalor and bleakness by which the young man feels beset on his first visit home after his 15-year absence at high school and university and in his public relations job with a foreign shipping firm.
July 4, 2014
49
50 my town
July 4, 2014
By M.R. Is’haq
Succession Amongst the Kaduna Gbagyi there are two different customs relating to the succession of chiefs. By one method it passes to the son or, failing him, the younger brother of the late chief. The second system alternates between two families, but a chief does not inherit the throne, until a full year after his predecessor’s death. After this period a feast is held which lasts for eight days. On the last day the head wife of the late chief is produced and bathed. She is then clothed in the deceased’s trousers and robes and dons his sword. The people, who have all assembled to see her come out from the house, acknowledge that the chief is not dead but has come back. All the men salute her before dispersing. That same day the late chief’s eldest son is taken away and hidden for seven days, whilst a robe and a cap are made for him out of nine pieces of cloth. These are then taken to his house, where four young girls massage him. The townsmen reassemble with offereings of a ram, a he-goat, fowls and beer, with which they enter his house. These animals are slaughtered with the knife of the late chief, and after it is sprinkled with blood they say “Oh knife, behold thy husband (referring to the late chief’s son), may his town be prosperous. We marry thee to him, do thou give him prosperity for the sake of his parents and forefathers. May he rule the village well.” The elders then inform the district head who has been chosen and he obtains a rawani (robe), cap and sandals, and confirms the appointment. The ceremony is concluded by seven days’ feasting. Etiquette On meeting a superior a Gbagyi will kneel and sprinkle dust on his head, while he touches his forehead several times with the palm of his hand. On formal occasions, a heap of ashes is provided in place of dust, and is sprinkled in the same way before the man advances to make his salute. After his greeting, he returns to the ashes and repeats the procedure two more times. Administration All these districts are administered by a council of chiefs and elders, under the chairmanship of a head-man who has, however, no independent authority. In the emirates he is responsible to the emir. The social organisation is in families, all of whom live together in one ward where each man has his own house. Before the advent of the Fulani, there was no evidence as to what form of taxation existed – probably only gaisuwa as in Kuta, but subsequently, gandu and jangali were commonly collected, as well as a gaisuwa of varying amounts from different districts. For instance, the people of Bosso paid fifty slaves annually, the average value being 200,000 cowries a head. The administration of law varies considerably according to districts, but it was customary for the head-man to judge all cases in the presence of the chiefs (sarakuna). Resultantly, a fine of cowries and goats, which usually formed part of the
The Gbagyis have, undeniably, evolved over time. photo by Patrick Ebi-Amanama.
The Origin Of The Gbagyi Tribe (2) sentence, was divided amongst the court. Serious crimes were brought before the suzerain. A murderer in Bosso and in Kuta invariably fled and was not pursued, but his compound, with all its occupants and belongings were confiscated. Half was given to the family of the victim, a quarter to the head-man and a quarter to the elders. The relatives of a murderer could condone their share in the offence by immediately bringing a goat and a cow to the headman, who divides it amongst elders. A murderess was sent back to her father and remained outside the township. If a stranger committed a murder the aggrieved villager was allowed to kill any member of the murderer’s community. Fourteen years was the age when a boy became responsible for his own crimes. In Fuka the suzerain habitually awarded slavery in punishment for all serious crimes. Were a foreigner to commit theft, he was invariably killed. In Gini, he was caught and sold into slavery. In Bosso and Kuta a thief was obliged to make full restitution, in addition to the court fee of two cows or two hundred
cowries. For assault a man was fined one cow or a hundred cowries. Anyone abroad at night and failing to answer to a challenge was shot. Girls and boys under 10 years of age were not tried. Their relatives were held responsible. The matter was usually settled with the headman. In Abuja, small offences were dealt with by the village or district head, but cases of crime had to be appealed to the Sarkin Abuja, who held both the criminal and his family to ransom for the crimes. A murderer was punished by death. The Gbagyin Yamma punish murder and theft alike by death, manslaughter by compensation and rape by a fine of 20,000 to 100,000 cowries. Land Tenure In Kuta, all parcels of land are owned by the community and every village has wellknown boundaries, be they in the bush or in cultivated land. Disputes over village boundaries are settled by the district chief in council, and disputes over farm boundaries by the village head-man and
If I am in harmony with my family, that’s success.
― African Proverb
his elders. The village head-man has power to make a grant of any land within his boundary not already granted to someone else. The man to whom the grant is made will pay one bundle of guinea-corn the first year. Land so granted cannot be taken away again and is held by the grantee in perpetuity, but it cannot be alienated, except by voluntary resignation, to the village head-man. Farm lands permanently deserted, i.e., not merely resting, automatically revert to the village head-man. A grant of land obtained from the village head-man within the village for building purpose is also a permanent grant. If, however, there is a debt on the house, i.e., in default of payment, the builder can enter and occupy it if he so wishes. The house can be redeemed at any time by the grantee of the land or his successors. All trees are the property of the occupant of the land on which they grow. Trees in open spaces are the property of the head-man of the village, who holds them as he does the unoccupied bush, on behalf of the community at large, and trees in the market are similarly the property of the Sarkin Kasuwa. Locust bean, spondias lutea, shea-butter (dorowa, dunya, kadainya) and other fruitbearing bearing or good shade trees, may not be cut in the bush. Other trees can be cut. Rivers and streams belong to the owners of the land on either bank, but anyone can draw water. Fish are the property of the owners of the streams. Streams in unoccupied bush and water lying in marshland are public property and anyone can fish in them. Strangers, however, may only fish with the permission of the head-man in whose territory the water is, and a present of six to ten fishes is made at the commencement of the fishing. The Fulani get permission to graze their cattle from the village head-man and make a present of a sheep or a small cow according to the size of the herd. In the case of damage to crops, if the damage is not made good by the herdsmen, the dispute is settled by the village head-man and his council. The same principle obtains throughout all the Gbagyi districts. Land is communal and the rights of occupancy are granted by the head-man of the district. Though trees on the farm are the property of the occupier, a foreigner has no right to the enjoyment of locust bean trees. However, locust bean trees, if found in the bush, they are communal. All people who take up land in Abuja have to accept the sarki as their chief and pay him a tax, whereas it is customary elsewhere for the occupant of a farm to pay the tax to his own village chief and only pay gaisuwa to the local chief. Elsewhere, in Nasarawa, a stranger is only allowed to cultivate land at a time when the natives of that township wish it to be so. In Birnin Gwari, the head of the family obtains a right of occupancy from the sarki and all the family work on that farm, though younger sons and dependents each have little farms of their own. When no longer occupied the ground reverts to the tribe.
Feature 51
July 4, 2014
The Agony Of Business Proprietors After Nyanya Blasts By Abah Adah, Abuja
Though the incidence of two successive bomb blasts that rocked Nyanya, one of Abuja’s busiest suburban towns may be fast fading from the memory of many Nigerians, residents of the area are still grappling with the effects of the tragic occurrence. The negative impact of the after-blast appears to be more severe in business areas in and around the Nyanya Market which used to be a beehive of activities before the blasts. When LEADERSHIP FRIDAY visited the area, almost all the business owners around the area, mostly small-scale, confessed to recording an all-time low turn-over as a result of the ugly incidence. A shop owner and electronics dealer in the market, Paul Ezekaka, said business has nose-dived since the bombing. While commending the government for what he called “improved security” in the area, he said people are still steering clear of the area due to fear of another possible explosion. He, however, used the opportunity to call on all Nigerians who used to buy and sell in the market to return and rest assured of safety as, according to him, security and safety of lives and property is guaranteed to a very large extent, due to the presence of a combined team of security officers deployed to the area who are working round the clock to forestall a repeat of the unfortunate act. “The soldiers, the police, the civil defence, and the other security outfits are doing their best, leaving no stone unturned as they stop and search moving cars, parked cars and even loitering individuals,” he said. As Agbo Kenneth, the owner of Jival Investment Company, another electronics dealer within the market, put it, “The volume of business activities in Nyanya has dropped significantly after the bomb incident.” He attributed it to the customers who stay away over fear of another possible attack. Agbo advised that abandoning the market is not the best safety measure anyone could take, since “the evil doers can strike anywhere in and around or even beyond Abuja if they see an opportunity to do so anytime any day”. Agbo said the presence of the security officers in Nyanya now is enough to tell the citizens that the regrettable incidence will not repeat itself and called on Nigerians to come for business without any fear. Agbo, however, identified the main challenge to be the epileptic power supply which he said has prevented the smooth-running of businesses. He also pointed at the failure of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) officials to evacuate waste in the area and the poor road network within the market. “Everywhere you go, you can see blocked drainages and dirt littered all over the place. This has resulted to blocked drainages and stench around the market,” Agbo said.
The bomb blast which occured on April 14, 2014 (insert) has had its share of effect on commercial activities around Nyanya. Another business proprietor, Zack Anne, also confirmed that though business was at its lowest in the months following the Nyanya bomb blasts, things are beginning to look up. While commending the heavy presence of security officers in the area, she enjoined government not to relent in its effort to provide sustained security by getting the security agents to maintain unflinching surveillance of the area to forestall the possibility of the ugly incident occurring again. Another shop-owner who sells assorted kitchen utensils said she normally sits idle, because customers were scared of coming to the market. Anne attributed the development partly to the fear of another possible attack and the economic situation in the country, and advised the government of the day to take every necessary step to forestall further deterioration of the economy and the security situation. “It is true that people are afraid to come to Nyanya, but I think economic hardship is also a factor. At times, people call and ask you if you are still in Nyanya. We are in Nyanya and the heavy presence of security personnel is enough to say that the area is safe for business. People should come,” she entreated. Mrs Bolus Danjuma, also a dealer in kitchen utensils expressed her worries over the poor market in Nyanya. But she did not blame the woe on fear of another blast wholly. She maintained
that the lack of parking space for motorists who usually stopped to buy one or two things from road-side sellers in Nyanya compounded the problem. She said since the closure of the Nyanya Park after the blasts, those who even wish to stop and buy things cannot do so, as they are not allowed to park by the roadside. She, therefore, called on the authorities to restore normal park operations for people to have a place to park and do business in the Nyanya market. “How can you come with your car to buy something and not see a place to park?” she asked. “I think that this, in addition to the scare caused by the bombings, have led to the low level of business activities being witnessed by business owners at the Nyanya market,” she pointed out. She expressed doubt over the ability of those doing business in the area to “pay the huge rent” they usually pay for their shops if the situation persists. A road-side food vendor also complained of low patronage which she said was not the case before the unfortunate blasts. According to her, the situation is compounded by the demolition of some dwellings in the area. “This has dislodged many in the area who used to patronise my business. Worse, motorists are not allowed to park by security agents, since the blasts occurred,” she said. One Ifako Chibuzo, who is also a business owner in the area, told LEADERSHIP FRIDAY that her present daily
You always learn a lot more when you lose than when you win. ― African proverb
sales is a far cry from what was obtainable before the blasts. For her, the issue was not the bomb-scare. “The sudden demolition exercise carried out in the area by the FCT authorities which has dislodged many shopowners and buyers is the main problem here. Customers used to come in droves before the blasts, but now all they do is trickle in. Now, I will be surprised if anyone here makes about N1,000 daily,” she said. One thing is certain; Nyanya will never be the same again. Not after the bomb blasts which has left the place a shadow of its former self and the palpable fear which has made the people suspicious of embracing their former lifestyles.
Anne attributed the development partly to the fear of another possible attack and the economic situation in the country, and advised the government of the day to take every necessary step to forestall further deterioration of the economy and the security situation
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July 4, 2014
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DARLING
HUSBAND
His Excellency, Ambassador
Nuhu Audu Bajoga Deputy Governor, Kaduna State
Your Excellency, as you mark another milestone, there is no doubt you have not failed to avail yourself for service to humanity at every stage in your life. You have impacted greatly not only on the lives of the people of Kaduna State, but also the country at large through your so many contributions in various spheres of human endeavours. As we all celebrate your 65th birthday today, on behalf of your loving children, grandchildren and the entire family, I sincerely and humbly wish you God’s nonstop favour, blessings, guidance, protection, abundant peace of mind, and good health. Wishing you happy birthday and long life in Jesus name, Amen.
Signed: Her Excellency
Mrs. Naomi Nuhu A. Bajoga Wife of the Deputy Governor Kaduna State.
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July 4, 2014
Advertorial
AS KATSINA PREPARES TO HOLD LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS, OPPOSITION RUN INTO PANIC
I
n the last few days, some desperate politicians in Katsina State have been very busy struggling to come to terms with the reality that at last their popularity--or lack of it-will be put to the test on 2nd August 2014, as the State Government releases the time table and guidelines for the local council elections in the State. In this oncoming election, local council chairmen and ward councillors would be elected directly by the people in all the 34 Local Government Area Councils of the state.
Under normal circumstances, one would expect all political players in the state to be excited and upbeat about this; since everybody now has a chance to ex their muscle and test their popularity and acceptability with the people at the all-important grassroots level of the state. After all what better way is there for those who claim to be popular with the ordinary people than a contest in which the same ordinary people would be the ultimate deciders? But amazingly in Katsina State, where some members of the opposition political parties, especially the All Progressives Congress, (APC), had once boasted that it was ready for local council elections even if it is held "tomorrow", the opposite is the case.Those same boastful 'newspaper opposition' parties are now running around in utter confusion and singing all sorts of discordant tunes without making any sense at all. Except, that is, exposing their vulnerability and consequent panic! On Monday through Wednesday for example, the freshly elected chairman of the APC Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, wrote what I can only describe as a weird letter to the Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) Chairman, complaining about virtually everything. The only thing he lacked the strength to admit was that he and his party are not prepared for the election and will do anything to dodge the imminent embarrassment that awaits them come 2/8/14. Mr. APC Chairman in his letter complained about the date and duration of time given for campaign, the money for the purchase of form, the voters register, the age limit for contestants, the minimum educational requirement; and blah blah blah! His letter which was obviously a product of a cornered politician confronting the ultimate test of popularity completely missed the point of the entire exercise. Despite being a party chairman and a former high ranking government funct ionary, Mr. Inuwa appeared oddly uninformed of some very basic political and legal processes: Mainly that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives the responsibility for conducting elections into local council ofces to the State House of Assembly, which in turn is vested with the powers to enact state laws for creating a State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), that is in turn given the sole responsibility to conduct local council elections in accordance with the laws establishing it. It is to be noted that in the
exercise of its powers the KTSIEC had been very considerate: the law said a minimum of 21 days, but SIEC makes it 60 days; and the complain about the fees for the contest forms is silly, to say the least. Why should a person vying for a very critical ofce of Local Government Chairman complain that N250,000 is too much to purchase a form? He or she must demonstrate that he he they have attained a certain level of income to avoid suspicion that they are hungry and going I there to steal public money; besides these are times when responsible State Governments exploit every opportunity to raise the level of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). In his apparently poorly thought out letter of complaint, not once did Inuwa cite the katsina State House of assembly Law to show non compliance with the Law establishing the Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) by the Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC); instead he ignorantly misconstrued the relevant laws dealing with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which is saddled with conducting elections at the federal level, and curiously went on to demand that KTSIEC must comply with them. What a pity! Where is all the boasting, all the bravado about the APC being the party to beat in Katsina??? Because all along the political opposition in katsina had been a mere media propaganda, somehow a correspondent of a credible publication like the LEADERSHIP newspaper, whose penchant for lazy, biased and illiterate reporting has been exposed over time, wrote a typically one sided political report published in the LEADERSHIP newspaper edition of 2/7/14, where he rambled on and on about how the oncoming local government elections will play out in katsina State. Rather than show evidence of the level of preparedness of the various political parties, and from that infer which party might lose and which might win, the reporter shockingly tried to give silly interpretations of why two incumbent caretaker chairmen (out of 34) failed to get their party's ticket to contest the chairmanship elections in their respective Local Councils. In his very clumsy attempt to play out the script of those he wished to appease, the reporter alleged, for example that the "scion" (to use his inelegant and illiterate choice of word) of Alhaji Isa Kaita failed was dropped because of his fathers closeness to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Really? So when the same young man was appointed caretaker chairman for three years, the state governor that appointed him did not know that his father is close to Atiku? Pray how much is the conscience of some journalists worth? Well for the record, if we are to even reduce ourselves to the level of this half-educated reporter's level, and dignify the reporters allegation with a clarication, what the dropping of Isa Kaita's son shows is the fact that the selection process that produced the party's candidates for the oncoming elections in all the
Local Governments was done without sentiments and without any considerations for who is behind which candidate. It is a vital evidence of the transparency of the process. And that is why the PDP in Katsina state is set to win the elections free and square, because it has put forward the right candidates and had respected the wishes of the people. My sincere and candid advice to Mr. Inuwa is to go back to the drawing board (if he has any) and prepare to confront the decisive battlle of REALITY VERSUS FICTION; PROPAGANDA VERSUS PERFORMANCE; that is facing him.It is decision time now and the people are ready to make their point. I would like to offer the same advice to another "Wannabe" opposition political party in the State, the barely visible and barely breathing Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). Mired I. It's own confusion and lack of focus, the PDM like the APC is also showing visible evidence (not signs) of fear and panic. The people are watching and ready. I have maintained that Governor Ibrahim Shema is a decisive, serious political player who walks his talks. All along while the opposition was screaming for the State Government to organize local council elections, Governor Shema had kept his peace; now that he has given them what they have been asking for, they are behaving like sh out of water. Yesterday I noticed that the KTSIEC Chairman has replied the APC Chairman's letter which was published in the Daily Trust and LEADERSHIP newspapers of yesterday 2/7/14. The SIEC Chairman's response was a classic example of a matured and educated mind. The response simply insisted that KTSIEC stands by its actions and it is done in accordance with the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In effect the KTSIEC Chairman is politely telling the APC Chair and indeed all interested contending parties in the elections to go and read the Constitution AGAIN! In conclusion I would also like to offer a helpful advice to Mr. Inuwa: In Katsina, elections are not and have never been won I. The pages of newspapers. The reality of the situation is simply that APC, PDM, etc are not on ground in Katsina State and that reality is about to be exposed with the local council elections. As the saying goes in Hausa: "Rana bata karya sai dai uwar diya tayi kunya". Loosely translated it means: The date of a wedding will not fail to arrive, it is the mother of the bride that must face her day of shame (for being unprepared for the wedding). Now that we are moving towards the D-Day, those who have been going round peddling lies in newspapers and other channels are about to be shamed and they are scared. That is the reason why despite their many degrees, they are reading our laws upside down; applying laws made for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), in this particular case KTSIEC.
SIGNED: Murtala Dahiru For: Katsina State Vanguard for Peace and Development.
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July 4, 2014
Bernard Okhakume
Brand Management Inquest (1) ...Who Manages Your Brand?
MC & A Weekly Digest market consumer advertising 08053040003
This is the first of a series we shall be working through for some time, in examining the process of marketing and brands management, towards actualising a mutually beneficial market inter-relationship between brand owners & consumers. Within this complex is a peculiar player not easily comprehended in stature and effect; one so quiet, yet wields so much influence it assumes the posture of a colossus. The potency of its power and influence is in its power over the MIND. Characteristic of underdeveloped economy lacking in sophistication professionalism is too quickly compromised on the basis of cost and other consideration. We have taken part in discussions and seminar where literacy/education has even been considered as over-riding determinant of business growth. Considered from many angles, this position seems apt as a summary. What else could be blamed for marketing or brand management decision not based on scientific deduction? What else would you consider the problem with a brand owner/ manager who thinks the brand or product will find its way in the market – all by its self? The elementary stage of learning the ropes in the wonderful science of brands management (special focus on advertising and marketing communication), threw up the overriding importance of persuasive thinking too
mcaandadigestweekly@gmail.com
frequently it guides practitioners’ way of life at maturity. In fact the need for proactive reasoning and activity underscores the importance of persuasive thinking. All of these are geared towards achieving ‘desired influence’ over the target’s MIND. Decision to engage a brand or product is a product of careful consideration, based on the mind. Therefore, it is imperative that that mind that will make the vital decision be well fed with information. Within the context of the brand-consumer interrelationship, therefore, we need to appreciate the importance of identifying that gap between the brand/product and the consumer, and the reason-for and methods of closing that gap profitably! We think that sums the activity called marketing. Hence our question this week WHO MANAGES YOUR BRAND? Somewhere above we indicated sophistication as determinant of extent of success. Marketing practice in Nigeria has really evolved. We now have a large pool of experts too many to count, in various aspects of the profession, over time since mid-1970s. Creativity has become more robust in the process. But of critical concern here is the aspect of brands management typical of advertising and marketing communication practice. For the purpose of this write-up let’s rest
the reference to this group as Advertising Agency. Otherwise, practitioners now come in different names and categories including Brands management Consultants! Advertising practise is a profession practiced by minds trained and conditioned in the art and science of bridging the gap between brands and consumer. While they cannot be said to be of exclusive breed to the extent of their know-how and profession, they represent that gate-keeper independent of parochial influence for the brand’s success. They are better positioned to look at brands without undue emotion, prejudice (and even pride) like brand owner or inside-managers are wont to do. I have listened to brand manag-
FRIDAY SPECIAL/ business 1:0:1 Agrobusiness with Agbaji Chinedu
for enquires email: fridayleadership@leadership.ng Soursop (Annona muricata L.), known as Ebo in Yoruba, Sawansop in Igbo and Tuwon biri in Hausa, is a shrub or small tree 3-10 meters in height. It is adapted to warm, humid tropical climate, and can tolerate both drought conditions and partial shade. The fruit consists of about 67.5% edible white pulp with a pleasing fragrance and flavor. It is a good source of vitamins B and C with some calcium and phosphorus. This plant is relatively safe from grazing animals. Actual observation revealed that even goats do not feed on them. However, just like other crops, they can be damaged by trampling of large animals. The plant also has a short juvenile phase. It starts flowering 2 to 4 years from seed. But old, bare-root transplants were observed to start flowering from as early as 6 months after transplanting. To grow soursop in commercial scale, the following farming methods are recommended: Variety Selection. Choose either of the two types: sweet or sour. The sweet type is preferred for eating, the sour type for processing into guyabano juice. The sweet type has generally small and few seeded fruits with a sub-acid flavor.
Plant Propagation. Soursop is commonly raised from seeds. However, it can also be propagated using bareroot transplants and asexually by marcotting (air layering), budding and grafting.it germinated in 20 to 30 days. Land Preparation and Planting. Soursop may be planted at a distance of 4 m x 4 m to 7m x 7 m in square, rectangular or triangular pattern. The number of trees that a one-hectare farm can accommodate 625 to 719 . The exact number can be determined by preparing a planting layout plan. Fertilizing. To ensure vigorous growth, apply fertilizers regularly at the onset and end of the rainy season or every 6 months. Fertilizer application can be started a month after planting using ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) at the rate of 100-150 grams per tree. The rate is increased every year until the start of the fruiting stage at which time 250-300 grams of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) is applied. This amount is also increased every year from 1.5 to 3 kg plus 200300 kg of muriate of potash (0-0-60). To ensure supply of micronutrients, organic fertilizers can be incorporated in the fertilization plan. Watering. The soursop can tolerate dry conditions and in fact requires
ers eulogise their brands to high heaven, only to turn otherwise when subjected to test. Practitioners in Agencies are given to a more scientific processing of varying information for the good of the brand, more than the owner/manager. The Agency is registered to practice and interface between the brand and various other related agencies. For instance, the Agency takes heat off the brand owners/managers in dealing with government agencies and departments on issues concerning new product registration, new brand launch/market introduction and all such ancillaries. But let’s zero-in on the more grand Agency services demanding of professional competences exclusive to the Advertising Agencies. Preceding a brand’s market entry, for instance the ideal situation requires that the Agency gets involved in the process of evolving a new brand from the level of R&D (research and development). That way, the Agency is integrated in the conceptualisation of the brand’s formulation, unique offering in line with its chosen market, its positioning statement there-of, its value-essence and its marketing objective (and projection). We are leaving out fine details here, but for the benefit of our non-professional readers. ➔ TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
Soursop New Multi Million Naira Agribusiness Venture ental fruit fly. The major diseases are root rot, pink disease and anthracnose.
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a dry climate to induce synchronous flowering. However, prolonged drought will cause excessive leaf shedding. In that situation, supplementary water will be beneficial. Weeding and Mulching. Ring weeding should be done regularly. Pruning. Branch pruning should be done to disperse the remaining branches and to promote air movement and light penetration. Water sprouts, diseased and decaying branches and twigs should be removed also. Insect Pest and Disease Control. Although soursop is more resistant compared to other fruit crops, it is not entirely safe from insect pests. Insect pests that attack this crop include root grubs, mealy bugs, carpenter moth larva, scale insects and ori-
A small house will hold a hundred friends. ― African proverb
Harvesting. Soursop continues flowering year round but the peak is May to June. The fruits are harvested when fully developed and still green. They are considered mature when their spines are set far apart and the shiny green color turns dull-green or yellowish green. Selective harvesting is practiced because the fruits on a tree do not mature at the same time. PROFITABLILITY With several past researches and increasingly more current studies, this fruit is gradually coming off as a power fruit every tongue must relish. Primarily a rich source of carbohydrate, it also contains abundant vitamin C and several B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. It is also replete with calcium, phosphorus and a small amount of iron. Be part of YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS for wealth and job creation and food security.Manuals and VCD’Son Grasscutter,Snail,Ugu,goat farming are available. Agbaji chinedu,youth in Agribusiness National Coordinator 08035004617,learnder@gmail.com
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04/07/2014
Senate Confirms Shekarau, 3 Others As Ministers Eweka Egie Jonathan is recycling old politicians who have little or nothing to offer us! And they will tell us, “the youth are the leaders of tomorrow.” Abubakar Addani Suleman He will only be used to loot the treasury of this country. Joseph Mobolaji Soon, Fani Kayode, Alamaisieya, Oyinlola, Dimeji Bankole will join the list of ministers. Jonathan is the
Shekarau
Fani-Kayode To APC: I’ll Never Apologise
most corrupt and clueless president this country has ever had. Philip John The Senate should also confirm el-Rufai as Minister of Facebook Affairs! Ahijo A Tukur This is his reward for joining the PDP. Ismail Musa Well done our Sardauna! We wish you success in life.
Impeachment: Adamawa Assembly Directs CJ To Set Up Panel Ogbole Austineblack Let me ask the state House of Assembly, do they really mean business?
Keep up with updates on these stories @ www.leadership.ng You Can Follow Us On Twitter: @LeadershipNGA Facebook: Leadership Newspapers Google+: Leadership.NG Linkedin: Leadership Newspaper Blackberry PIN: 7530EC8C
‘Our Aim Is To Bring Back Chibok Girls Alive’
2015: INEC To Distribute Logistics 48hrs Ahead
Musa Othman Jibrin They are deceiving themselves! Jonathan’s boys at work!
Kayode
Omanayin Suleiman Whether you apologise or not, GEJ has no plan for you. Abubakar Sadiq Bello Shame on you, the world knows what you are up to. I don’t expect someone like you to buy favour, but that is what you appear to be doing now. Jonathan Larry Fani Kayode will never apologise for saying the truth, rather let those sponsoring Boko Haram apologise to the whole world. I weep for Nigeria, though I believe that change will come at the appointed time. Yakub Auwal Mohammed Test your popularity by contesting for an elective post under PDP and see if anyone will take you seriously. You amaze, Fani Kayode!
Sanusi Ali The IGP should order the arrest of these bandits calling themselves Adamawa legislators! Ahmad Sarki As for Almakura, let the lawmakers make no mistake or contemplate it, because it will collapse Nasarawa State. We are waiting to see the plots come to reality.
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Carnage From Boko Haram Attacks Cannot Break Up Nigeria – Soyinka Ahmed Muhammad Saba Prof., why this sudden change of posture? We have all exhausted the big “grammars!” It is now time to speak to men in the language they can understand. Prof. I stand with you, but your comment is coming rather too late.
Gamzaki Zabaro Indeed, knowledge is power! Not every Tom, Dick and Harry can become a professor! Malam Ibrahim Bature This is commendable! Words of elders!
Soyinka
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July 4, 2014
Dirty Politics Playing Out In Borno State
Stanley Nkwocha Our Eye On Power And Politics
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Senator Usman Albishir: Two Years After Governor Kashim Shettima is obviously not one being envied by his mates or a lot of Nigerians. A look at Shettima’s face shows a worried, saddened and pitiable governor whose inheritance of a crisis bequeathed to him by his predecessor has continued to mar his efforts at putting Borno State at its rightful place. Sadly, 2015 is by the corner and same characters that are responsible for emergence of the dreaded Boko Haram sect have set to work playing dirty politics. Politicians in the state who have lost hold of the structures, influence and power that they hitherto wielded in the ANPP and now APC, both in the state and at the national level, have recruited the services of power mongers to add to the worries of the governor. Suddenly, out of the blues, an alleged Boko Haram member ‘confessed’ to Shettima’s sponsorship of the sect and how he allegedly committed ‘murder’ to become governor. Not done also, Shettima is now alleged to be a thief who has stolen billions of naira, and it is only now that a sacked commissioner has found it worthy to publish it in his newspaper. This is even as attempts to pitch President Jonathan and the military against Shettima failed. The good news is that enlightened minds quickly dismiss such reports as power gimmicks and strategies while for the ordinary people, abandoned with their governor in Borno to suffer the cruelty of insurgency bequeathed on them by a mindless administration, gone are the days of deceitful politics. It is hoped that 2015 will entrench a new order in Borno State. The devastation, destruction and deaths of Nigerians in Borno and other parts of the country, will never be forgotten. For it is the height of gross wickedness for politicians to assume politics can be mixed with such horrific acts, even when those playing this dirty politics are known to have masterminded and bequeathed to Borno and Nigeria at large such national malady. It is unfortunate.
It has been two years since Senator Usman Albishir passed on. The three term Yobe North Senator lived a life worthy of emulation. Hardly, any politician from Yobe State emerged without Albishir’s support. Even when his political misfortune did set in, never did he take it personal , not
even when his close associates were guilty of this. It’s been two years now and reading the tributes paid to him by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar only showed a character whose shoes are truly difficult to fill. Wish genuine kind words will be used on most politicians when they leave. You will continue to live in our hearts Senator Albishir. Continue to rest in perfect peace.
Stan’s Memo
Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it - Thomas Jefferson
Still On Chibok Girls
It is now about 81 days since the Chibok girls went missing via their abduction by the Boko Haram sect. And gradually the campaign for the release of the girls seem to be waning. While we as a nation can afford to sweep certain things under the carpet, I dare say
that the Chibok girls’ saga is one that must not and would not be swept under the carpet as it would mark the lowest ebb we may ever fall into as a nation. If the pains of the parents of these students is appreciated, then there is the need for the government to intensify efforts for their release. While we may have the comfort of having our kids and wards around us and assured of their safety in our homes, we must also spare time to think if this were not the case as it is with the parents of these girls at the moment. I am particularly worried that the hope that we expressed on arrival of the Americans and others in helping us get the girls is fast fading. History will never forgive us if this case dies a natural death. No matter what it takes, these girls must be brought back!
i
Musings Was with a lawyer friend of mine at the weekend who said something that has kept me reeling with laughter. He said “ Ol boy, di way those boys dey spend money go shock you. Dem even dey talk say instead wen food go dey for pot make belle tear”. If you guess well you may guess right ‘the boys’ being talked about here!
Mu’azu: The ‘Danger’ Man In The Polity There is something about Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) national chairman, Dr Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu. There is just something about the way he plays politics. And I hope that the opposition is noting it. Since assuming office, the PDP has regalvanised, stopped the poaching of its members, regained it’s majority status in the House of Representatives., won the Ekiti governorship election and gaining confidence by the day. It is clear that if nothing is working for the party, at least Mu’azu’s agility , strength and above all depth politicking is working for it. It is impressive that the chairman is doing less talk and more work and
really up and doing. The opposition in my opinion would have to develop a strategy to tame Mu’azu as in my opinion, he is the ‘dangerous man in the hood’ and not the rigging that the party has always been ridiculed for.
Power Play: Lai Mohammed Vs Fani Kayode The exchange of words between national publicity secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and former APC member and erstwhile minister for aviation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode suggests
that the daggers are out between both men. Ever since Fani Kayode left the APC , he has not not been kind with words for the APC. He has termed Boko Haram the armed
wing of the APC, while Lai Mohammed ,replying for the APC, says Fani Kayode has cut a deal over his case with the EFCC through the Federal Government. With both lawyers
threatening to drag each other to court and spitting out real venom , it is clear that the tides are rough. Ego has set in and in this fight, 2015 will have the final say.
Not every movement is progress; Some movements are just a way of burning fats! ― Israelmore Ayivor
politics
July 4, 2014
by Abu Nmodu, Minna
The death of Senator Dahiru Aweisu came as a shock to many, especially, those of his immediate family. The vacuum left behind by his death will remain vacant, as far as his family is concerned. Politically, late Dahiru was a rallying point for his senatorial district, especially the youths whom he helped to be meaningfully engaged. The senator’s death has, however, not only created a vacuum in his family but also the political landscape of Niger-East senatorial district, with about ten months to go at the seventh Senate. According to constitutional provision, the seat of the senatorial district must be filled within three months. By inference a bye-election will be conducted to the Senate for the Niger-East senatorial district within the period. As usual, politicians have kick-started their political machines in the senatorial district. The late Dahiru was alleged not to be in good terms with the governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, over issues relating to the late lawmaker’s ambition to return to the senate in 2015. According to speculations, having completed his two terms as governor, Mu’azu’s eyes are on the seat. Despite these specualtions, Mu’azuhas constantly insisted that there was no “bad blodd” between him and Dahiru. Recently, at the valedictory sessions held by the Senate and the Niger State House of Assembly in honour of Dahiru, Mu’azu maintained that the late senator was his “political confidant and not an adversary”. “Some people said we quarrelled, [but] as far as I know, there was no quarrel. But in the field of politics certain variables come to play,” Mu’azu said. Notwithstanding, the explanation has not ruled out the typical politicking which accompanies a vacant elective stool. It has been revealed that schemes are being drawn up by the governor to ensure that a stopgap senator of Mu’azu’s liking will be voted in to the position, until Mu’azu has served his term as governor and is ready to vie for the position. Another source told LEADERSHIP FRIDAY that the governor may shop for a candidate from either Suleja Emirate or Kalgara Emirate as a stop-gap lawmaker, before the governor, who is from Minna Emirate, can take up the position in 2015. However, according to sources, Mu’azu is finding it difficult to get a stop-gap candidate who he can trust. In another development, LEADERSHIP FRIDAY understands that political allies of the late Dahiru are ready to work against the interest of the governor and the ruling party, in spite of the governor’s denial of any form of political altercation with late Dahiru when he was alive. “It will be very difficult for the governor to achieve his aim, because no matter who he brings to hold on for him till 2015, there is [the] likelihood that the person will be carried away by the office come 2015,” said a politician.
Aliyu
Umaru
Senator Kuta’s Demise Triggers Search For True Representation Another observed that, “the party will get it wrong if they take the senate seat from Minna Emirate, because the late Dahiru Aweisu is from Minna Emirate. Moreover, such agenda, if planned, will backfire.” All those who are kicking against Mu’azu’s plan and the scheme to take the seat away from Minna Emirate have reportedly mobilised massively for a candidate from the opposition; a person who will be accepted by all the interests groups. It was gathered that interests within the PDP, as well, are angling for a candidate from the All Progressive Congress (APC), who will represent the interests of the people and ward of feelings that they must have been short-changed. Meanwhile, a number of names within the PDP are being touted as fit replacements. Among them are the deputy chairmen of the PDP Tank Beji, Commissioner for Lands and Housing Dr. Peter Saleh Sarik, Commissioner for Sports Yusuf Tagwai, UBE Board Chairman Hassan Uba, Dr. Shem Nuhu Zagbayi, as well as Commissioner for Justice Abdullahi Bawa Wuse. Besides the trust issue, the ability of the favoured candidate to withstand the opposition in the forthcoming election has also become a worrisome one. Already, beyond the opposition, twotime governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) – which
is also one of the legacy parties of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) – David Umaru, is being tipped to emerge as the main candidate of the opposition. Umaru remains the best bet for the opposition, in view of the fact that he has large political followership and has built a structure within the political circle and among electorates in 2007 and 2011 when he contested for the governorship of the state. Umaru was considered a symbol of the reawakening of the opposition in Niger State in 2007 when the state was, apparently, a one-party state. He committed a lot of time and resources before and during the elections for the people to know their rights. Since then, Umaru has remained a rallying point for progressives in the state and is a candidate to beat in any election in the state, especially in the Niger East senatorial district where he has carved a niche for himself. If Umaru does eventually become the candidate of the APC, it will be very difficult for the PDP to retain the seat of the senatorial district, especially in the light of the complexities which have been thrown up, following the death of Dahiru. Incidentally, some factors could swing the pendulum Umaur’s way. One of them is his extremely cordial relationship with Dahiru before his death. Their closeness
As simple as the political arithmetic seems, facts emerging indicate that it is not going to be easy for the ruling party in the renewed political order transcended party lines. Between now and the period in which the by-election will be conducted to fill the vacant position, the people of the senatorial district will, obviously, remain without any form of representation in the Senate. This, therefore, makes it expedient for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite action on kick-starting the process of filling the vacant position, notwithstanding that the 2015 general election is just around the corner. As simple as the political arithmetic seems, facts emerging indicate that it is not going to be easy for the ruling party in the renewed political order. If Umaru does indicate interest – indeed, he will – it will be intriguing to see who the people will vote for and how they will go about making that choice.
Wisdom is not like money to be tied up and hidden. ~ Akan proverb
58 / news feature BY Millie Ibe, Abuja
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has debunked the allegation by the House of Representatives Committee on public Accounts that a whopping sum of N724 million is missing from the Service Wide Vote from 2004 to 2012. This is as the Commission stated that it has only received the sum of N286,939,185 out of which the sum of N123,150,259 was returned to the treasury thereby leaving the Commission with the sum of N123,788,926 as the actual amount received and expended by the Commission from 2004-2012. In a protest to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tamuwal and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Commission Prof. Bem Angwe noted that the summons by the House Committee on public Accounts which he said was laced with threats cast the integrity of the Commission in bad light making it look as irresponsible and a corrupt agency. According to Angwe “I wish to on behalf of the management and staff of the National Human Rights Commission to draw the attention of the Honourable Speaker to the letter of invitation dated June 17th,2014 requesting that the Commission appear before the House Committee on public Accounts on the following, the expenditure made through the Service Wide Vote during the years 2004-2012, Auditor-General’s report for the year ended December 31st,2011. “The date, 25th of June fixed for the appearance of the Commission before the Committee coincided with the meeting of representatives of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa and ECOWAS officials which the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria was hosting here in Abuja which I was presiding over as the Chairman. In view of this development the Commission sought the permission of the Committee to have senior officials of the Commission
Allegation Of Missing N724 Million Service Wide Vote: NHRC Petitions Tambuwal to appear before the committee in place of the Executive Secretary. He said that “the team that represented the Commission at the hearing on the said date was included the Director of Finance and Accounts, Director Human Resources, the Head of Budget, the Chief Internal Auditor and other senior officials of the Commission who were even in a better position to speak on the issues flagged for discussion, more particularly given the fact that I was not the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Commission during the period under review. “Incidentally, the team was not given audience because of my absence in spite of all the verbal representations made by the team and explanations made in the letter to the Committee which even contained an attachment of all the documents relating to the nature of the international assignment I was conducting on behalf if the country. In fact the Chairman of the Committee further directed the team to inform me
July 4, 2014
Tambuwal
to appear in person on Monday, June 30th,2014” he added. Angwe stated that “the directives were duly relayed to me, but as I was preparing to appear before the Committee on Monday, my attention was drawn to the damning headlines in various national dailies with a caption “Reps Summons NHRC Scribe Over missing N724M” the newspapers attributed the story to Hon. Solomon Olamilekan the Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts. I did appear on Monday, June 30th,2014 but the Committee did not sit, thus I had no opportunity of requesting that the misleading story be corrected. “With all sense of modesty in the area of demonstrating high level of accountability, the National Human Rights Commission is one of the institutions that deserves commendation by the National because in year, 2008, for instance when the sum of N123,150,259.00 was sent to the Commission from the Service Wide
Vote for payment of severance package for permanent Commissioners, the Commission promptly returned the funds to the national treasury as no such permanent Commissioners existed in the Commission” he declared. The Executive Secretary further stated “with all due respect, let me say with humility and a sense of modesty, that having risen through dint if hard work, and industry to the rank of a Professor of Law in one of the nation’s prestigious Universities, I am a law abiding citizen and have undertaken all my assignments with due diligence and a high sense of moral probity. “There is no doubt that this publication which contained threats that I will be declared wanted or even arrested if I fail to appear in person before the committee on June 30th creates an impression that I willfully and persistently refused to appear before the Committee. There is an innuendo that I am someone who presided over the misapplication of funds by the Commission and now I am running away from being held accountable” he stated. “Your Execellency, kindly permit to state this publication has cast aspersions on the credibility and integrity of my person and that of the Commission, an institution which the Nigerian National Assembly in its excellent wisdom created as an independent National body with the mandate of promoting, protecting and enforcing all the rights of Nigerians. Angwe demanded that the House protects the integrity and credibility of the Commission and that of its Executive Secretary which he said is being eroded by the unfounded publication attributed to the Chairman of the House committee on Public accounts. He urged the Speaker to use his exalted position to cause requisite steps to be taken to correct the erroneous impression created in the minds of citizens and the impending injustice arising from the misleading publication.
Digital Broadcasting Takes Effect In Nigeria
News
‘Glo Has Bridged Communication Gap Between Govt And Nigerians’ By paul chiama, Abuja
The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe has commended Globacom for its irrevocable commitment to bridging communication gaps between the government and the people of Nigeria. Mrs Ochekpe who stated this whilst commissioning Globacom’s communication facilities installed at the Ministry of Water Resources office at Old Secretariat, Area 1, Abuja on Wednesday said the partnership with Globacom would greatly enhance communication within the Ministry as well as between the Ministry and its publics. She asked Globacom to extend the fixed lines and other communication facilities to the twelve River Basins under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and urged the company to elevate the servic-
es to include internet facilities. Earlier, Globacom’s Head, Broad Access, Colonel Manish Kochhar said Globacom, as a proudly Nigerian company, would soon connect all federal ministries’ offices in Abuja and Lagos on its fixed lines to facilitate information dissemination, enquiries and networking amongst citizens. He said Globacom was proud to be the preferred telecommunication partner of federal ministries and parastatals, adding that seamless communication on fixed lines was cost effective and very reliable. The Globacom official disclosed that the company had provided special telephone numbers for Nigerians to reach out to key federal ministries like Ministry of Finance, Abuja which uses the number 099044640, the Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja on 099044600 and the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, Abuja on 099044490.
By Abah Adah, Abuja
Pinnacle Communications Limited (PCL) has emerged winner of the Second Broadcast Signal Distribution Licence in Nigeria, signalling the readiness of the country to embark fully on the second phase of the project. Pinnacle Communications Limited emerged winners based on her certain factors considered coupled with the fact that it had the highest financial base of N618,750,000, beating Phase3 Telecoms whose financial bid was N100,000,000. Mr. Edward Amana, chairman of the Presidential Committee on DigiTeam who made this disclosure in Abuja said the process is expected to have a licence valid period of 15 years with effect from the appointed date of June 17, 2015. The decision was made a day after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) launched the switch-on of transition from analog to digital terrestrial television programming in Jos, Plateau State.
What you help a child to love can be more important than what you help him to learn.
In preparation of the transition, the Federal Government set up a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) to put together a framework for the implementation, and June 17 2015 deadline has been fixed by the ITU for the transitioning to digital terrestrial broadcasting. According to him, “The DigiTeam committee moved immediately to action executing an international bidding process which resulted in Pinnacle wining the licence.” Pinnacle Executive Director, Mr. Dipo Onifade, who spoke on behalf of the company expressed immense satisfaction at the bidding process and said the company had the initiative, motivation and capacity to deliver an efficient performance in all its broadcasting and equipment projects. He urged the DigiTeam to look at the company not as a licencee but as a partner. “This is not about a winner taking it all, rather, a partnership with every stakeholder to bring about the Nigeria of our dream,” he said. —African proverb
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July 4, 2014
Boko Haram: Int’l Emergency Body Proffers Safety Measures By Ejike Ejike, Abuja
The chairman of The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS), Nigeria/West Africa Chapter, Air Vice Marshall Muhammed Audu-Bida (rtd), has advocated proactive approaches and basic knowledge on security consciousness against bomb explosions. While commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives or were injured in the various bomb blasts that have occurred in the country in recent times, he called for massive awareness campaigns on preventive measures and actions to be taken during and after an explosion. Audu-Bida, who commended government’s efforts at combating the insurgency, appealed to members of the public to be security conscious always and try as much as possible to avoid crowded areas. “We especially give kudos to men of the security services who battle tirelessly day and night to ensure that our country becomes safe once again. We note that many of them have paid the supreme sacrifice in this effort but an average citizen too should be educated on basic safety tips,” he said.
A/Ibom Govt Refutes Assassination Plot Against Royal Fathers By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State government has denied the allegation that Governor Godswill Akpabio plans to eliminate prominent monarchs of Ibibio extraction in the state, describing it as malicious, unfounded and concocted lies intended to generate ethnic tension in the state. Speaking yesterday with newsmen in his office, the state commissioner for information and communications, Aniekan Umanah, said that the alleged plot to eliminate the paramount ruler of Etinan, Edidem Umoette, and Edidem Ime Udousoro Inyang of Ibiono Ibom is the height of mischief by political jobbers, who are bent on scoring cheap goals for their pay masters. Umanah, who noted that Governor Godswill Akpabio has tremendous respect for the traditional institution, emphasised that it would be absurd to think of the governor as planning to hurt any monarch in the state, describing such allegation as frivolous and wicked. He recalled that Chief Akpabio has on many fronts, demonstrated his reverence and love for the royal fathers by restoring the dignity of the traditional heritage in providing for their wellbeing.
L-R: Deputy Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Fakai, Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Prof Vincent Tenebe, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and Registrar, National Open University of Nigeria, Mrs Josephine Akinyemi, during the commissioning/handing over of special study Centre for the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OKEKE JANE.
Edo PDP Rejects Impeachment Of Deputy Speaker As Benin monarch’s son defects To PDP By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday condemned the impeachment of the State House of Assembly deputy speaker, Hon Festus Ebea, describing the action of the 15 APC lawmakers as a travesty of plenary and a disgrace. This is just as the son of the Benin monarch who hitherto was an executive director, Government House, Benin City, Prince Osama Erediauwa, tendered his resignation letter and declared for the opposition PDP at the party’s
secretariat. The party which described the impeachment of the deputy speaker as null and void and of no effect wondered how 15 lawmakers could make up the required 2/3 to impeach the speaker. The state chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who was flanked by other party chieftains while reacting to the crisis rocking the assembly, also expressed the party’s interest in ensuring a peaceful resolution of the crisis which has lasted for four weeks. Orhib said, “The APC lawmakers, encouraged and supported by Governor Oshiomhole, moved into the governor’s office and conducted what can best be described as a travesty of plenary; I
laughed when I watched what took place. One of the beauties of the presidential system of government is the separation of power but what happened at Government House was an attempt to erode the principle of power.” “Because of Oshiomhole’s love for power, we have raised the alarm of his attempt to bring the Judiciary under his control, and he has achieved that goal of manipulating their actions to his favour. Now, he has turned his focus to the legislators and annexed them.” He said that only 14 of the APC legislators who are 15 in number voted, adding that the number does not represent 2/3 to impeach the deputy speaker.
Jang Swears In Kumzhi As Chairman, Langtang North LGC By Achor Abimaje, Jos
Plateau State governor Jonah David Jang, yesterday swore in the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last February 25 local government election in Langtang North, Mr Nanmwa Godwin Kumzhi, as chairman of the council. Speaking at the occasion yesterday at the Governor’s Lodge, Jishe, the gover-
nor urged the new chairman to embrace all, irrespective of party affiliation for reconciliation, peace and development of the LGA. He said, “As a leader of the local government, you are to conduct your assignment without bias and sentiments. “I call on you to make the unity of the people your top priority; you are to note that a large section of the people reside at the local government level, therefore, the
citizens are yearning for improved governance and service delivery.” “I envisage a local government administration where services and development will be the motivation, where corruption will be tackled”. “On our part, we will continue to pursue policies and programmes that will promote the status and wellbeing of our people at the local government level”, he added.
Taraba Acting Gov Warns Against Diversion Of Farming Inputs Distributes Free Educational Materials By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo
The acting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, yesterday in Jalingo, warned against diversion of farming inputs for the 2014 cropping season in the state, threatening that any individual or group found engaging in the shady deal will be made to face the consequences.
Umar, who gave the warning while flagging off the distribution of MDGS farming inputs for this year’s cropping season, further reiterated the state government’s desire to accord priority attention to farmers to strengthen agricultural activities in the state. He assured the farmers that his administration would not fail in its responsibility of providing the enabling environment for all manner of productive activities to thrive.
Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
“The procurement of these farming inputs by government for onward sale and distribution to our farmers at subsidised rates is part of an overall strategy to achieve this goal,” he said. Meanwhile, In a bid to improve the standard of education in Taraba State, the state government has commenced the distribution of instructional materials for educational advancement to all the junior secondary schools in the state
60 NEWS NATIONAL Ebonyi Bomb Scare: Commissioners, LG Bosses Go Through Security Search By Obinna Ogbonnaya, Abakaliki
Official vehicles belonging to commissioners, local government chairmen, development centre coordinators and other top government functionaries in Ebonyi State were yesterday barred from gaining entrance into the venue of a one-day sensitisation workshop on The Relevance of Democratic Governance organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, following a bomb scare in the state earlier in the week. Leadership Friday observed that police officers and the anti-bomb squad numbering over 20 stationed at the entrance of the venue of the event, the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki, had to order drivers of the government functionaries to park their cars outside the venue while their principals were asked to walk into the venue. Also at the Government House gate, Abakaliki, security operatives attached to the gate searched vehicles coming in and going out including those belonging to staff of the Government House. Leadership Friday also observed that the number of security operatives at the Government House gate has been increased while members of the anti-bomb squad are now stationed at the gate permanently.
July 4, 2014
No Permanent Voter Card, No Vote In Osun Guber Election – REC By Joshua Dada, Osogbo
The new resident electoral commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje yesterday disclosed that only electorate with permanent voter cards (PVCs) will be eligible to vote in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State. Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, Agbaje disclosed that 780,464 PVCs have been distributed out of 1,256,569 PVCs received as at June 27, 2014. He maintained that the total number
of registered voters in Osun State stands at 1,406,454, saying that arrangements for the distribution of the PVCs of those who registered during the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise have been concluded and the cards would be given to them as soon as they are received by the commission in Osun State. Agbaje who assured stakeholders in the electoral processes in the state of free, fair and credible election come August 9, 2014 said INEC is not ready to fail the people of the state and Nigeria, adding “the consequences of failure in this exercise are too grave”.
He posited that the Osun State election will be more credible than that of Ekiti State in content, logistics, security and distribution of sensitive materials. He said, “It is very important to further reassure the people of Osun State that the commission is determined more than ever before to conduct a very free, fair and credible governorship election on August 9, 2014 in the state.” He, however, warned those without voter cards not to venture to come to the polling booths during the election, saying any attempt to engage in multiple voting will attract one-year jail term.
We Need Help, School For Destitute Cries Out By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin
The management of a school established to meet the educational needs of destitute children in Offa, Kwara State has cried out for help and sponsorship. According to a letter of appeal signed by the coordinator of Iyeru-Okin LGEA School For Special Needs, Offa, Mrs Ibrahim Fausat, the school which was established since September 2012 by the local education authority is in a state of neglect. Mrs Ibrahim said the school which has assisted to educate a number of destitute children, thereby preventing them from becoming beggars on the streets is in a sorry state and welfare of the children has become a source of concern. Speaking further with our correspondent, the coordinator of the school said the school spends a lot on moving round to collect the children, and called on well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to assist in procuring a bus for transportation of the pupils. “When we start on Monday, these children are in large numbers because we spend money to go and pick them, but by midweek, when parents could no longer afford the fares of taking public transport, the numbers reduce. “Most of the kids are from poor parents, so we are soliciting that whoever can be of assistance to us regarding these children should please help us out.”
Southern Kaduna people protesting over the recent killings of 160 people in Sanga local government area of Kaduna yesterday. PHOTO BY GBENGA FOLORUNSHO ABIOLA.
Emir Sanusi Laments Persistent Insecurity In Northern Region By Abubakar Salihi, Kano
The emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, has lamented the insecurity situation, as well as economic and educational backwardness which have persisted in the north. Speaking when the new emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu Abubakar II, paid him a visit at his palace in Kano yesterday, Emir Sanusi said it was unfortunate that the northern region which had been at the
forefront of development in the country is now a shadow of itself. He described the Gombe Emirate as a very good ally of Kano Emirate in the last 200 years and promised to consolidate the existing mutual relationship. Emir Sanusi also pledged his support to the Gombe Emirate and the new emir, who he said is like a junior brother to him. He prayed for continuous peace and prosperity of the region and the country
in general. Speaking earlier, the new emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu Abubakar II, told the Kano emir that he was at his palace to pay his respect as he did to Sultan Abubakar in Sokoto and the emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State. Emir Abubakar urged the Kano emir to hold him as one of his own and involve him and the Gombe Emirate in any activity of the Kano Emirate, as they are glad to be partners in progress.
PDP Drags Fayemi To Court Over LG Creation By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has instituted a legal suit seeking to stop the state government from creating more local councils in the state. This is coming barely one week after Governor Kayode Fayemi announced his administration’s plan to create 18
additional local council development areas out of the existing 16 local government councils in the state. The party, in the suit numbered HAD/75/2014 filed at the High Court of Justice, Ado Ekiti Judicial Division on July 1, 2014 and deposed to by the PDP chairman in the state, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe on behalf of the party, described Governor Fayemi’s action as
Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
illegal, unconstitutional and a flagrant violation of the provisions of the 1999 constitution. Joined in the suit are: Governor Fayemi, the state attorney general and commissioner for justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda and the Ekiti State House of Assembly as first defendant, second defendant and third defendant respectively.
NEWS NATIONAL 61
July 4, 2014
Group Lauds NAHCON Pilgrims’ Public Awareness By Al-Amin Ciroma, Abuja
Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Osita Chidoka invigilating officers during their promotion examination in Abuja, yesterday.
We’ve Over 4000 Nigerian Illegal Immigrants In Morocco – Amb Wali By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Senator Abdallah Wali yesterday decried that the quest for a greener pasture outside the shores of the country, has led to a worrisome number of Nigerians staying as illegal immigrants in Morocco and other countries. The ambassador who divulged this while in a chat with newsmen in Sokoto insisted that majority of the illegal immigrants are
actually on their way to Europe enroute Morocco only to be trapped on their way. “We don’t have an accurate number of the illegal immigrants hence they don’t come to visit the embassy. However, we estimated them to be between 4,000 to 5,000 Nigerian illegal immigrants currently staying in Morocco.” The envoy who further decried that most of these illegal immigrants engage in illegal business, also noted that some of them are currently serving jail terms
for diverse offences including drug-related crimes. “Over a 100 Nigerians are also in Morrocan prisons for series of offences which include drug, fake documents as well as other minor offences, stressing that Nigerian illegal immigrants jeopardise the country’s international image. Ambassador Wali added that Nigeria signed a bilateral air agreement with Morocco since 2008 and it has recorded some significant economic benefits.
Some Of My Advisers Have Not Given Advice For 7 Years – Gov Aliyu
By Abu Nmodu, Minna
Niger State governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu Dr Muazu Babngida Aliyu, has taken a swipe on some special advisers in his cabinet who are docile, saying that he has not received one advice from some of them in seven years. Aliyu who sworn in some special Advisers yesterday in Minna, disclosed that apart from his advisers on political, social mobilisation, Infrastructures and that of lands, most of his advisers had not being interfacing with
him to give advice. He declared that “some for seven years did not give me any advice, they did not criticize nor support, they just collect salary,” warning that such practice would not be tolerated henceforth. The governor while swearing in the special advisers who were all former commissioners who were dropped in the last cabinet reshuffle, said that based on the docile nature of some advisers, a council of special advisers would be meeting every Thursdaylike the
state executive council meetings. He said that the council of the special advisers’ meeting was meant to receive suggestions from the advisers and chart the way forward for the state. Governor Aliyu told the new special advisers to take their job seriously and always be in touch with their various constituencies, nothing that PDP lost in some areas in 2011 because political appointees were not going back to their constituencies to interact with the people on government activities.
Defection: Legal Representation Over Suit Against Okorocha Resolved By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja
The battle over who is representing Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha in the defection suit filed against on him by All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) was yesterday resolved. It was resolved that Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) should represent the governor in the suit. At the last adjourned date, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had summoned
Governor Rochas Okorocha and the attorney general of the state, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), to appear before it in respect of a suit seeking the governor’s removal from office over his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court summoned the governor and the AG of the state to come and clarify who will represent them in the legal suit. APGA had through its counsel, Victor Odjemu, instituted the suit and asked the court for an order directing the deputy gov-
ernor of Imo State or Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly or any officer next in line to the position of the governor of Imo, who is a member of the plaintiff (APGA) to be sworn-in as the governor of Imo State. There has been confusion on who to represent the defendants in the legal battle. During yesterday’s proceedings, Akintola announced his appearance and told the court that Governor Okorocha had engaged him as the authentic counsel and that the dispute on the legal representation had been resolved.
Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
The Media Awareness Initiative for Hajj (MAI-HAJJ) has commended the efforts of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for organising a joint intending pilgrim’s public education committee in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA). According to a statement jointly signed by MAI-HAJJ national chairman, Garba Ubale Dambatta, establishing the committee will go a long way in educating all intending pilgrims. Dambatta said that the step is in line with the resolutions adopted at the end of the 2011 Hajj post-mortem which really show the commitment of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) towards achieving greater awareness and success in years to come. The group however suggested that Pilgrims’ Education workshops be conducted not only at Federal or State levels, but to be extended to local government areas where over 75 percent of intending pilgrims need to be enlighten on Hajj rites, operations, dos and don’ts in Hajj and the use of essential facilities during Hajj. The media team equally calls on NAHCON to provide a concise Hand Book on Hajj to all intending pilgrims in major languages to serve as a guiding companion for Nigerian pilgrims that could be used always as an immediate reference booklet to the pilgrims.
I Can’t Be Prosecuted Twice, Ex Gov Sylva Tells Court By Kunle olasanmi, Abuja
Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva yesterday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he could be prosecuted twice by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for the same offence. Sylva, who is now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused the EFCC of planning to prosecute him twice. The anti-graft agency had yesterday attempted to arraign him along with three others over alleged involvement on corruption related and money laundering offences. A lawyer, Mr. Adebisi Adeniyi from the chambers of Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had applied before Justice Ahmed Mohammed to araign the ex-governor for criminal offences. But the lead lawyer to Sylva, Mr. Isreal Olorundare (SAN), stood his ground that the former governor could not be put to trial in two different courts on the same issue. The senior advocate maintained that the action of EFCC was strange to law as it is a clear case of gross abuse of court process. Sylva was standing trial before Justice Adamu Bello of the court before he retired in December 2013. Justice Mohammed later adjourned the matter till October 8 for further hearing on the competence of the charge.
62 NEWS NATIONAL
July 4, 2014
Strike: JOHESU Accuses Doctors Of Diverting Patients To Private Hospitals By Winifred Ogbebo, Abuja
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), an umbrella body of health workers in Nigeria, has alleged that the strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is another plot for the striking doctors to corner patients in public hospitals to their private hospitals. It accused NMA of using blackmail to coerce and intimidate the government to enter into an illegal agreement. Accordingly, it maintained its stance that the industrial action which commenced on Tuesday, July 1 is an illegal action and the federal government must not yield to the demands prompting it, even as it argued vehemently that the NMA, MDCAN and NARD are not trade unions and as such, lack the legal right to negotiate trade disputes with government for any reason.
In a statement it issued yesterday, JOHESU, while urging Nigerians to imagine what could have been more callous and insensitive than the strike action embarked upon by the doctors at a critical moment in the country’s history, said its response became necessary because of certain publications in the mdia by NMA which would have been ignored “for obvious lack of credence and immaturity aptly demonstrated by the NMA and its appendages. “On a second thought, the leadership of JOHESU, considered the inherent danger such malice, misinformation, such publications if not corrected, could impact on the uninformed public and resolved to respond, if only to refute the unguarded and unprofessional utterances of the groups, not to mention the level of absurdity the issues raised epitomize, which further stretched the incredibility to an agonizing crescendo”, it added.
JOHESU described a recent attack by NMA on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for not supporting its bid to improve on the poor state of the nation’s health sector which, it said, was being mismanaged by the medical doctors, as baseless and a clear demonstration of NMA’s attempt to cover up the rot in the sector. Challenging the legality of the NMA to embark on the strike when it was not a trade union, JOHESU said, “Both Labour Centres, NLC and TUC, have as affiliates all the five-member unions of JOHESU, all of them registered by the Trade Union Acts and the extant laws. “NMA and its groups are not registered trade unions, yet are known to engage in trade union activities, by negotiating conditions of service and most often inciting the government against the rest of the health practitioners given their privileged leadership position in the sector.
Senate Condemns Okorocha’s Plan To Issue ID Cards To Northerners By Uchenna Awom and Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja
The Senate yesterday condemned the plan by the Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha to issue identification cards to northerners residing in the state. Okorocha had reportedly directed northern indigenes in the state to submit themselves for identification by the state government as a way of curtailing the influx of Boko Haram insurgents to the state. But the senators said the action is unconstitutional and contravenes the rights of Nigerians, warning the state government to reverse the policy. The development was sequel to a motion sponsored by deputy Senate
leader, Abdul Ningi, entitled “The issuance of identification card to Northerners residing in Imo State - Urgent call for policy reversal.” Senator Ningi argued that the policy contravenes the provisions of Section 41 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution which says, “A citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom”. The Senate consequently called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct security agencies not to partner the state government in the implementation of the policy, and urged the Imo State government to rescind the policy immediately.
Osun Assembly Approves Extension Of Retirement Age By Joshua Dada, Osogbo
The Osun State House of Assembly has passed the bill seeking the extension of the retirement age of teaching and non-teaching staff of the state-owned tertiary institutions from 60 to 65 years. The bill, passed yesterday was sequel to a motion moved by the leader of the Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye shortly after it passed through the committee of the whole and necessary amendments were made from clauses one to four.
The teaching and nonteaching staff of Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State Colleges of Education at Ila-Orangun and Ilesa have been on strike since February over their demand for the extension of the retirement age among other agitations. The speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam, said he was optimistic that with the passage of the bill, the crisis between the staff of the tertiary institutions and the government would be resolved amicably.
Dikko: ‘Death Certificate Delays Release Of His Corpse’ By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna
The personal secretary to the late Second Republic minister, Alhaji Umaru Dikko, Shehu Suleiman, has disclosed that the delay in the release of the death certificate of the late Dikko is the reason why his corpse is yet to arrive in Nigeria for burial. Suleiman disclosed this to journalists in Kaduna yesterday. He said, “The delay in the issuance of death certificate by a London authority is responsible for the delay in the release of the corpse of the Second Republic transporLaughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
tation minister, Alhaji Umaru Dikko.” Suleiman, who is also a cousin of the late politician, added that late Dikko had a dual citizenship of Nigeria and Britain and that some procedures must be followed for the London authority to release the corpse to the family. He said, “Nobody can tell when the corpse will arrive Nigeria for burial. We are waiting for the death certificate. You know he was a British citizen and for his body to be released to us in Nigeria, there is need to undergo due process”.
ISLAM / 63
July 4, 2014
Discourse with Sheikh Muhammad Mahmud Turi turimuhd@yahoo.com 07038199475 (text only)
Yaum Al – Takleef: The Trust Parents Must Never Ignore! In the name of Allah who states “To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows (children) male or female according to His wills, or He bestows both males and females, and He leaves barren who He wills; for He is full of knowledge and power” Q42:49 - 50 Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His chosen servant, our master Muhammad and his purified progeny. The piece of this week is on takleef, an Arabic word denoting a period when the shari’a (Islamic way of life) obligations are considered compulsory on the young Muslim members of the society. This happens when the children reach the age of puberty, which has been relatively dynamic and differential. However, fourteen years is considered in boys and nine in girls respectively. The pubescent boys and girls are usually ignorant of its obligatory implication. On the other hand, most of the parents are either nonchalant or ignorant of this important time as well. That is why most children become victims of circumstance neglecting the compulsory acts of worship imposed on them by Allah to which they will be fully responsible and squarely accountable on the last day. Allah says “O ye who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded” Q66: 6 From the light of this verse the children are a trust from Allah the most High. Therefore, parents must be very careful in monitoring the growth and development of their children to avoid negligence of such obligatory responsibility. Such negligence is what makes many grown up youth very unconscious of the teachings of Islam. And this is why many adults are mistakenly considered as children and who in turn neglect many obligatory acts of worship as a result of this misconception. The parents should not forget the extent of their prayers for this blessing “And those who pray our Lord! Grant us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous” Q26:74 The Islamic movement in Nigeria traditionally organizes such DAYS OF TAKLEEF PROGRAMMES at various levels where the pubescent children are enlightened on the compulsory jurisprudential and other legal aspects of the shari’a, they are expected to strictly comply. The Zaria annual general event is graced by the leader of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem
Zakzaky (H). Similar programmes are organized by the youth forum of the movement at various towns where the movement’s representatives oversee at different times in the year. Beside emphasis on all obligatory acts of worship and legal bounds of the shari’a, the occasion enlightens them on related matters in a goodwill spirit for attaining the age. It is imperative to emphasize that the obligatory acts of worship they are made to engage in are not punishment at all but a stage of trial for which they are tested and later rewarded based on their deeds. This comprises of all utterances and actions whether good or bad that are directly recorded by angels on the command of Allah for final rewards. The philosophy behind life is very clear in Islam. Allah says “Behold, thy Lord said to the angels I will create a vicegerent on earth they said Wilt though place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name) He said I know what ye know not” Q2:30 We can clearly understand from the verse above that Allah has created man to live as His vicegerent on earth. This means that he should run his life strictly in accordance with the directives He gave as contained in the noble Qur’an. So it is part of this exercise to teach the children the essence of life which is to worship Allah alone and not associate anything with him; “O you who believe! Worship your Guardian Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that ye may become righteous. Who has made the earth your couch and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; then set not rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth). Q2: 21 - 22 This is a very important duty that parents must fulfill towards their children. Some existing rights are well known between parents and children in Islam. In a popular hadeeth, the prophet is reported to have said “take care! Each of you is a caretaker, and each of you shall be asked concerning what is under your care! As we all know, marriage is the foundation on which a family life is built. As such it is a very significant issue for which Islam has accorded a lot of attention. That is why Islam has called on all wishing to marry to make sure that they make piety and discipline as their watchwords for not riches or social status. Whenever a couple is blessed with children, they should praise Allah and thank Him for that special gift that only He gives in the way He wishes. There are a number of ethics we are taught to per-
form regarding the newly born. And unlike the attitude of the Arabs of the day of ignorance who disliked female and practiced female infanticide, we should always appreciate the gift of Allah irrespective of the gender. “When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief! With the shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on? Q16:58 59 The children should be taught on the stand of shari’a on the activities of men which include wajib which is compulsory, halal; the lawful, haram; the prohibited, mustahabb; the recommended and makhruh which should be avoided. In addition to that, they should be taught on the fundamental rudiments of the religion as tauheed, adl, prophet hood, Imamate and last day. Tauheed refers to oneness of Allah which comprises of His attributes and actions. “Allah is the Guardian of those who believe. He brings them out of darkness into the light …” Q2: 257. Justice on the other side is an attribute of Allah “We did them no injustice, but they were unjust to themselves” the Bees: 118. Prophet Hood; the prophets were selected honorable servants of Allah who were sent with mission to convey to humanity from Allah the creator of mankind. The Imamate on the other hand simply refers to succession of the prophets. So the Imams helped the messengers in conveying the message of Allah after them. And the last day refers to the Day of Judgment in which all people will be raised from the death and rewarded based on their actions. The Furu’uddeen should be taught and practically demonstrated for the children. Most notably, prayers, fasting, commanding the good and forbidding the evils including requirements and conditions applied. Teaching the children will take note
Brothers love each other when they are equally rich.
― African proverb
of their physical differences as male and females. For example the female should be taught on the necessity of observing hijab as Allah says “o prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, And the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when out of doors); that is most convenient, that they should be known (As such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft – forgiving, Most Merciful“ Ahzab: 59 The wives of the prophet - mothers of believers - were first commanded to observe the hijab and avoid what Allah referred as “dazzling display like that of the former times of ignorance” Ahzab: 33. In the same way, Allah warned the companions of the messenger emphasizing the need for communications between the messengers’ wives from behind a veil where necessary. Ahzab: 53 Generally speaking some aspects of our social life make bad impact to our life. They include poverty, broken home, watching violent and phonographic films which increase moral decadence, drug abuse and unemployment. They should be made to guard their tongues from vain talks as all utterances are accounted for on the last day “On the day when their tongues and their hands and their feet shall bear witness against them as to what they did…” Al – Nur: 24 They should also be called to guard their gaze against unlawful “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (ordinarily) appear thereof …” Q24: 30 - 31 They must be taught on the Ahlul – bait of the prophet and their noble position in Islam “O people, I leave amongst you two things which if you follow you will never go astray. They are the book of Allah and my Ahlul - bait - family” -Musnad Ahmad. They should be taught the need for peaceful coexistence through good neighborliness, cordial relations and mutual respect as a collective responsibility to which all are tasked. They should know well about Islam as the religion of Allah that ensures good life on earth and attainment of salvation in the hereafter. They should be fully practicing and proud of it anywhere anytime. Allah the most high states “You are the best community raised for the good of mankind. You enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah” Q3:110 Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah.
NAERLS forum
July 4, 2014
National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria Contact: Dr M.K Othman - 08065571637. mkothman@gmail.com
Application and Use of Biotechnology in Nigerian Food and Agriculture System INTRODUCTION Meeting the food needs of the Nigeria’s growing population while reducing poverty and protecting the environment is a major food security challenge. Nigeria despite her huge oil earning still has a strong dependence on agriculture for employment and export earnings. However, Nigerian agriculture is still facing issues of how to improve food security, increase productivity, reduce pest management costs and poverty reduction amongst others. On the other hand the nation’s agriculture is increasingly suffering from pest and disease infestation, causing enormous, unpredictable losses in food production biotechnology appear to provide a promising option to deal with this challenge. Genetic engineering of plants for resistance to pests and disease, creating transgenic pest-protected plants, is one of the many tools for increasing food security. Agricultural biotechnologies have the potential being a key instrument to offer higher incomes for farmers in Nigeria and lower-priced and better-quality food, feed and fibre.
Samaila Ilu, Director, NAERLS
Biotechnology is any technique that uses living organisms or substances derived from these organisms to make or modify a product, improve plants or animals or develop microorganisms for specific uses (Cohen 1999). Modern biotechnology however, refers to the applications of new developments in recombinant DNA technology, advanced cell and tis-
sue culture techniques and modern immunology (Trigo et al 2000). Agricultural biotechnology in this paper is broadly considered to encompass those applications to agriculture that are based on an expanding knowledge of the genetic code of life National Academy Press 2000. This has led to the development of powerful molecular techniques, which can help society to conquer human disease, improve food production, and better protect the environment. Many agricultural biotechnologies hold promise for addressing productivity constraints faced by smallholder, resource-poor farmers, who comprise a large proportion of the nation’s farming populace. This paper reviews the current status of agricultural biotechnology research and use in Nigeria and attempts to identify challenges and opportunities for the deployment of potential biotechnology research benefits within the context of low input production systems in Nigeria. The paper is however tilted toward crops, with fewer details on challenges and prospects for biotechnology to contribute to animal
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LEGAL NOTICE
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED FOR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION
Challenges in the Nigerian Agricultural System Nigerian farmers face productivity constraints, environmental concerns, and diverse nutritional needs. Land and water for agriculture are diminishing while population is increasing forcing the nation to produce more food and other agricultural commodities from less arable land and irrigation water. Agricultural problems associated with food, limited resources and inputs are on the increase. There is less arable land because the combination of over plowing, overgrazing and deforestation will have caused soil erosion to exceed soil formation. TO BE CONTINUED
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT YAKUBU ALIH-OBAJE FHI 360 WHO DIED ON THE 13th August, 2013
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DATED AT ABUJA THIS 3rd DAY OF JULY, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
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TOLULOPE
husbandry. This is due the fact that the potential impact of applications of biotechnology to small scale farming in Nigeria to animal agriculture may not be as the case for plants. There also appears to be a slower progress being made towards the generation of transgenic animals for food and agriculture.
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65
July 4, 2014
SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, & FAITH PLATFORM
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
SPECIALISED CLASSIFIEDS PAGES ADEIFE & AKINOLA MEMORIAL CHILD FOUNDATION
GARDEN DIET INTERNATIONAL ENLIGHTENMENT ORGANISATION
A SYNDICATE IN SUPPORTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN INITIATIVE
The general public is hereby informed that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for change of aims and objectives of the foundation under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.
The general public is hereby informed that the above named ORGANISATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied for with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Chief Dr. Mrs. Abisola Sodipo-Clark 2. Mopelola Rosiji (Mrs) 3. Titilope Ejide Sodipo-Stevensson (Mrs) 4. Olayiwola Koiki (Mrs) 5. Oyinkan Segilola Akindeko (Mrs)
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Chinyere Favour Uzochukwu 2. Arinze Johnson Uzochukwu 3. Nwosu Chidimma Daisy 4. Okonkwo Amaka Florence
OLD AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To give young people opportunities for leadership roles in community service projects. 2. Find ways to support needy students within the community.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To help enlighten the general public on the health benefit of plant-based diet. 2. To help enlighten people on the danger and health implications of unhealthy eating. 3. To help enlighten children on how to make right dietary choices so that they can grow uup with the understanding. 4. To enlighten the public on the relationship between diet and health.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Maryam Mohammed 2. Dr. Fatima Mohammed 3. Sadiya Mohammed 4. Aishatu Mohammed 5. Amina Mohammed Dala
NEW AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Providing health care delivery and allied services to pregnant women, old people and children of the community. 2. Engaging in youth empowerment programmes such as vocational trainings, project management trainings, skill acquisition trainings and agriculture. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: OLOLADE ADEYEYE (07033219522)
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: BARR. ARINZE J. UZOCHUKWU (08038466838)
CAROLINE UZOMA OKOGBA FOUNDATION
The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote the welfare of its members through the spirit of love and selfless services with one another. 2. To foster unity, love and peace among members. 3. To inject indiscipline into the members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. SIGNED: SECRETARY
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: CHAIRMAN
MADE MEN BROTHERS CLUB OF NIG
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prince Chris Ukomadu 2. Kingsley Calistus Ugwu 3. Ekene Livinus Mgbeokwelu 4. Kingsley Ekene Alamezie
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To work for the upligting the status of women in society and support their lives. 2. To help in generate training programme for self employment of women and educated unemployed women to work for adult education. 3. To provide help under health and nutrition services for women and children.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Kilsy Barinem Okogba 2. Jude Uchenna Okogba 3. Pauline Ebele Akindele 4. Kingsley Emeka Okogba 5. Theresa Ngozi Okogba 6. Jasmine Uzoma Okogba 7. Barr. Chike Udoji
GLOBAL PRAISE ASSEMBLY The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSEMBLY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ajayi Joseph Ajibola 2. Ajayi Deborah Ngozi
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To bring hope, peace and joy to the motherless children, orphans, restive youths and families. 2. To do charity to the needy int he society. 3. To cater for the general welfare of its members and the less privileged in the society. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. SIGNED: SECRETARY
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. To win souls to the kingdom of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. SIGNED: BARR. CHRISTOPHER ONOH 07065423130
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ERADICATION OF HEPATITIS, COMMUNICABLE AND NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN NIGERIA
BRIDGE OF HOPE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
YOMA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria CAC for registration under part ‘‘C’’ of the companies and allied matters act 1990.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Stephen Bature 2. Oluwamayowa Joseph Joel 3. Ijeoma Ruthven 4. Falana Martin-Mary 5. Oprah Nnaji 6. Timi Owolabi 7. Chinweuba Onah 8. Ibrahim Umoru
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Aneke Hyacinth Eneojo - Chairman 2. Mrs. Aneke Olubukola Oladoyin - Secretary 3. Mr Egbenyor Anthony 4. Pastor Egbama Emmanuel 5. Pastor Egbenyor Alex 6. Mrs Edet Aina 7. Aneke Ojorumi Oluwadamilare 8. Aneke Bamiyor Michael 9. Aneke Ojoshimte David
THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.
- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. Eradication of hepatitis, communicable and non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. 2. Training of social workers to help combat hepatitis, communicable and non-communicable diseases in Nigeria Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. SIGNED: SECRETARY
TRUSTEES ARE:1. Eseoghene Evelyn Ekiugbo 2. Emoefe Ezekiel Ekiugbo 3. Efemena Ukinebo Omorogbe 4. Odemwingie Edmund Moses 5. Olabisi Olajumoke Adeyanju
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote education and literacy
AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To rehabitate prostitutes. 2. To help widows 3. To help orphans.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within –twenty eight (28) days from the date of this publication.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, P.M.B.198. MAITAMA, ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.
Signed: SECRETARY
SIGNED: SECRETARY
OBA ADENIJI-ADELE FOUNDATION
AKPA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
SELF-RELIANCE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMME (SEAP) RC N0. 13204
The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above mention ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above mention ORGANISATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for change of office address and change of trustees under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rasheed Gbadamosi - Chairman 2. Dr. Habeeb Gbadebo Adeniji-Adele 3. Alh. Muba Ajanaku 4. Tunde Adeniji-Adele - Secretary
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Professor Oga Steve Abah 2. Dr. Sam Ogiri 3. Engr. Pius Oklo 4. Dr. (Mrs) Victoria Ayuba 5. Aba Ejembi, Esq
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote and support indigent students in their educational pursuit. 2. To assist the less privileged.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To unite and promote peace for the development of our people and land. 2. To uphold, provide and preserve our cultural values and traditons. 3. To encourage qualitative education for our children at all levels. 4. To harness allavailable resources for the development of Akpa land
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Olusola Adelekan - Retained 2. Mr. Aderemi Augustine Olatunde - Retained 3. Alhaji O. Isola - Removed 4. Mrs. F. Idris - Removed 5. Deacon Olatunde Oladokun - Newly Appointed 6. Eleja Lawal Rasheedat Abiola - Newly Appointed 7. Olatunde Oladehinde John - Newly Appointed 8. Mrs. Akinyemi Temitope Christiana - Newly Appointed
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. SIGNED: SECRETARY
FOR BOOKING OR INQUIRY CALL
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: ELAIGWU ERNEST
> HENRY UBIMAGO 08068640944
> AUGUSTINE 08061602706
> GLORIA OKWUM 08038722368
FROM: N0 30, Western Reservior Road, Olounshogo ilorin Kwara State. To: N0: 1, Western Reservior Road ilorin Kwara State. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY
> ABIGAIL SAMBO 08064382438
> GLORIA RAPHAEL 08061356519
> GLORIA ODIO 08034285851
> GRACE OJO 08035054444
66 HELPING HANDS FANS CLUB The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Obioma Emmauel Ngoka 2. Okpara Odjuvwu Lucky 3. Chukwu Stephen Friday 4. Timothy Ejiro Odeghe 5. Mrs. Luzviminda M. Nunang THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To build a community of selfless, progressie and result oriented personals with love and fear of God in their hearts and a deep passion to creaate positive change in their intra and extra personal lives. 2. To provide humanitarian aids to the less priviledged in our world. 3. To encourage entrepreneurial spirit/skill development.
July 4, 2014
JEHOVAH JIREH’S BENEVOLENCE MINISTRY
YORUBA PETROLEUM MARKETERS’ FORUM WARRI DEPOT, DELTA STATE. CAC/IT/No.40265
The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named FORUM has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for certified true copy (CTC) under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The Trustees are: 1. Elder Mrs. Claire Bernadette Idowu 2. Rev. Mrs. Bernice Bose Lamidi 3. Mrs. Karen Oyejire Koshoni THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To help alleviate the suffering of the poor.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
Signed: Secretary
Signed: Secretary
Any objection to this application should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. Signed: Barr. Tunji Akeju of Metropolitan Solicitors
put nigeria first initiative
HILLSIDE SCHOOL PARENTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
G51 APOSTLES ASSEMBLY
The general public is hereby notified that the above named initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSEMBLY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The Trustees are: 1. Ijeoma Nwafor 2. Iliya Gashinbaki 3. Rilwan Hassan 4. Abayomi Bello 5. Olajide Adekeye 6. Gboyega Ojuolape 7. Abiye Douglas
The Trustees are: 1. Sam Akpe 2. Abdul-Hakeem Ajihjola 3. Oyin Oluokun 4. Lydia Ndace 5. Maryam Maiyaki 6. Olubunmi Omotesho 7. Munir Baba 8. Josephine Alanza 9. Jacob Mamza 10. Evelyn Laniyan
The Trustees are: 1. Chukwuemeka Loveday Ogah 2. Isdore Anyaoha Ibebuike 3. Enwerem Chinyere Louisa 4. Ugochukwu Augustine Nwaoha
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To develop, support and galvanize activities that re-awaken the patriotic spirit in Nigeria (PLAN) 2. To educate and sensitize the citizenry about their very important role in sacrificing in a continued effort of putting Nigeria First (EDUCATE) 3. To encourage citizens to be accountable for putting the welfare of Nigeria before their (ACCOUNTABILITY)
- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary - Treasure - Legal Adviser - Ex-Officio Member - Ex-Officio Member - Ex-Officio Member - Ex-Officio Member - Member
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote positive transformation and solidarity for peace and unity. 2. To promote and support skill acquisition amongst youths.
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote academic and all-round excellence in Hillside School. 2. To assist management of the school with academic projects. 3. To liaise with the school towards promoting welfare of the students.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
Signed: Secretary
Signed: SALAKO ADEOLU, ESQ
CELESTIAL YOUTH CHARITY FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Odeyemi Samuel Oloronfemi 2. Otubanjo Sanmi Abiodun 3. Abraham Adekunle Isaac 4. Martins Akinlose Ibukun Olushola 5. Adediran Adebimpe Eunice
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To cater for the less privileged. 2. To promote charity towards indigens in the society. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
APPLICANTS FOR GRANT
MR. ANDREAS PETERMANN (Germany) Mr. Adjougou ECOWAS Commission Asokoro, Abuja WHO DIED ON THE 22nd October, 2005 ECOWAS Commission Asokoro, Abuja The administrator of the said deceased DATED AT ABUJA THIS 3rd DAY OF JULY, 2014
Signed: BARR. NNANA OKETA
SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
GODDY ODINAKACHI CHARITY ORGANIZATION
MOUNT OF OLIVE ASSEMBLY INT’L
The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004
The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSEMBLY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF GODDY ODINAKACHI ONYEWUMBU 2. MRS. GLORY IFEOMA GODWIN 3. ELDER EDWIN AMAECHI OKUAKAJI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: To assist the less privileged of the society.
The Trustees are: 1. Pastor David Fred Enefola 2. Okpanachi God’spower Olubojo 3. Garuba Benjamin Ademu 4. Akowe Isaiah 5. Lazarus Helen Eleojo 6. Idih Onuche Benjamin 7. Chapi Paul Enemaku 8. Ogbuefi Augustina Ebere 9. Yusufu Juliana Unyoaba
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within TwentyEight (28) days from the date of this publication.
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. To propagate the gospel of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
SIGNED: AMAECHI ABEL EZEAGWULA, ESQ. (Solicitor)
Chinyere
I formerly known and addressed as Miss Anosike Chinyere Oseighe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bologun Chinyere Oseighe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.
EUPHEMIA
I formerly known as MISS EUPHEMIA EDEM ODO now wish to be known as MRS EUPHEMIA OMONIYI LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.
- Chairman - Secretary
OKORIE
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
UGWU
I formerly known as MISS UHUEGBU BRIDGET UCHEOMA now wish to be known as MRS. UGWU BRIDGET UCHEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.
ISRAEL
I formerly known as HABIBU IDRIS now wish to be known as MRS. ISRAEL HABIBU IDRIS. All former documents remain valid. Taraba State Polytechnic and the general public to please take note.
EMOH
I formerly known as MISS EFFIOM ENOETTE LUCY now wish to be known as MRS EMOH ENOETTE LUCY. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. Signed: AUGUSTINE CHINEDU ANANUKWA N0. 1, R.A. ADELEYE CLOSE, OFF USMAN SARKI CRESCENT UTAKO, ABUJA 08035455585
THE TREE OF LIFE MINISTRY FOR ALL NATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Felix Edengulu 2. Pastor Godwin Sidi 3. Esther Edengulu THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To preach the gospel Jesus Christ and raise unto God kings and priests. 2. To encourage unity and ones into the body of Christ. 3. To hold crusades, conference, seminars, workshops, revivals, televisions and radio ministry, indoor and outdoor fellowship programmes. 4. To organise counseling. 5. To print, publish and distribute Christian tracts journals magazines books, etc. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. Signed: IKECHUKWU K. ODOH, ESQ PLOT 21 NIAMEY STREET, WUSE ZONE 2, ABUJA 08032613839
SEEK THE LORD DELIVERANCE MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Bonaventure Uzoma 2. Pastor (Mrs) Chizoba Uzoma THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To spread the gospel 2. To prepare the saints for rapture Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. Signed: Secretary
Signed: Secretary
I formerly known as MISS UNEKE MAUREEN UCHECHI now wish to be known as MRS. OKORIE MAUREEN UCHECHI. All former documents remain valid. nysc and the general public to please take note.
- Chairman - Secretary
JUDITH
I formerly known as MISS JUDITH OKEKE now wish to be known as MRS. JUDITH OKEKEEFFIONG. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.
MAYOWA
I formerly known as MISS MAYOWA IDOWU KADIRI now wish to be known as MRS. MAYOWA IDOWU AYENI. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.
ANUMI
I formerly known as MISS ANUMI BASHIR now wish to be known as MRS. ANUMI CHRISTOPHER INNIH. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp and the general public to please take note.
FAITHFUL
I formerly known as MISS AVOKERIE F.B. EWHUBARE now wish to be known as MRS. FAITHFUL V. HOPE-IVBAZE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.
GRACE
I formerly known as GRACE OLAYEMI ODEDIRAN now wish to be known as GRACE OLAYEMI ESAN. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.
ADEWUMI
I formerly known as IFELOLA MARGARET ARAROMI now wish to be known as ADEWUMI IFELOLA MARGARET. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public to please take note.
67
July 4, 2014
LIVING ROCK BIBLE BELIEVERS’ CHURCH
LIGHT GOLD ESTATE RESIDENTS AND LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION
FEMI EMMANUEL MINISTRY
The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby informed that the above named association has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.
The general public is hereby informed that the above named Ministry has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR. ABAYOMI SHANU - CHAIRMAN 2. MR BADUNG GYANG IBRAHIM - SECRETARY 3. MR. CHIJIOKE NJELITA - TREASURER
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FEMI EMMANUEL 2. HEPHZIBAH EMMANUEL 3. PAUL FEMI EMMANUEL 4. PETER FEMI EMMANUEL
The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Gbenga David Oluwalana 2. Mr. Dayo Akintunde (Member) 3. Mrs. Toyin Oluwalana (Treasurer) 4. Pastor Andrew Igbinaduwa (Member) 5. Mrs. Bunmi Adediran (member) THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROMOTE MAINTANANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURES AND FACILITIES IN THE ESTATE. 2.TO PROPAGATE THE PROMOTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF MEMBERS. 3.TO AGGREGATE AND ADVANCE THE COMMON INTEREST OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.
Signed: Ba rr. T unji Akeju o f M etro p olita n Solicitors
SIGNED: ALIH MOHAMMED ESQ 08036340287
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST 2. TO DONATE RELIEVE MATERIALS TO DISASTER BORNE AREAS. 3. TO CREATE AND EXPAND A POVERTY ALLEVIATION SCHEME(POVERTY ALLEVIATION) Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. . SIGNED: LAWYER PETER FEMI EMMANUEL 08055530499
ATLANTIC LEADERSHIP, DEVELOPMENT & EMPOWERMENTCENTRE
THE REV. EJEMOTECOMA (TREE) GOSPEL FOUNDATION
The general public is hereby notified that the above named Center has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The above-named Foundation has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.
The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Adeoba OJEKUNLE 2. Adebayo ADEDOKUN THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE; 1. To train and empower the less privileged with skill development and acquisition programs
BABA KURA ZARMA Mr. Abba Abdulrahim and Alhaji Adam Zarma National Assembly Abuja Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to WHO DIED ON THE 7th the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja March, 2014 within 28 days of the publication. Office of the Secretary of the Federation The brothers of the said deceased SIGNED: DATED AT ABUJA THIS 3rd DAY OF JULY, 2014 SECRETARY SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Hon. Justice Eni Esan 2. Dr.Mayen Egbe 3. Arch. Enobong Udohorok 4. Mrs. Eyono Fatayi-Williams 5. Pastor David Ecoma 6. Mrs. Loretta Ecoma 7. Mrs. Ikemi Archibong 8. Mrs. Inyang Nwaoshai 9. EnoIme Etuk 10. Mr. Friday A. Friday 11. Mrs. Gladness Friday 12. Rev. Akpoke Asikong Bassey AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To propagate the life, teaching and ministry/preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ through the teaching of the word of God as contained in the Holy Bible for the salvation of souls and as particularly stated in John 8:32;2Peter 3.9. 2. To teach and preach the gospel of salvation on the radio, television and the internet vide the programme “JUST WORSHIP”. 3. To organize Mobile Bible School (MBS) in the rural areas, to make available teachings and to prepare manpower for ministerial work for the end time harvest of souls. 4. To provide assistance to indigent secondary school students in the rural areas for educational advancement through the programme, Scholarship Award and Salvation Talk (SAST). 5. To bring hope to those in prisons, senior citizen centres (old people’s homes) and hospitals through visitations and giving material assistance. 6. To establish and operate a radio and television stations of international standard 7. Solely to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ to every part of the world Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: ANEKE&OSISIOGU, Western House, Broad Street, Lagos
Centre for the reformation of citizens against intoxicating substance and Drug Abuse
7 HOURS WITH CHRIST
LEGAL NOTICE
The general public is hereby notified that the above named Center has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
The Trustees are: 1 . ALHAJI yusuf Maitama Sule 2. Professor Muhammad Sani Zaharaddeen 3. ALHAJI Ali Harazimi Muhammad 4. ALHAJI Muhammad Isma 5. ALHAJI sa’idu Muhammad Suwaid 6. ALHAJI umar Saidu Tudunwada 7. ALHAJI Ado muhammad 8. Professor Musa Borodo 9. ALHAJI Tijjani Aliyu. The Aim and Objective: 1. Creating Awareness on ills of drug abuse
The Trustees are: (1) Falade Olayinka Dickson (2) Oluwole Sheyifunmi (3) Olayinka Lydia Olufunke
-Senior Pastor - Treasure
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE; 1. To train and empower the less privileged with skill development and acquisition programs
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS
APPLICANTS FOR GRANT
EMEREONYE LEO Emereonye Anthony and Emereonye Madabuchi Abuja Municipal Area Council Abuja WHO DIED ON THE 27th July , 2012 Ahioaze Mbaise Mpam Imo State The sons of the said deceased DATED AT ABUJA THIS 3rd DAY OF JULY, 2014
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.
Signed: A.A. Mujahid, Esq. Solicitor
SIGNED: Barr. Tunji Akeju of Metropolitan Solicitors, Abuja
SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
REFIND GOLDEN STAR CLUB
APOSTOLIC ARK OF SLAVATION CHURCH
EBIRA CLOTH SELLERS ASSOCIATION, EKITI STATE
Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named CLUB has applied for registration Under Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004 as amended.
Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named Church has applied for registration Under Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004 as amended.
Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied for registration Under Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004 as amended.
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Akinboye. Adewumi 2. Dele Oni 3. Oyesola Oyewole 4. Dele. Adebowale 5. Mathew Komolafe 6. Sogo Ojo 7. Idowu Olaoye 8. Mathew Jegede 9. Busuyi Alake 10. Kunle ALuko
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Apostle Augustine Adenola Oluwasoga 2. Lady Evang. Felicia Morenike Olusoga 3. Pastor Joseph Ayoola Ojo 4. Pastor Joseph Bolaji Abimbola 5. Lady Evang. Janet Olukemi Oyeniyi
- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary - Member - Member - Member - Member - Member - Member - Treasurer
AIM AND OBJECTIVE ARE: To promote unity among members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication. Signed: Akinboye Adewumi chairman
LOSS of OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF document This is to inform the general public of the loss of Original Letter of Right of Occupancy bearing the name of AMINU MODIBBO in respect of the following underlisted plots inMpape Ii, Bwari Area Council 1. Right of Occupancy No. FCT/bztp/la/gm/2003/242, plot No. C 14 Mpape II, Cadastral Zone 08 04 dated 5th February, 2003. 2. Right of Occupancy No. FCT/BZTP/LA/gm/2002/237 plot N0. C. 286 Mpape II, Cadastral Zone 08 04 dated 8th Nuvember, 2002 was missing. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station.
- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary - Member - Member
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach the gospel of peace to all nations, 2. To gain souls for Christ. 3. To worship the Lord our God faithfully in Truth and in Spirit. 4. To have branches wherever converts are made, so as to mature them as Disciples of Christ. 5. To conduct and perform the church ordinances of Baptism, Holy Communion, marriages, child naming, dedication, camp meeting, House Fellowship and organize crusade using internets and Television for the propagation of Gospel. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication. Signed: Pastor Joseph Ayoola Ojo Secretary (Board of Trustees)
LOSS OF OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS of DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the original sup-leae title document issue by Kaduna State Developmetn & Property Co. Ltd in favour of Argos Nieria Limited over property No. C. 4 Independence Way, Kaduna marked on the ground by property beacons Nos. KDC. 3628, 3930, 3655, 3657 and 3629 has been discovered missing. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. The general public is hereby put on notice that the said property is not for sale and any person (private or corporate) who deals with same does so at his/ her/its own risk.If found, please return to the nearest police station. Signed: S.I. Unoakhe, ESQ Sylvester Unoakhe & Associates Suite 19, 4th floor, Turaki Ali House, 3 Kanta Road, Kaduna, (08037878201)
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS FATIMA GANIYU 2. MR IBRAHIM SALIU 3. MR ILIAYSU AUDU 4. MRS KHADIJAT JIMOH 5. MRS MOMOH JIMOH SALAMAT 6. MRS AMINAT ISMAILA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To foster unity among members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY
LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT LOSS loss OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of loss of the following Original documents: 1. Three property sale receipts dated 11/12/2006, 08/09/2006 and 8/4/2006from AD/HOC Committee on sale of federal government of Nigeria houses in Abuja. 2. Letter of Offer dated 22nd May, 2007. 3. Bank Draft from Standard Trust Bank Plc dated 04/4/2006 4. E-payment Teller from UBA Plc dated 4/04/2006 5. Handover form from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated 29/6/2007. Belonging to DR. NUHU KWAJJAFFA USMAN of block 3, kado estate Abuja FCT. The said documents got missing while he was on transit between Asokoro and FCDA in Area 11 Garki, Abuja. All efforts made to trace the said missing documents proved abortive. Please if found return to the nearest Police Station or AGIS.
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July 4, 2014
CAROLINE EBUN SUBERU FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES 1. AYODELE ADENIYI SUBERU 2. PATIENCE ADENIYI SUBERU 3. OLUFEMI ODUKOYA 4. ADENIKE OSINLU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES I. RELIEF AND SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY II. PROMOTE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION
LEGAL NOTICE
Concerned citizens initiative and awareness against corruption
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT GODWIN UWAKWE Florence Uwakwe guardian to Uchenna Federal Ministry of Women Uwakwe Affairs and Social Development, Abuja WHO DIED ON THE 16th March, 2014 Tessy Nursery and Primary School Mararaba, Nasarawa State The widow and son of the said deceased DATED AT ABUJA THIS 3rd DAY OF JULY, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
SIGNED: FOLORUNSO K.S ESQ. PORT HARCOURT
TRUSTEES 1. Prof. Amos Awodiya 2. Boniface Ifer 3. Abhulumhen Christopher 4. Daniel Simon Magaji 5. Barasa Danladi 6. Sir Richard Babatunde Ajayi 7. Omolewa Olanrewaju 8. Fakande Olabode 9. Roseline Benson 10. Aguda Motunrayo AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To create awareness on corruption as a drain on the ecomomy and moral values in the society. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: Secretary
Adamawa commercial motorcycle, tricycle owners and riders association
ORLU ZONE ELDERS ASSOCIATION
OKPELLA CHRISTIAN YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF EDO STATE
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990
The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
TRUSTEES 1. Abdullahi Haruna Wakili - Chairman 2. Hussaini Gambo Bello 3. Aminu Umar Baba 4. Babangida Abubakar Ibrahim 5. Mohammed Bello Umar -Secretary
TRUSTEES 1. CHIEF BARR. P. C. MGBENWELU - CHAIRMAN 2. DR. V. C. NWULU SECRETARY 3. HON. OGU ONYEAMA 4. DR. G. U. NWAEZE TREASURER 5. CHIEF OSITA NWANERI 6. CHIEF S. O. UKADIKE
The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Ayo Bisah 2. Mr sunday Aronokhale 3. Peace Inabefo 4. Mr Isaac Yamah
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To mutually assist one and another in case of needs.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROVIDE SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICES TO ORLU ZONE 2. TO ADVICE THE ZONE ON PEACE,UNITY AND PROGRESS 3. TO MEDIATE ON ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE ZONE
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: Secretary
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: BARR. EBO MADUFORO
FAOJUN RAHMOT FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Alhaji Ifayemi Jimoh 2. Chief Imam Sulaiman 3. Alhaji Ibrahim Oladimeji 4. Alfa Qomordeem Tajudeen 5. Alhaji Abdulrazaq Ibiwoye 6. Alhaji Morufdeen Ogunbunmi 7. Alhaji Musa Aderounmu
- Chairman - Missioner - Vic Chairman - General Secretary - Treasurer - Financial Secretary - P.R.O
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote Islam nationwide by organizing missionary teachings and seminars on peace and harmony. 2. to live in unity, peace and harmony. 3. To promote peace and unity among member. 4. To promote the interest of members, individually and collectively. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. Signed: AKIN IDRIS TALAYO
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote and assist members. 2. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. To win souls for our Lord Jesus Christ. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. Signed: victor Benison momoh Esq Rich- Benison law firm suite A46. Area. 11. Shopping mall Garki - Abuja 08066317649
TRUSTEES OF ASSOCIATION OF BENUE JOURNALISTS
ANGELIC WOMEN OF ZION CLUB OF NIG
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990
TRUSTEES 1. EDEH JOSEPH PETERSON 2. KWANGE IORHEN JOSEPH 3. AKAAGERGER IORSHAGHER JOSEPH 4. MICHAEL IYORCHIR OGWU 5. IFFER EMMANUEL TERFA
TRUSTEES 1. Eucharia Obiageli Abiakam 2. Blessing Oluchi Emmanuel 3. Onuchukwu Chizoba
- SECRETARY
- Chairlady - Secretary
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote the interest and welfare of members.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Assisting the less priviledged. 2. To promote the interest and welfare of members. 3. Promoting Igbo speaking.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION
SIGNED: Secretary
SIGNED: Secretary
- PRESIDENT
LEGAL NOTICE
INTERNATIONAL HUNTERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
CHRIST HARVEST-TIME BIBLE CHURCH
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT SAMUEL ADEYEMI OLUPONMILE Omolara Dolapo Oluponmile and Oluponmile Adeola Dorcas F.C.D.A WHO DIED ON THE 15th October, 2013 LEA primary school, phase 1 Nyanya Abuja The widow and daughter of the said deceased DATED AT ABUJA THIS 3rd DAY OF JULY, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Chief Dr. Godpower Ikezam Odum (JP) 2. Chief Godpower Ogbonda Okekem 3. Elder Charles Ogwundu Okeah
-Chairman -Member -Secretary
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:1. To continue to promote the hunty culture and heritage of our people and to help one another when the need arises 2. To establish our identity in Nigeria and protect our interest Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: CHIEF DR. GODPOWER IKEZAM ODUM (JP) Chairman
LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF DOCUMENT
LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT loss LOSS of document
This is to inform the general public of the loss of Original Copy of CONVEYANCE OF PROVISIONAL APPROVAL OF LAND with PLOT NUMBER 379 located at JIKWOYI RESIDENTIAL LAYOUT belonging to DR OZY OKONOKHUA LEWIS. All efforts made to trace the missing document proved abortive. If found please return to the nearest police station. AMAC / AGIS should take note.
This is to inform the general public of the loss of original Allocation paper in respect of plot No. MF 52 with old file No.MISC 2788 and new file No. MISC 92722 belonging to SOSIETE NIK LTD. All effort to trace the said document proved abortive, if found kindly return to the nearest Police Station. Signed Imhanbe Osagie
TRUSTEES 1. OLUTOMILAYO Matthew Akintayo 2. OLUTOMILAYO Kunle Titus 3. ADEWUNMI Gabriel Olufunso 4. EKUNDAYO Olalekan Tope 5. OLUTOMILAYO Felicia Kehinde
- President - Secretary
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: President
EMEM
I, formerly known and called MISS EMEM UWEM BASSEY, wish to be addressed now as MRS. EMEM FIGO UDEYE, while all documents bearing the former name remain valid. General public should please take note.
TOCHUKWU
I, formerly known and called OGBONNA EDITH IJEOMA, wish to be addressed now as TOCHUKWU EDITH IJEOMA, while all documents bearing the former name remain valid. General public should please take note.
AKHIBI
I, formerly known and called MISS OGBEMUDIA JOY, wish to be addressed now as MRS. AKHIBI JOY, while all documents bearing the former name remain valid. General public should please take note.
KANENG
I, formerly known and called KANENG RWANG, wish to be addressed now as KANENG SOLOMON YAMMAI JOHN, while all documents bearing the former name remain valid. General public should please take note.
DAY With
June 27, 2014
Ishaku Kigbu
16
LEADERSHIP FRIDAY
Brazil Vs Chile
Players To Watch
Mark Congratulates Eagles BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, Abuja President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has praised the Super Eagles of Nigeria for advancing to the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Senator Mark in a statement signed by his chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh was happy that Nigeria has improved on her past records and ready to defend the title of the reigning African champions. Senator Mark who led the Federal Government delegation to Brazil at the
Super Eagles
opening ceremony on June 12, 2014 was hopeful that Nigeria’s representatives would do the nation proud at the mundial. He reminded the players and officials of the need to work as a team saying that individual talents abound in our team but an effective collaboration of all the talents would produce the desired result. The Senate President urged Nigerians to rally round the Super Eagles by offering prayers and support for them at all times. He said government on its part would fulfil the part of the bargain in terms of logistics.
Fred
Senator Mark advices Eagles Neymar Jnr
He reminded the players and officials of the need to work as a team saying that individual talents abound in our team but an effective collaboration of all the talents
Yesterday’s results • Portugal 2-1 Ghana • USA 0- 1 Germany • Korea Republic 0-1 Belgium • Algeria 1-1 Russia
Tomorrow’s Matches • Brazil Vs Chile 5pm (Belo Horizonte) • Colombia Vs Uruguay (Rio De Janiero) 9pm
About Belo Horizonte • Population 5.15 million • Economy: It is in the Brazilian main economic axis, exerting influence even on other states. Both multinational and Brazilian companies, like Google
Head-To-Head Brazil Vs Chile • FIFA Ranking: Brazil 4, Chile 14 • Played 6 matches, Goals for: Brazil 20, Chile 6
Dani Alves
Clint Dempsey of the United States is challenged by Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels of Germany. Germany won 1-0
Surgery On Babatunde Successful BY ISHAKU KIGBU, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The surgery conducted on Super Eagles midfielder, Babatunde Michael who has also been ruled out of the ongoing World Cup in Brazil yesterday was successful. Michael fractured his wrist when he stood between a goal-bound shot from teammate Ogenyi Onazi in the last Group F game against Argentina in Porto Alegre. He has since returned to the team’s Camp base in Campinas, ahead of the trip to Brasilia for the second round duel against
France scheduled for Monday. Ogenyi Onazi, whose shot did the damage has jokingly accused Babatunde of stopping his goal bound shot. “I swear that was a sure goal if not for Tunde’s hand, I wish him quick recovery”, he said. “Unfortunately, he is ruled out of the tournament because it will take at least three weeks for that surgery to heal”, Head Coach Stephen Keshi revealed. He added that Nigerians should not fret over the development as there are capable replacements for the player. “It’s
not looking good that he will feature again in the tournament ,we are sad about that but we have people who can fill in for him very well and I think we have to go win for him now”, Keshi added. The national team boss has also dispelled insinuations that he has any personal issues with Victor Moses. “It’s purely medical, my last child is older than Moses, so why will I quarrel with my son?. People must find out facts and not speculate especially when we have a capable media people in our midst.
Esteban Paredes
Suárez Slammed 4-month Ban BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja
Luis Suarez of Uruguay has been handed a nine-match ban and a four-month ban from any football activities. This follows the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision reached yesterday in the case following an incident that occurred during the FIFA World Cup match between Italy and Uruguay played on 24 June 2014. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has
decided that: “The player Luis Suárez is regarded as having breached art. 48 par. 1 lit. d of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) (assault), and art. 57 of the FDC (an act of unsporting behaviour towards another player). “The player Luis Suárez is to be suspended for nine (9) official matches. The first match of this suspension is to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup™ fixture between Colombia and Uruguay on 28 June 2014. The
Eduardo Vargas
remaining match suspensions shall be served in Uruguay’s next FIFA World Cup match(es), as long as the team qualifies, and/or in the representative team’s subsequent official matches in accordance with art. 38 par. 2a) of the FDC. The player Luis Suárez is banned from taking part in any kind of footballrelated activity (administrative, sports or any other) for a period of four (4) months in accordance with art. 22 of the FDC.
Alexis Sanchez
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July 4, 2014
NOC Wants Eagles To Post Best World Cup Record By Ishaku Kigbu, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Keshi Preaches Team Focus By Ishaku Kigbu, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi is soliciting for less distraction from Nigerians to help him focus on the present challenge of beating France next Monday and qualify for the quarter finals. He said he has been hearing distracting news from home capable of distracting his team to focus on advancing further in the tournament. Keshi said he wonders why some people are hell bent on distracting his team. “We understand that some people are playing politics but they must leave us out of it so that we can do well here and go far in the tournament instead of making press releases and statements that will distract the team”. He took exceptions to news
The Nigeria Olympic Committes (NOC) has expressed its full support for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their quest to reach the quarterfinal of the ongoing World Cup a feat which will equal Africa’s best record at the Mundial. Despite a 3-2 loss to Argentina on Wednesday, The Super Eagles became the first African team to reach the second round of the
Brazil 2014 World Cup and will meet France on Monday and the NOC has declared support to Stephen Keshi’s side to go a step better than the country’s best outing at the World Cup which was reaching the second round at the USA 1994 and France 1998 editions. “The Super Eagles have done Africa proud by qualifying from the group stage but as the best team in Africa, a lot is expected of them to keep the continent’s flag flying at
the World Cup and that is why we at the NOC are in full support of the team to match further in Brazil,” Sani Ndanusa, the NOC President said. Ndanusa observed that the team had since upped their game after the widespread castigation that greeted their performance in their first match against Iran a point he said the NOC is banking on to see the team soar against France, the 1998 World Cup winners on Monday.
making the rounds that his players say they will not play the next game because monies have not been given to them. “We don’t have money issues here, I talk to the players and the NFF leadership every time, so I wonder what some people want to achieve by always drawing us back from our set goals. Please, beg them to allow us concentrate on football and not any other thing.” Team Skipper, Joseph Yobo, declared that he players want the best for the country and will not want to be dragged into unnecessary distraction. “We have reached this stage of the tournament, which is a special privilege, and we cannot afford to allow the whole of Africa and especially Nigeria down, so please let them allow us focus on our football and nothing else”. Super Eagles defender Joseph Yobo in action for Nigeria against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ronaldo Downs Ghana But Portugal Crash Out Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed Portugal a 2-1 win over Ghana in Brasilia, but it was insufficient to keep them from crashing out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ on goal difference. Asamoah Gyan’s 57th-minute header had cancelled out John Boye’s firsthalf own-goal before the FIFA Ballon d’Or holder’s late settler, but Paulo’s Bento’s side would have required at least another three goals without reply to pip USA to second place in Group G. A game both sides began with hope of
reaching the knockout phase quickly got going. Ronaldo’s pace got him away down the right. A cross seemed inevitable, but the 29-year-old looked up, noticed the keeper slightly off his line and, from a seemingly impossible angle, struck an audacious, astonishing strike that looped over Fatau Dauda but came back off the crossbar. A few minutes later Ronaldo unleashed a trademark free-kick, which moved as it fizzed through the air and was parried behind by the Ghana goalkeeper.
Winner of the day
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal attemps to head a goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Portugal and Ghana. Match ended 2-1 in favour of Portugal
Both Through As Germans Edge US
Thomas Müller
Germany beat USA 1-0 courtesy of a Thomas Muller strike on a rainsoaked day in Recife, a result that takes both sides through from a hugely competitive Group G at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. A 2-1 win for Portugal over Ghana in the section’s other game was enough to push both the Americans and
Germans through on four and seven points respectively. The final whistle brought a joint celebration from the teams on the pitch at the Arena Pernambuco. The Germans dominated the opening quarter-hour. The European giants pressed forward with power and speed.
Messi ‘Is From Jupiter’ – Keshi Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said Lionel Messi “is from Jupiter” after the Argentina forward scored twice in their 3-2 win over the African nation. The 27-year-old scored a half-volley and a free-kick as Argentina recorded a third win to finish top of Group F. “Messi is one of heck of a player. He’s blessed. You can’t take it away from him,” said Keshi, whose Nigeria side still
qualified despite the defeat. “There are good calibre players in the team but Messi is from Jupiter.” Keshi, whose team advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup after Iran lost to BosniaHercegovina, added: “I feel honoured and happy it’s going our way, I want to thank the players and the fans and some of the media.” Page edited by Onjewu Dickson
➔ Germany coach JJoachim Low was able to talk his team to a 1-0 win over USA to finish with seven points
LOSer of the day
➔ Portugal coach Paulo Bento failed to qualify desite beating Ghana 2-1
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July 4, 2014
FOSLA Academy Win Loyola Jesuit Football Tourney By SALIFU USMAN, Abuja
Hockey action
Pakistani Embassy Promises To Contribute To Development Of Hockey In Nigeria By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja
Pakistan has promised to contribute to the development of Hockey in Nigeria through the donation of equipment to the Nigeria Hockey Federation, exchange programme for athletes and training of officials. Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ashraf Saleem (rtd) gave the assurance when the President of the Hockey Federation of Nigeria, Senator Abdul Ningi led board members on a courtesy call to the High Commissioner in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Saleem, in Pakistan, hockey equipment as well as other sporting equipment are manufactured and supplied to companies like Addidas who rebrand and market them. He was optimistic that in partnership with the Pakistani embassy, Nigeria can benefit from direct contact with the manufacturers. The High Commissioner assured that though hockey players are developed in build and skills, Pakistan unlike Europe concentrates on developing of skills, while Europe emphasizes on the build of the players.
“We will ensure that skills of Nigerian players is developed so that the sport will become popular gain in the country,” he added. Speaking earlier, Senator Ningi noted that the first national hockey coach in Nigeria in the 1960s was from Pakistan, who alongside other Pakistani played the game at several levels in Nigeria. “This means your country; Pakistan is deeply rooted in the history of hockey in our dear nation. It is a legacy that it is our hope you would see to build upon as a result of this visit. It is because of this long history
Judo Federation Sacks President By SALIFU USMAN, Abuja
Judoka
The board of the Judo Federation of Nigeria (JFN) has sacked its leadership due to what they described as incompetence and highhandedness of the ousted president, Timothy Nsirim. They also accused the former president of lacking the needed leadership qualities to lead the body to the height they all desire. Rising from a two-hour meeting held at the Abuja National Stadium’s velodrome the spokesman of the federation, Engineer Sulaiman Ahmed told newsmen that the decision to effect changes in its leadership position was borne out of the new rules adopted by the International Judo Federation (IJF), which stated that henceforth, nonJudokas will not be in charge of the game. According to him, part of the reasons were the way and manner the former president ran the federation like his per-
that the board of the Nigeria Hockey Federation deemed it necessary to renew the historical ties between the two countries,” he added. He appealed for the establishment of a sporting relationship that would also include technical and equipment support, exchange programmes and trade relations. He was accompanied on the visit by the secretary-general, Balewa Augustine Aaron and other board members including Professor Ejiga Agbo, Dr. Ademola Are, Yohanna Faruk, Alhaji Ahmed Mabudi and Capt. Fatai Atanda (Rtd.)
sonal entity without carrying the other board members along in the discharge of the activities of the federation. He said Dr. Oshodi Musa has been elected as the new president, with Alhaji Sulaiman Damisa coming on as the Vice-President. “The federation wishes to announce that there is a change of leadership with the passing of a vote-of-no-confidence on the president and had also gone ahead to replace him with a professional judoka which is in-line with the new rules given by the international body. We have written to the National Sports Commission (NSC) and all relevant agencies intimating them of the new development,” he said. On the steps before taking the decision to impeach Nsirim, Sulaiman insisted that the board had done much trying to call the former president to order as against the way and manner he ran the federation.
FOSLA Academy, Karshi Abuja have emerged champions of the 2014 Loyola Jesuit Secondary School Football Tournament. They defeated the hosts, Loyola Jesuit 3-1 to win 2014 edition of the tournament which is an annual event in the school’s calendar. Eight selected public and private secondary Schools in FCT took in the tournament which saw the former NFF president, Sani Lulu Abdullahi’s boys beating all the participating schools to reach the final. In keenly entertaining final match against host school, Lulu’s boys draw the first blood in the 25 minutes when Solomon Abraham out ran the opponent defenders to score a beautiful goal to delight of the audience including supporters and officials of their opponent. The second goal came in 15 minutes when junior sensational, Emmanuel Peters outwit five of the opponent defend-
ers to put ball the behind the keeper. A mixed up in the FOSLA defence at resumption of the second half gave the host their only conciliatory goal. The highly entertaining match which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd, saw the FOSLA boys scoring the third goal through Solomon Abraham at the 80th minute. Speaking immediately after the match, the former President of the Nigeria Football Federation Alhaji Sanni Lulu Abdullahi who is the Proprietor of FOSLA Academy, expressed appreciation to the organizers of the tournament, saying that the project of FOSLA Academy is a “work in progress”, as the boys who are basically within 15 years and all in JSS 3 would be ripe to take part in future secondary schools competition by next academic session. “This is the first major competition we are taking part in since the Academy was established in 2011.”
Nadal
Wimbledon: Nadal Survives Rosol Scare World number one Rafael Nadal fought back to beat Lukas Rosol and avoid a repeat of his shock Wimbledon defeat by the unseeded Czech two years ago. Rosol, ranked 52nd, had a set point for a two-set lead, but two-time champion Nadal recovered brilliantly to come through 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-4. The Spaniard, seeded second, goes on to face Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in the last 32 tomorrow. It is the first time since 2011 that Nadal has reached the third round. “I knew I had to keep fighting, waiting for my moment,” Nadal told BBC Sport. “I made a few mistakes
but he was serving very well, then the second set was very important. Against Rosol, two sets down, it would have been very dangerous. If Rosol’s second-round victory over Nadal in 2012 was one of the greatest upsets in tennis history, repeating the effort seemed, if anything, even more unlikely, but the Czech went closer than anyone could have expected. Once again, the 28-yearold found a rich seam of heavy serving and thunderous groundstrokes that left Nadal helpless and facing a two-set deficit. After breaking at 4-4 on his way to taking the first set, Rosol moved 4-2 clear in the second.
AMUSEMENT PARK
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NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER
No. 59
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04.07.14
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Nigeria And Israel: A Tale Of Missing Teens
I
t’s 81 days today since Boko Haram abducted 200+ schoolgirls who were taking their final exams from their dormitory at the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. For three weeks, President Goodluck Jonathan did not believe it happened and those around him said so. He had fallen out so badly with Borno State governor Kashim Shettima that everything in between had been tainted with politics. While the parents cried for their lost children and the communities grieved that a generation of its daughters might never return, the president thought this was all part of the plot to give his government a bad name. Not until a women’s army rallied the country and the world weighed in with a hashtag did the president finally lift a finger. It was not even a finger of anger or outrage to redeem the time and find the girls. It was a reluctant finger of acquiescence by a man who felt done by. On June 12, the 59th day of the mass abduction of the Chibok girls, Israel suffered a similar fate on a lesser scale. Hamas kidnapped three Israeli teenagers on a hitchhike at the West Bank. Within minutes of the incident, the Israeli police were alerted, first by an anonymous caller initially suspected to be up to some prank but later by family members of the teens. That was the beginning of Armageddon. In spite of strong denials by Hamas of any involvement, the Israeli military, on direct orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a massive teen-hunt, rounding up all prominent Hamas leaders in Hebron and the West Bank within 24 hours of the abduction. Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security service, identified the kidnappers on the first day, removing any chances that the boys would be used as bargaining chip. Within six days, over 240
Not only are the terrorists taunting us with even more abductions, they have gone mad, writing the headlines in blood almost every day and yet promising even greater atrocities
Palestinians had been arrested, 800 structures searched and dozens of suspicious accounts, even those of charity organisations, were frozen. Over six combat brigades were deployed in the West Bank (a place with a population of about 2.7m) to complement 40 battalions and other special forces involved in the search, and Egypt was contacted for support. It was not just a show of force; it was, more important, a clear message on the worth of an Israeli life. Netanyahu knows that he is personally accountable for the protection and safety of every single Israeli – be they Likud, Labour or Peter the Plumber – and that includes the safety of the missing teens. It’s convenient to think that comparing the Israeli teens with
the Chibok girls is like comparing apples with oranges. Israel has been at war from its founding as a result of which it has sharpened its survival instincts. It has developed its institutions and constantly renewed and adapted its intelligence infrastructure over the years. For Israel, survival is not a choice; it’s a necessity. It may seem unfair to compare Netanyahu and Jonathan. The point, however, is not necessarily how long Israel or Nigeria have had to deal with terror, but how seriously each country takes the problem. The value that each country places on life and how prepared their citizens are to hold the leaders to account for their choices also matter a lot. Netanyahu did not deploy soldiers to satisfy his testosterone. He knew that
treating the abduction with kid gloves would be a direct threat to Israeli security and to his own place in history. He knew he had to deal with the abduction of three teens today to avoid dealing with abduction of dozens tomorrow. He knew he would be a finished man to treat the kidnap of the teens lightly. Jonathan has a different view of the Chibok girls. He knew of the abduction hours after it occurred, but chose to remain in angry denial, sharing tales of his persecution complex with his wife. The Defence Headquarters first issued a statement that 107 of the 200+ girls had been recovered only to say later that it had been misled. They got away with the muddle and, since the president didn’t care one way or the other, the misery has continued. After 81 days of heartbreaking stories by distressed families, massive protests across the world and even a report by the committee that he set up
Game Over: As The Cash Goes The Ball The World Cup in Brazil will not only be remembered for its harvest of goals and dramatic game endings, it might also go down in history as the tournament with the biggest physical transfer of hard, cold cash. Ghana opened the floodgates when President John Dramani Mahama approved
that a chartered plane should carry $3m to Ghanaian players to quell the rebellion in their camp. Never a country to be outdone in matters of cash, Nigeria followed suit, hauling loads of dollars to the Super Eagles who had boycotted training only hours to the crucial match against Argentina. From
Cameroun to Ivory Coast and from Ghana to Nigeria, once money toppled discipline and fighting spirit, the teams fell like Humpty Dumpty. Should FIFA still keep five slots for Africa? It would be a laughing matter, if the performance of the African teams were not a disservice to football.
himself, the president probably still believes that Chibok is a hoax by governor Shettima and some people at large. Boko Haram has only got bolder since. In the last three weeks, at least 652 people have been abducted, injured or killed by members of the sect across nine states of the country. It appears that all that remains for Boko Haram to do is put up a flag and name a country. The news from Israel is that the three teenagers were found dead in Hebron on Monday, making Israel’s unleashing of hell to save them seem rather pointless. It’s a pity that the boys were not recovered alive and that an innocent Palestinian boy was abducted and killed in what was apparently a revenge attack. But Netanyahu has sent a clear message that anyone who would make an Israeli teenager fair game, even in one of the world’s longest-running conflict areas, would pay a heavy price. The abductors of those teenagers will be brought to justice, no matter how long it takes or how far they run. In Chibok, it’s a different story. Not only are the terrorists taunting us with even more abductions, they have gone mad, writing the headlines in blood almost every day and yet promising even greater atrocities. Are we so helpless?
GHANA MUST GO Jonathan: We can stop Ebola virus from spreading to Nigeria — News
Stop the bomb blast spread first!
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